The Tools
Nature was in all respects random, but not man. While nature may have
bumped a stone's sharp edge from one side than the reverse, not man.
Man when making or using a tool such as a knife or scraper, applies
his pressure repeatedly in the same direction. A recovered item of
flint that offeres a natural sharp edge may show small chips being
removed from both directions, but a number of them lost due to
pressure along the edge in the same direction , can be assoiated
with man. The sign of repeated damage due to repeated similar use
of the stone, will be our clue to a stone being used as a tool.
This form of tool will at times see common use at sites. This is
especially true at temporary sites, small camps, or those left by
travellers.
Like most well made points, the stone craftsman making stone tools,
will first give his blank of stone a determined shape. But this is
not the general rule with tools, but rather he used blanks with a
common outline. Either way he has shaped his tools prior to that
chipping to give the working edge.
As with the random edge of our first tools, we again find man used
random shapes as well. A single blow to a block of flint may
separate a blade ideal to do the task ahead. But our craftsman knows
he will need an edge that will last longer, longer than the random
edge will maintain. Here he will give a secondary chipping of the
edge. Ah, a new word, "secondary".
I have been waiting for just the right time to slip this word in. The original working of the large cobble of flint would yield the blank we wish to work with, this is our "primary" chipping, and can be seen on all worked stone. Those large scars on tools and points.
They are the blows that give us our flakes. They are the blows that give us the predetermined form we desire in our points.
Now we introduce "secondary" chipping. Recall that
chipping given to our knife to alter the angle of
cutting? That is the secondary chipping. Again these
scars are visible on a point or tool.
We now have type two of the tools. A usable blade, or one that offers the form needed
to do the task. To this blade has been added the secondary chipping. Unlike points used
by the hunter, if it fit the hand it was used. These tools made from unaltered blanks
will lack the forming blows other than those needed to separate it from the core.
But our secondary chipping will be very evident. So we have number two on our
list of stone forms to look for. The third is just one more step. First let's
look at some “forming and secondary chips”. Soory, this display under way now, soon.
On type three, the basic stone tools will be those that have their
outline placed into the blank. A common tool of this group are the
thumbnail scrapers recovered in Canada. While the basic blade may
be small, it can be spotted by the round thicker tool end. The term
thumbnail is not to hard to grasp when we view these. Had there only
been the recovery of one or two of these tools there would not have
been the need for a classification as separate tool form. But from the area of the river with the stone sinkers, these small, but well made tools are common. Lets take a look at a few and see the forming scars and the secondary chipping. The thumbnails.AGAIN SOON
We have covered the three basic tool groups. The random or utilized
stone. The convenient stone with a worked edge, and those tools that,
like points, are crafted to meet the maker's standards for a tool.
But before we go on, there is one more set of chips we need to
discuss. The use scars.
I covered how type one tools are identified by the use they were given. Random scars or damage along the one edge which were given the tool in a similar action. Well it should not be two surprising that a worked tool edge will also display scars from use. These will be less evidenced on a natural tool than they are pre sharpened or shaped worked blade. As we covered, a secondary chipping gave a working edge intended to last longer. But even here use of the tool, will dull it, and if we look close we will find these use scars.
Very small and placed on top of the secondary chipping,
they need be only a fraction of the size of the secondary
chipping, which it'self is small. We now offer a few views of
this scaring, and it will often help you identify your tool.
The flaking and use scars. SOORY, IT TAKES TIME.
The intended use of each of our tools may not be known, but we at
the least are able to recover them. In the next part of this paper
we will go into the forms of tools, many will leave us asking "What
for", our only answer will be "they were used".
As we covered in the first part, stone tools can be recovered in many conditions. From flakes only showing use, to pre shaped blanks with a well defined working edge.
Now to examine the kinds of tools recovered. Some we will know the use
for and other's we can suggest, and there will be a few we can only
refer to as tools. Remember if man did not make a hunting point of
his work, we refer to it as a tool.
I will show you many samples recovered from sites investigated by the Pecos, but I would never suggest they are the only forms man worked stone into. Nor that the tools displayed are the only way a task was accomplished. We covered the hammers in the first display, along with knives.
