Ground Stone Tools

2021 ◽  
pp. 149-158
Keyword(s):  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasos Bekiaris ◽  
Danai Chondrou ◽  
Ismini Ninou ◽  
Soultana-Maria Valamoti

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine I. Wright

Ground-stone tools and hunter-gatherer subsistence in late Pleistocene southwest Asia are examined in light of ethnographic and experimental data on processing methods essential for consumption of various plant foods. In general, grinding and pounding appear to be labor-intensive processing methods. In particular, the labor required to make wild cereals edible has been widely underestimated, and wild cereals were unlikely to have been “attractive” to foragers except under stress conditions. Levantine ground-stone tools were probably used for processing diverse plants. The earliest occurrence of deep mortars coincides with the glacial maximum, camp reoccupations, the onset of increasingly territorial foraging, and the earliest presently known significant samples of wild cereals. Two major episodes of intensification in plant-food processing can be identified in the Levant, coinciding respectively with the earliest evidence for sedentism (12,800-11,500 B.P.) and the transition to farming (11,500-9600 B.P.). The latter episode was characterized by rising frequencies of grinding tools relative to pounding tools, and suggests attempts to maximize nutritional returns of plants harvested from the limited territories characteristic of sedentary foraging and early farming. This episode was probably encouraged by the Younger Dryas, when density and storability of foods may have outweighed considerations of processing costs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8869
Author(s):  
Andrew McCarthy

Cultural objects are thought to have a lifespan. From selection, through construction, use, destruction, and discard, materials do not normally last forever, transforming through stages of life, eventually leading to their death. The materiality of stone objects, however, can defy the inevitable demise of an object, especially durable ground stone tools that can outlive generations of human lifespans. How groups of people deal with the relative permanence of stone tools depends on their own relationship with the past, and whether they venerate it or reject its influence on the present. A case study from the long-lived site of Prasteio-Mesorotsos in Cyprus demonstrates a shifting attitude toward ground stone objects, from the socially conservative habit of ritually killing of objects and burying them, to one of more casual re-use and reinterpretation of ground stone. This shift in attitude coincides with a socio-political change that eventually led to the ultimate rejection of the past: complete abandonment of the settlement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 52-63
Author(s):  
Mihai Dunca ◽  
Sanda Băcueț Crișan

This article analyses ground stone discoveries from the late neolithic site of Pericei located in north-west of Romania, in Șimleu Depression. Combined characteristics of chisels and adzes in working process are discussed along with their context, especially those connected to stone working: the layer, dwellings and pebble agglomerations. We conclude that Pericei was a production center for stone chisels, appeared to supply the demand that until then was satisfied by Suplac/Porț site that continued to produce ground stone tools for a longer period.


2018 ◽  
pp. 39-85
Author(s):  
Jae Youn Kim

It has been discussed that Pyeonggeo-dong site has the Northeastern factor but the characteristics of potteries are closed to the c factor, and the native ‘Pyeonggeodong double-rimmed pottery’ were dominated. However, some potteries of BAL styled pottery as well as pot styled pottery that were characterized by its rim of pottery, made of the same techniques, were found. There are BAL styled pottery and pot styled potteries that were not made with folded rim of pottery and attached clay ribbon. In addition to these potteries, not- doble rimmed pot typed pottery, little pottery, beak styled stoneware, chipped stone hole, polished stone knife, oval pestle, disk styled stoneware, etc. are the main factors found in Sinigai culture of Maritime Province. I believe that the reason why Pyeonggeo-dong is considered as the filiation of the Sinigai culture of Maritime Province is because that Sinigai culture has been not well known. Therefore, I want to review that culture in this paper. Sinigai culture has been studied only for its regional boundary and characteristics. However, it is needed to review the chronological change of the potteries and start period of the culture and then compare to Pyeonggeo-dong site. Sinigai culture can be divided in to two types in each region, the West and East, based on chronological order and artifacts. The West 1 type had lasted from 3,400 to 3,200 years ago when people still used Neolithic potteries and started to make MOOMOON pottery. DOLDAEMOON pottery with pattern neolithic, one handle pottery, big pottery, polished stone dagger, polished stone ax, stoneware shaped star, disk styled stoneware, chipped stone hole, etc. were used at the same timew. The West 2 type lasted from 3,200 to 2,500 years ago. This is dwelling pit of square-shaped fire pot with stone and foundation in HARIN site. DOLDAEMOON pottery with pattern neolithic, pot withwith pattern neolithic on the surface, one handle pottery, BAL styled pottery, pot styled pottery, bottle styled pottery etc. are MOOMOON pottery. There are difference in their types based on the length of rim and neck in pot styled pottery and bottle styled pottery. In terms of the stone tools, there are oval pestle, stoneware shaped arrow, polished stone spear, polished stone knife, disk styled stoneware, chipped stone hole, etc. The East 1 type had lasted from 3,300 to 3,000 years ago. The symbolic potteries of this type are pot styled pottery with folded rim of pottery, BAL styled pottery with attached clay ribbon Knapped stone tools had been continuously used while the ground axe were appeared. The East 2 type lasted from 3,000 to 2,500 years ago. When it comes to dwelling pits, there are 3 rectangular fire pit, with foundation, and 4 lined pillar holes on the ground. notdoble rimmed pot styled pottery and bottle styled pottery are also found. People used various ground stone tools including stone axe, stoneware shaped arrow, stone arrow, polished stone spear, polished stone knife and etc. in addition to the knapped tools. BAL and pot styled pottery of doble rimm wth clay ribon, pot typed pottery with folded rim, and smaller potteries are related to the East 1 type of Sinigai culture. not-doble rimmed pot styled pottery rectangular mano, polished stone knife, chipped stone hole, etc are the factor of the West 2 type of Sinigai culture. Therefore, is can be considered that the material culture of Pyeongggeo-dong is combined with the East 1 type and the West 2 type of Sinigai culture. It is assumed that the Sinigai culture came to the west Gyeongnam Provinec continuouly from about 3,300 years ago until the second type that includes bronze artifacts. On the other hand, Daepyeong site located alongside of the Nam river has Gokok bronze which can be the earlier than Korea Liaoning bronze dagger. It is possible that the Gokok bronze was also a remain of Sinigai culture.


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