Ground Stone Research Articles

Identifying organic residue on ground stone tools from Mesolithic sandy sites: selected examples from Paliwodzizna 29 in Central Poland

During excavations at the Mesolithic site Paliwodzizna 29 (central Poland), in addition to the flint artefacts typical for this period and region, a collection of 175 non-flint stone artefacts was discovered. This collection included various “macro-lithic tools” displaying visible intentional modifications and usage traces. This observation prompted a preliminary traceological analysis of a selection of tools. The primary goal of the presented research was to assess the possibility of analysing and interpreting use-wear traces and potential residues on these tools. The ultimate aim was to investigate the feasibility of conducting such analyses on macro-lithic tools from the sandy sites of the Polish Lowland dating back to the Mesolithic.

A 47,000 year archaeological and palaeoenvironmental record from Juukan 2 rockshelter on the western Hamersley Plateau of the Pilbara region, Western Australia

Archaeological and palaeoenvironmental investigations at Juukan 2 rockshelter have yielded new information on the ancient Aboriginal occupation of the Pilbara uplands in northwest Australia. Using multiple lines of evidence, including lithic, faunal, pollen, ancient DNA, radiocarbon dating, optically stimulated luminescence, and Bayesian chronological modelling, we show that Aboriginal people occupied the western Hamersley Plateau as early as 47,000 years ago (47 ka). Late Pleistocene populations utilised a diverse range of tool technologies, including bone points, grindstones, and flaked stone artefacts. Palaeoclimatic conditions at Juukan 2 rockshelter varied greatly over the past 47 ka, with repeated site visits by people, including during the peak hyper-arid phase of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) c. 21 ± 2 ka. Ancient starch analyses of the ground stone artefacts show the processing of Ipomoea (Bush Potato) from around 42 ka to the present day. Pronounced increases in the discard of stone artefacts and bone in the last 3500 years are interpreted to be the result of increased frequency of site use. A braided hair fragment dated to this period has demonstrated genetic links between the earlier rockshelter occupants and contemporary Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura peoples, who have maintained strong cultural connections to the area.

Micro-botanical evidence of plant food sources and stone tool functions at the Sujiacun site from the Longshan period in southeastern Shandong Province, China

During the early and middle periods of the Longshan culture (4600–4200 cal BP), early states developed around the Liangchengzhen and Yaowangcheng sites along the coastal areas of southeastern Shandong. Intensive agriculture and the specialised production of stone tools symbolised the advanced development of Longshan society. However, previous archaeological research in this area has focused mainly on the central settlements of the Longshan culture. As small and medium-sized rural settlements have not been sufficiently explored, their subsistence economy and stone tool functions remain unclear. Starch grains and phytolith assemblages in the residues on stone tool surfaces provide direct tangible evidence of the functions of these tools and offer a new perspective on the characteristics of plant resource use at archaeological sites. The Sujiacun site in Rizhao was a Longshan-period rural settlement in coastal southeastern Shandong. This study conducted starch grain and phytolith analyses of the residues on the surfaces of 17 stone tools from the Sujiacun site. Starch grains of foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), rice (Oryza sativa), roots and tubers, and plants of the Hordeum genus were identified, as well as phytoliths of broomcorn millet and rice and those commonly found in grass stems and leaves. This micro-botanical data together with other archaeological evidence suggest that foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, and rice were the main plant foods and that mixed farming of millet and rice was the main subsistence economy at the Sujiacun site. Knives and sickles were mainly used for harvesting crops and sometimes for peeling, slicing, and chopping roots and tubers. The stone muller was used for grinding rather than dehusking grain, and the grinding stone was used not only for polishing stone tools but also for grinding plants. Our findings provide new insights into the methods of plant use and subsistence practices of the Longshan complex society on the east coast of China.

