An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture
The manufacture of ground stone tools has long been a topic of interest for archaeologists. Ground stone tools made of specific stone types (e.g., limestone, basalt, granite) have been investigated with regards to the technology chosen by craftsmen, the manufacturing process, working tools and tool...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Edinburgh
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Lithic Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.ed.ac.uk/lithicstudies/article/view/1681 |
| _version_ | 1811260242942492672 |
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| author | Andrea Squitieri David Eitam |
| author_facet | Andrea Squitieri David Eitam |
| author_sort | Andrea Squitieri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The manufacture of ground stone tools has long been a topic of interest for archaeologists. Ground stone tools made of specific stone types (e.g., limestone, basalt, granite) have been investigated with regards to the technology chosen by craftsmen, the manufacturing process, working tools and tool mark analysis. Here, we present the results of an experimental study of the manufacture of a basalt mortar. In particular, the strategy we adopted in designing this study was to present a method for producing a basalt mortar by pecking and abrading with basalt tools. The study was designed and conducted by A. Squitieri and D. Eitam, while the mortar was made by the sculptor D. Yassur. The goals of our experiment were to observe and document the choices made by the sculptor in creating the mortar, starting from the selection of a basalt cobblestone as the raw material, the tools (made from basalt) he used and the ways he used them. We detected practical problems the sculptor had to overcome during the process, the amount of debitage, and the nature of tool marks in the mortar cavity after the manufacturing process. We documented the entirety of the experiment through photographs and videos. Our experimental production using the expertise of a professional sculpture and his thorough knowledge of basalt offers a better understanding of basalt artefact manufacture, the physical properties of the raw material and the interaction between basalt tools and basalt raw material. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:44:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e35d92de07b4c7db35a4cf11da2f505 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:44:26Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Lithic Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e35d92de07b4c7db35a4cf11da2f5052022-12-22T03:20:40ZengUniversity of EdinburghJournal of Lithic Studies2055-04722016-10-013310.2218/jls.v3i3.16811681An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufactureAndrea Squitieri0David Eitam1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenIndependent researcherThe manufacture of ground stone tools has long been a topic of interest for archaeologists. Ground stone tools made of specific stone types (e.g., limestone, basalt, granite) have been investigated with regards to the technology chosen by craftsmen, the manufacturing process, working tools and tool mark analysis. Here, we present the results of an experimental study of the manufacture of a basalt mortar. In particular, the strategy we adopted in designing this study was to present a method for producing a basalt mortar by pecking and abrading with basalt tools. The study was designed and conducted by A. Squitieri and D. Eitam, while the mortar was made by the sculptor D. Yassur. The goals of our experiment were to observe and document the choices made by the sculptor in creating the mortar, starting from the selection of a basalt cobblestone as the raw material, the tools (made from basalt) he used and the ways he used them. We detected practical problems the sculptor had to overcome during the process, the amount of debitage, and the nature of tool marks in the mortar cavity after the manufacturing process. We documented the entirety of the experiment through photographs and videos. Our experimental production using the expertise of a professional sculpture and his thorough knowledge of basalt offers a better understanding of basalt artefact manufacture, the physical properties of the raw material and the interaction between basalt tools and basalt raw material.http://journals.ed.ac.uk/lithicstudies/article/view/1681ground stone toolstechnology of productionexperimental archaeologymortar |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Squitieri David Eitam An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture Journal of Lithic Studies ground stone tools technology of production experimental archaeology mortar |
| title | An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture |
| title_full | An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture |
| title_fullStr | An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture |
| title_full_unstemmed | An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture |
| title_short | An experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture |
| title_sort | experimental approach to ground stone tool manufacture |
| topic | ground stone tools technology of production experimental archaeology mortar |
| url | http://journals.ed.ac.uk/lithicstudies/article/view/1681 |
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