Possibly the most common tool is the scraper. This could be a tool to scrape clean a hide from a kill, or one to remove the bark from a shaft.
The task was a simple one, and the working edge could be just as simple. To find random utilized flakes or blades used as scrapers will be a very easy one at most any habitation site. Again the angle of the working or tool edge need be of a degree that allows the continued use of a tool. Again we will look for use scars.
But as there were types of worked tools there will be several basic forms for scrapers. While the average amateur need not concern his or her self with the terminology used, it will be a benefit if you wish to converse with others about your find.
As you may have gathered man generally began with a stone cobble.
Generally nature has taken this one and given it a rounded shape.
Man will, as his preparation to working this into a blank he can
shape to his needs, remove one of the ends. The name for the removed
scrap is the "cortex cap". As stated earlier man rarely wasted his
scraps, if they could be used. The same is true with the cortex cap.
Easy to identify, this first blow will have a skin or patinated
surface. The area exposed by the blow will display the fresh interior
of the cobble. Here it was common to give a few forming strikes of
the hammer at one point, to shape a steep angular face. The need to
use secondary chipping is not required. But a close inspection will
often reveal the use scars. But the use of the scraper on hides will
not always inflict use scars. So let's look at a few scrapers.TIME, TIME.
I am sure you have noted the many variations in size and form. For some an over degree of simplicity offered here, we only offer the general use suggested by the tools, to assign the task for each may never be accomplished. After all this is a museum of "pre historic" man.
The action of a scraper is self explanatory, you scrape with it.
For us today, this form of action is not common. But early man found
it a task requiring a dependable tool. The larger "Turtle back"
scraper is common at many sites across the south. The smaller
"Cortex" scraper is often the result of producing micro tools,
and these small tools will need special care to find. They have
their own story and we will get to them a bit later.
One problem, I can see building for my reader, is a need of a
glossary of the many odd terms, I will be using. I offer one here,
and although it may not give all the information you need, I will do
my best. The Glossary. WITH GODS HELP, AND TIME
Next, more tools?
The Tools
Nature was in all respects random, but not man. While nature may have bumped a stone's sharp edge from one side than the reverse, not man. Man when making or using a tool such as a knife or scraper, applies his pressure repeatedly in the same direction. A recovered item of flint that offeres a natural sharp edge may show small chips being removed from both directions, but a number of them lost due to pressure along the edge in the same direction , can be assoiated with man. The sign of repeated damage due to repeated similar use of the stone, will be our clue to a stone being used as a tool. This form of tool will at times see common use at sites. This is especially true at temporary sites, small camps, or those left by travellers. Like most well made points, the stone craftsman making stone tools, will first give his blank of stone a determined shape. But this is not the general rule with tools, but rather he used blanks with a common outline. Either way he has shaped his tools prior to that chipping to give the working edge. As with the random edge of our first tools, we again find man used random shapes as well. A single blow to a block of flint may separate a blade ideal to do the task ahead. But our craftsman knows he will need an edge that will last longer, longer than the random edge will maintain. Here he will give a secondary chipping of the edge. Ah, a new word, "secondary". I have been waiting for just the right time to slip this word in. The original working of the large cobble of flint would yield the blank we wish to work with, this is our "primary" chipping, and can be seen on all worked stone. Those large scars on tools and points. They are the blows that give us our flakes. They are the blows that give us the predetermined form we desire in our points. Now we introduce "secondary" chipping. Recall that chipping given to our knife to alter the angle of cutting? That is the secondary chipping. Again these scars are visible on a point or tool. We now have type two of the tools. A usable blade, or one that offers the form needed to do the task. To this blade has been added the secondary chipping. Unlike points used by the hunter, if it fit the hand it was used. These tools made from unaltered blanks will lack the forming blows other than those needed to separate it from the core. But our secondary chipping will be very evident. So we have number two on our list of stone forms to look for. The third is just one more step. First let's look at some “forming and secondary chips”. Soory, this display under way now, soon. On type three, the basic stone tools will be those that have their outline placed into the blank. A common tool of this group are the thumbnail scrapers recovered in Canada. While the basic blade may be small, it can be spotted by the round thicker tool end. The term thumbnail is not to hard to grasp when we view these. Had there only been the recovery of one or two of these tools there would not have been the need for a classification as separate tool form. But from the area of the river with the stone sinkers, these small, but well made tools are common. Lets take a look at a few and see the forming scars and the secondary chipping. The thumbnails.AGAIN SOON We have covered the three basic tool groups. The random or utilized stone. The convenient stone with a worked edge, and those tools that, like points, are crafted to meet the maker's standards for a tool. But before we go on, there is one more set of chips we need to discuss. The use scars.