Provenance analysis of red sandstone ground stone tools from the tell site of Hódmezővásárhely-Gorzsa (SE Hungary)

Hódmezővásárhely–Gorzsa is a multi-period tell settlement in South Hungary in the centre of the Great Hungarian Plain, about 15 km southwest of the city of Hódmezővásárhely. The thickest section of the settlement belongs to the Late Neolithic Tisza Culture period. In total, 1061 macrolithic artefacts were unearthed, a quarter of which was polished, and three quarter of which were ground stone tools. Half of the ground stones were made of different types of sandstone, including (1) red-, (2) grey micaceous-, (3) calcareous-, (4) white meta sandstones, and (5) other sandstones and metasandstones were identified. The red sandstones are further categorised into four subgroups based on optical microscopy. This examination is the first systematic multi-analytical investigation (i.e. optical microscopy, whole-rock geochemistry and mineral chemistry), carried out on these ground stone tool types. The goal is to identify and precisely locate the raw material types, in which heavy minerals and the tourmaline mineral chemistry play the key role. To determine the provenance of each of these subgroups, samples were collected from seven geological localities (i.e. primary outcrops and secondary presences, such as river drainages or terraces) for a comparative study. Based on our results, the alluvium of the Maros River can be considered as a possible source for the ‘Red – 3’ type of Gorzsa, while the results for the rest red sandstone types (‘Red – 1’, ‘Red − 2’ and ‘Red – 4’) are inconclusive in terms of provenance.

Working at home. Reconstructing activities within the LBK household through the systemic use-wear analysis of flint industries, bone and antler tools and ground stone implements

The systematic analysis of use-wear traces on flint, ground stone and bone tools, has rarely been carried out at Early Neolithic sites in continental Europe. Hence, it is a powerful means of identifying possible economic differences. As part of the ongoing HOMES project, we are investigating the importance and nature of acquisition strategies (hunting, harvesting), food preparation techniques (butchery, grain milling) and the processing of other resources (plant fibres) in a large set of LBK households in the Aisne Valley (France). After re-examining and integrating new results on the flint industry (366 tools), bone and antler tools (414 tools) and ground stone tools (114 tools), the aim here is to examine whether the processing of soft flint plants, hides and wood remains the dominant activity and how it coexists with more marginal activities such as the processing of soft minerals and textile fibres. The absence of certain activities is scrutinised in relation to their location within and outside the domestic and village space. Discrete functional characteristics are tracked to improve our understanding of the observed differences between the domestic units: segmentation of production processes, differences in the use of each type of raw material, intensity of use. In this way, we can test the hypothesis of autonomous or interdependent households in terms of production and consumption and investigate the economic structure of LBK villagers.

Bokningsstenar – betydande spår av de obetydliga

Ore grinding stones – A significant trace of the insignificants. In the summer of 2020, an archaeological excavation took place at Dammen’s blast furnace in Askersund, central Sweden. The site, active between 1642 and 1844, was a miner’s furnaceperiodically co-owned by Louis de Geer, a businessman who owned the nearby manor Godegård. Even though Dammen’s blast furnace was active for over 200 years, the traces of the iron production conducted here were sparce. Besides the large amount of slag and the foundations of two storage buildings, the main result of the excavation was the numerous ore grinding stones used in the process of refining the iron ore, identified by the smallish pits left on the stones’ surface after manually striking the ore with a hammer. In Sweden, this is a relatively unknown find category; few blast furnaceshave been investigated by archaeologists and when ore grinding stones have been identified, they have not received much attention. At larger blast furnace sites, the process of refining ore was often conducted mechanically with water-powered equipment but at smaller sites this was carried out by hand, usually by women, children and what was referred to as “inferior workers”.Thus, at Dammen’s blast furnace, the lowest ranking workers had left the clearest traces; 141 stones with slowly worn pits.

Assessing the impact of wheat varieties and processing methods on diabetes risk: A systematic review

Diabetes mellitus remains a major global health challenge, with diet playing a critical role in both its management and prevention. Among dietary factors, wheat-based products are staple foods worldwide, yet their impact on diabetes risk is influenced by the variety of wheat and the methods used in its processing. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing research on how different wheat varieties and their processing methods affect the risk of diabetes. We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases, selecting studies that met predefined inclusion criteria focused on wheat characteristics and diabetes outcomes. Our review categorizes wheat varieties based on their genetic profiles and glycemic indices, and examines how traditional and modern processing methods, such as milling and fermentation, alter these properties and influence health outcomes. Preliminary findings suggest that whole grains and ancient wheat varieties often have lower glycemic responses compared to refined and genetically modified strains. Additionally, processes like stone grinding and fermentation have been shown to improve glycemic profiles and potentially lower diabetes risk. This review highlights significant gaps in current research, particularly in long-term clinical outcomes and comparisons of genetic variations. We discuss the implications for dietary guidelines and propose directions for future research to better understand and utilize wheat's nutritional potential in diabetes prevention.

