also: こつへら
noun
bone trowel; bone spatula
Archaeological term for a bone tool used during the Jōmon period, typically for smoothing or shaping pottery.
この遺跡からは、縄文時代の骨箆が多数出土している。
Many bone spatulas from the Jōmon period have been excavated from this site.
骨箆は土器の表面を整えるのに使われたと考えられている。
Bone trowels are thought to have been used to smooth the surface of pottery.
Compound of 骨 (こつ, 'bone') and 箆 (へら, 'spatula'), referring to a spatula-shaped tool made of bone. The reading こつべら is standard; こつへら is a variant.