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I covered how type one tools are identified by the use they were given. Random scars or damage along the one edge which were given the tool in a similar action. Well it should not be two surprising that a worked tool edge will also display scars from use. These will be less evidenced on a natural tool than they are pre sharpened or shaped worked blade. As we covered, a secondary chipping gave a working edge intended to last longer. But even here use of the tool, will dull it, and if we look close we will find these use scars. Very small and placed on top of the secondary chipping, they need be only a fraction of the size of the secondary chipping, which it'self is small. We now offer a few views of this scaring, and it will often help you identify your tool. The flaking and use scars. SOORY, IT TAKES TIME. The intended use of each of our tools may not be known, but we at the least are able to recover them. In the next part of this paper we will go into the forms of tools, many will leave us asking "What for", our only answer will be "they were used". As we covered in the first part, stone tools can be recovered in many conditions. From flakes only showing use, to pre shaped blanks with a well defined working edge. Now to examine the kinds of tools recovered. Some we will know the use for and other's we can suggest, and there will be a few we can only refer to as tools. Remember if man did not make a hunting point of his work, we refer to it as a tool. I will show you many samples recovered from sites investigated by the Pecos, but I would never suggest they are the only forms man worked stone into. Nor that the tools displayed are the only way a task was accomplished. We covered the hammers in the first display, along with knives. Possibly the most common tool is the scraper. This could be a tool to scrape clean a hide from a kill, or one to remove the bark from a shaft. The task was a simple one, and the working edge could be just as simple. To find random utilized flakes or blades used as scrapers will be a very easy one at most any habitation site. Again the angle of the working or tool edge need be of a degree that allows the continued use of a tool. Again we will look for use scars. But as there were types of worked tools there will be several basic forms for scrapers. While the average amateur need not concern his or her self with the terminology used, it will be a benefit if you wish to converse with others about your find. As you may have gathered man generally began with a stone cobble. Generally nature has taken this one and given it a rounded shape. Man will, as his preparation to working this into a blank he can shape to his needs, remove one of the ends. The name for the removed scrap is the "cortex cap". As stated earlier man rarely wasted his scraps, if they could be used. The same is true with the cortex cap. Easy to identify, this first blow will have a skin or patinated surface. The area exposed by the blow will display the fresh interior of the cobble. Here it was common to give a few forming strikes of the hammer at one point, to shape a steep angular face. The need to use secondary chipping is not required. But a close inspection will often reveal the use scars. But the use of the scraper on hides will not always inflict use scars. So let's look at a few scrapers.TIME, TIME. I am sure you have noted the many variations in size and form. For some an over degree of simplicity offered here, we only offer the general use suggested by the tools, to assign the task for each may never be accomplished. After all this is a museum of "pre historic" man. The action of a scraper is self explanatory, you scrape with it. For us today, this form of action is not common. But early man found it a task requiring a dependable tool. The larger "Turtle back" scraper is common at many sites across the south. The smaller "Cortex" scraper is often the result of producing micro tools, and these small tools will need special care to find. They have their own story and we will get to them a bit later. One problem, I can see building for my reader, is a need of a glossary of the many odd terms, I will be using. I offer one here, and although it may not give all the information you need, I will do my best. The Glossary. WITH GODS HELP, AND TIME
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Next, more tools?
Next, more tools?