Models of Grinding Stone Manufacture, Use, and Discard from Tigrai, Ethiopia: Opportunities for Cultural Comparisons and Implications for Usewear Analysis

ABSTRACT Grinding stones are a worldwide technology, instrumental in processing food as far back as the African Middle Stone Age. Research interest in grinding stones, and the usewear on their surfaces, has grown in the last few decades. Models of grinding stone manufacture, use, and discard provide a reference for cross-cultural comparisons of practices and guide methodologies in planning usewear analysis based on kinetics. In Ethiopia, traditional knowledge of grinding stones is still accessible, and grinding stones remain in use. The models developed through interviews with, and observations of, local practitioners show processes and behaviors but also decisions made at various stages. Particular behaviors and decisions have impacts on tool wear.

Morphology meets lithic function: Use-wear and residue analysis of stone tools from the Dadiwan site in Northwestern China

Morphological classification of stone tools has long been used to study functions. While this approach has practical merit, ethnographical research often suggests a weak relationship between morphology and function. However, the actual functions of stone tools are still understudied in Chinese archaeology. This study addresses this gap by applying use-wear and starch residue analyses to investigate the functions of grinding implements and stone axes from Phase I (7800–7300 cal. BP) and Phase II (6500–5900 cal. BP) of the Dadiwan site. We find that the sampled grinding stones were used to process both plant and non-plant materials. In addition, our study shows that stone axes were used not only in woodworking but also in processing starchy plants, including millets, tubers, and other wild cereals. We discuss the implications of utilizing stone axes in these tasks within the context of gendered labor roles and caution against relying solely on presumed tool functions for inferring gendered labor organization. Our findings highlight the issues embedded in the archaeological classification of stone tools and in using them for uncritical interpretations. Hence, a more rigorous approach is necessary to understand the fluidity of tool uses.

Garden Range 2: Taungurung rock art rockshelter site reveals 11,000 years of Aboriginal occupation of the Strathbogie Ranges, Central Victoria

This paper provides new insights into the long-term history of Aboriginal use of mountainous Victoria over the past 25,000 years. It presents results of excavations at Garden Range 2 rock art site located on the edge of the Strathbogie Ranges in central Victoria. The excavations were a research collaboration between the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) and Monash University. Results indicate possible ephemeral visitation by the Old People during the Last Glacial Maximum, clear evidence of occupation over the past 11,000 years, and increased activity since 1600 cal BP. The stone artefact assemblage is dominated by flakes of local quartz. Three igneous flakes from ground-edge axes, dating to after 700 cal BP, are contemporary with a grinding stone showing use-wear and residues from stone axe maintenance. The faunal assemblage is dominated by forest and grassland animals, such as macropod and emu, with mussel shells and fish bones indicating the use of nearby Seven Creeks. The rarity of ochre within sediments precludes insights into the age of rock art paintings on the shelter’s surface. Fossil pollen documents the nineteenth-century European forest clearances, a period when Taungurung people’s use of the site became unsafe. Unburnt fragments of rabbit and sheep bone suggest subsequent use of the site as a fox den. Garden Range 2 illustrates Aboriginal use of mountainous central Victoria during periods of significant environmental changes in the Early Holocene and possibly in the Late Pleistocene. These chronological patterns, including increased activity in the central Victorian uplands during the Late Holocene, match emerging chronological patterns of long-term use of other mountainous regions of southeastern Australia. How sites like Garden Range 2 relate to broader long-term Aboriginal use of more elevated sub-alpine and alpine (snow country) zones of central and eastern Victoria is a question for future archaeological research.

구석기시대 사용된 자갈돌의 시론적 연구

Paleolithic people made and used tools from a variety of materials, including stone, bone, antler, and wood. In particular, based on stone tools found in Paleolithic sites, many researchers have made an effort to reveal the function of the site and the life and culture of the people. It has found not only cores, flakes, retouched tools, but also pebbles that were not retouched but had traces by use in Paleolithic sites. Although utilized pebbles have been continuously used in the Paleolithic, they have not been treated much as a subject of research. So we will try to understand various functions of utilized pebbles through use-wear analysis, experiments, and ethnographic research. There are many different types of utilized pebbles in Paleolithic sites, but they can be largely categorized as hammer stones, anvil stones, pitted stones, and ground stones. Hammer stones can be used alone or in combination with other tools. It is generally assumed that they were used to make stone tools, but they were used for a variety of purposes. Anvil stones were used alone as hammer stones for knapping big stones, or such as bipolar debitage in combination with hammer stones, or to crack bones or hard fruits. Pitted stones have the function of both a hammer and an anvil. Depending on the size and depth of the pits formed on the pebble, it can be assumed that it was used for various functions, such as making stone tools and breaking hard fruits, nuts. Ground stones have grinding or stripe traces on the surface, and it is likely that they were used to work with leather, bone, and antler. Utilized Pebbles had been used as tools by people for a long time since the Paleolithic and reflected the technology, activities, and culture of the people at that time. Various types of utilized pebbles, including hammer and anvil stones, have been identified in Paleolithic sites on the Korean Peninsula. If studies on the utilized pebbles are accumulated, it is expected that we have dynamic interpretations related to the technological and economic activities of Paleolithic people.

Dynamic changes in the sensory properties, composition and antioxidant activity of sesame residues and oil during the preparation of sesame oil by aqueous extraction

The preparation of sesame oil by aqueous extraction is a traditional process with a long history. In this study, samples were obtained from key stages of the sesame oil process, such as baking, stone grinding, and hot water oil extraction, and the changes in sensory properties, composition, and antioxidant properties of the samples were studied to control product quality. The results showed that the flavor and color in sesame oil were mainly formed by Maillard reactions, and the two key stages for these reactions were roasting and hot water oil extraction. Adding hot water reduced the total amino acid, alkaline amino acid, and essential amino acid contents in the sample, corresponding to a significant increase in the total amount of brown matter, richness of taste, types of volatile nitrogen oxides, •OH scavenging ability, and Fe2+ chelating ability. In addition, the bitterness value and DPPH• scavenging ability of sesame residues were significantly positively correlated with the absorbance value of the sesame residue aqueous solution at 420 nm. The roasting process enhances the oxidative stability of oil during storage, while the water extraction process does not alter this stability.

LITERATUR REVIEW: PENCEGAHAN CEDERA DAN REHABILITASI PADA PELARI TRAIL

Trail running is sports activity that combines two activities, namely mountain climbing and running. Trail running activities are carried out on mountains that have tracks in the form of paths, in the form of ground stones, or a mixture of sand and small rocks. Trail running was first carried out in the United States of America and continues to develop in Indonesia for example Bandung, Probolinggo, Lombok dan Banyuwangi, Which have been associated in the form of ITRA (International Trail Running Association). The majority of trail running injuries occur in the lower legs, especially the knees and ankles. The main mechanisms underlying injury and injury development include inadequate neuromotor control-balance-coordination ,running through fatigue and abnormal kinematics on a variety of terrain. Pre-Rehabilitation programs such as strengthening the kinetic chain consisting of dynamic flexibility, neuromotor strength and balance, plyometrics exercises can encourage stable and also controlled movement on trails. Educating patients about symptoms of early musculoskeletal soreness and training adjustments also proved to help prevent injuries from developing into serious overuse injuries. Regarding to the increasing number of the injury in trail runners, this article was wrote to describe the role of injury prevention and safe training to reduce the risk of injury and also early rehabilitation program for the injured runners. Study by Vincent et all that review the injury prevention, safe training and rehabilitation to return to sport was the main source in the discussion. The review result showed that educating the runners to prevent injury and how to do the safe running shown a positive impact to reduce the numbers of injury. Early rehabilitation program also shown a good impact in promoting healing in injured runners.

Starch Granule Yields from Open-Air Metates Unaffected by Environmental Contamination

Abstract The morphological characteristics of starch granules preserved on ancient ground stone tools can reveal which plant species were processed and consumed and even infer tool function. Bedrock metates are commonly associated with the processing of localized seasonal resources, providing potential evidence for past human lifeways, including foods collected and processed, social gatherings, settlement patterns, land investment, and territorial behavior. In contrast to ground stone artifacts preserved in a buried context that have been studied extensively, limited starch research has been conducted on the potential for environmental contamination of open-air bedrock mortars and metates exposed to natural erosional elements. This project examines the residue samples of bedrock metates from three archaeological sites in southern Oregon in the United States to compare the starch yields of extraneous material cleaned from the grinding surface to those extracted from interstitial matrices deeper within the bedrock. Significantly greater number of starch granules were recovered from deep within the cracks and crevices than from the surface. Our study suggests that environmental contamination can be managed if separate surface and control samples are collected and analyzed in conjunction with the interstitial samples. Examining the potential for environmental contamination on exposed grinding surfaces is crucial for confidence in starch granule results and improving our understanding of human dietary behavior.

Optimization of adaptive and sustainable gold ore grinding processes for better environmental and land conditions in the small-scale gold mining sector in Indonesia

The artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector largely relies on mercury in gold processing, posing potential environmental contamination, health issues, and land degradation. In the villages of Tatelu and Talawaan, ASGM operations, guided by local knowledge and resources, have transitioned to using cyanide leaching for gold processing sustainably. These operations utilize andesitic stones from river deposits as grinding media in the grinding process. However, the cyanide leaching results were not optimal, with a gold recovery below 60%. This leaves significant amounts of gold in the waste, necessitating further processing and the incomplete treatment of free cyanide waste. The suboptimal gold recovery in cyanide leaching is attributed to the inadequate grain size liberation during grinding. This study optimized grinding by comparing andesitic stone grinding media with steel balls and rods. The findings indicate that to achieve a grain size of 75% passing 74 um, grinding with andesitic stones takes 4 hours, while steel rods and balls take 3 hours. For a grain size of 75% passing 44 um, grinding with andesitic stones, steel balls, and rods requires 6 hours. With more precise process parameters, locally available andesitic stones can be an effective grinding medium to optimize gold recovery. In line with optimizing gold recovery, this will enhance ASGM's revenue, encouraging the adoption of waste management practices to alleviate environmental impact, health risks, and land degradation. This aligns with the promotion of sustainable practices within the ASGM sector.

Uninscribed Late Bronze and Early Iron Age stone weights Dor, Israel

Among hundreds of ground stones, four, exceptional, modified stone artefacts were uncovered in four phases during the excavations in Area G at Tel Dor. Three of the four stone items are defined here as uninscribed weights and one as a possible weight. One is dated to the Late Bronze Age and three to the early Iron Age. These are the only scale weights revealed during the extensive excavations at Tel Dor (apart from one Judaean weight of one sheqel). This paper presents the reasons for their classification as weights even though they were found singly, and not as a set with the associated standards. These artefacts are compared with other stone items from Tel Dor that have previously been suggested as weights, but lack the necessary criteria for significance. The context of the weights is also described, and related to the reconstructed lifestyle of Iron Age Area G in the Phoenician city of Dor. An Early Iron Age, recently published, weight from ʿEn Gev is added to enlarge the collection.

Study on Influencing Factors on Properties of Injectional Compounds Based on Polyethylene and Silica from Waste Materials

"In this study, silica from waste materials - rice husk (silica TT) and byproduct of quartz stone grinding (silica TA) - modified with bis (3-ethoxy propylsilane) tetrasulphide (TESPT) were characterized. Their particle sizes are mostly under 30 μm, quite suitable for plastic filling. Some factors influencing the properties of injectional compounds based on HDPE/LDPE blend and silica from waste materials were carried out. It was found that the processing conditions which including maximum temperature of 190-200 oC and screw speed of 50-100 rpm are suitable for stable compound properties. Processing aid additives ratios such as stearic acid/zinc stearate and PE wax/paraffinic oil affect mostly compound melt flow index, but HDPE/LDPE ratio strongly affects both melt flow index and mechanical properties of compounds: change HDPE/LDPE ratio from 90/10 to 60/40 decrease tensile from 15.2 MPa to 12.5 MPa, bending strength from 15.5 MPa to10.6 MPa while melt flow index decrease almost twice but elongation at break increase from 34.4% to 72.2%. Also, using PE-g-MA as a compatibilizer may remarkably enhance the mechanical properties of compounds: the PE-g-MA content of 0.8-1.0 (%wt) increases tensile, bending strength, and impact resistance of compound by about 10-30% in comparison with the compound without PE-g-MA. "

Improving the surface quality of AlMgSi1 alloy with the selection of the appropriate vibration grinding stones

The number and variety of paints and coating systems in the automotive industry have increased in recent years. However, the basic requirement for the quality of the paints still depends on the surfaces on which they are applied. This applies not only to the large body parts but also to all components that are integrated.There are many surface treatment processes and techniques that are used as an additional process step, such as pickling for a chemical surface treatment or blasting for a mechanical surface treatment.The present work investigates a method for optimizing the surface before painting, using the membrane cup of the ultrasonic sensor as an example for AlMgSi1 alloy, without implementing additional process steps.First, all process steps influencing the surface quality for the production of a membrane cup were considered for optimization. Then, based on a backward process chain analysis, vibratory grinding for deburring of the membrane cup was determined as the process step to be optimized. For the optimization of the vibratory grinding, experiments with two different grindstones were performed. For the characterization of the surface quality, the roughness parameters Rz and Ra were measured with a confocal laser scanning microscope and analyzed in order to determine the optimal process conditions.The experiments showed that the surface roughness can be significantly improved using dedicated process parameters and taking into account the geometry of the vibratory grinding stones. Moreover, different surface qualities can be achieved at different areas on the workpiece, this new approach provides a solution for surface optimization in various areas of the workpiece without additional process steps and costs.

An investment index for lithic technology: Implications for investment, mobility, and division of labor on the Colorado Plateau, USA

Changes in technological investment may shed light on human responses to social and environmental change, yet these changes are difficult to quantify archaeologically. Here we develop a new technological investment index for examining change in chipped and ground stone tool investment and apply it to understand human behavioral changes during the early Holocene at North Creek Shelter, southern Utah, USA. The findings of this study suggest continued investment in chipped stone technology across the early Holocene, consistent with steady consumption of artiodactyls. Findings also suggest increased investment in ground stone technology, consistent with increased low-return plant resource consumption. Additionally, application of a quantitative model for lithics and mobility demonstrates increased reliance on local toolstone across the early Holocene, suggesting decreased mobility and longer stays at North Creek Shelter. Our results have implications for the division of labor, as some individuals continued to invest in chipped stone tools for hunting unreliable, high-return prey, while others increasingly invested in ground stone tools for processing more reliable, though lower-return, plants, which may have tethered hunter-gatherers to the site.

ORTA TOROS SIRADAĞLARI VE PAZARCIK OVASI SINIRINDA BİR SON AŞAMA NATUFİAN TEKNOKOMPLEKSİ: KAHRAMANMARAŞ'TAKİ YUSUFUN KAYASI MAĞARASI'NIN İLK SONUÇLARI

Yusufun Kayası Cave is located 45 km east of Kahramanmaraş city center. The cave was discovered as part of the “Prehistoric Survey in Kahramanmaraş Province Project” carried out by a team, directed by Cevdet Merih Erek between 2006 and 2012. We suggest that the elements of the lithic material culture from the cave, including lunates, backed bladelets, end scrapers, perforators, sickle elements (on fragments of blade and flakes), denticulated and notched tools, have parallels with those of “Harifian” culture defined from the Negev and Sinai regions. At the same time, there are also traces of technological innovations associated with plant processing and agriculture, including grinding stone and pulverizing tools recovered from the cave deposits. This study aims to describe this new cultural tradition in Anatolia and describes its similarities and differences within the Near Eastern region.