Ground Stone Research Articles

`Ainab 1 and the Eastward Expansion of Early PPNB Traditions: Unveiling Neolithic Connections between the Levant and Arabia through the Lenses of Chipped Stone Industry

Abstract. `Ainab 1, situated in southeastern Jordan near the Saudi Arabian border, represents a unique archaeological site discovered by H. G. K. Gebel. This small open-air hunting encampment encompasses 11 structures, with structure A selected for excavation during the 2014 season. The excavations yielded over 5,000 chipped industry specimens, complemented by fragments of animal bones and ground stones. The camp’s dating to the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB) era relies on the exclusive presence of diagnostic Helwan points, Hagdud truncation and bidirectional blade technology. As such, `Ainab 1 signifies the farthest known EPPNB outpost boasting structures in Transjordan and the Arabian Peninsula. This research paper presents the findings from spatial, technological, typological, and raw material analyses of all chipped stone artefacts procured from structure A’s surface and excavation. The comparative investigation of technical, typological, and spatial patterns has facilitated the reconstruction of the chipped industry’s chrono-spatial patterns. These results illuminate new perspectives on the dialogue between the Levantine core area of the Fertile Crescent and peripheral Jordanian regions and further provide fresh insights into the spread of Neolithic into the Arabian Peninsula.

Heavy mineral catalogue for the characterization and provenance of red sandstone macrolithic tools from Hódmezővásárhely-Gorzsa

Although ground stone tools (GSTs) are among the most abundant stone tools in archaeological sites, they are rarely investigated both from the archaeological and the geological point of view. There are many pieces made of siliciclastic sedimentary raw material. Their fragmentary condition makes it possible to examine them by slightly destructive methods, such HMA (heavy mineral analysis), which was developed primarily for siliciclastic rocks. Until now, ‘sensu stricto’ (s.str) heavy mineral analysis has not yet been carried out for ground stone tools, neither at the national nor at the international level. By comparing the heavy mineral compositions of the stone tools and their potential raw materials with the help of a newly developed HM descriptive system (including rutile, zircon, tourmaline, apatite and titanite), it is possible to determine the provenance of these archaeological materials. From the Neolithic tell of Gorzsa, 109 red sandstone macrolithic stone tools are known. These were separated into four, different types (‘Red–1’ – ‘Red–4’), based on the macroscopic and microscopic analysis. 11 fragments were chosen for HMA analysis. In addition, red-coloured sandstones from different geological occurrences of the Carpathian-Pannonian Basin (22 pieces) were also investigated. Based on the heavy mineral analysis, all raw material types of the stone tools could be originated from the Maros River and the Apuseni Mountains (Transylvania). However, the previously determined potential sources (Permotriassic and Miocene sequences from the Mecsek Mountains, Balaton Highlands, pebbles from the Danube River, and Papuk Mountains) cannot be excluded with absolute certainty from the possible raw materials.

Szolnok – Milléri-holtág part I-II. több korszakú lelőhely őrlőkő leletei archeometriai vizsgálatának előzetes eredményei : Új adatok a domoszlói piroxénandezit nyersanyag régészeti elterjedéséhez

The multi-period archaeological site Szolnok – Milléri-holtág part I-II is located in the north-eastern vicinity of Szolnok, approximately 5 km from the town, on the high bank of the Milléri-holtág. The total excavated area is almost 27 000 m2 . The preventive excavation was performed by the staff of the Hungarian National Museum in two campaigns (in 2014 and 2015) connected with the M4 motorway constructions. Most excavated settlement features belonged to a Middle Iron Age (Scythian Period) and a Late Iron Age (Celtic Period) rural settlement with scattered structures. Besides these, other settlement features were found from the Neolithic, Late Bronze Age and Medieval Period (Árpád Period). It has to be mentioned that in the excavated part of the Scythian Period settlement, only circular and oval structures were found. The rectangular features – typical for other settlements of the period – were absent in Milléri-Holtág part I-II. However, the archaeological finds were typical: ceramic assemblages were characterised by long-lasting forms (pots, bowls) of the Iron Age household ceramics. The assemblages of the Late Iron Age features were very similar to the vessel types of the earlier period. The partition of the artefacts can only be made with the help of some characteristic forms and ornamentations that appeared in a close unit. The ground stone assemblage of the site (primarily fragments of grinding stones) was analysed with petrographic and geochemical methods. Based on these investigations, the finds' most frequent raw material type could be identified with the Domoszló-type pyroxene andesite from the Mátra Mountains, studied intensively in the past few years. Other types of andesite were present in the ground stone assemblage in smaller amounts. The identification of the source areas of these different andesite raw material types needs more exploration, not just in the territory of Hungary, but also in some areas beyond the borders, e.g. Subcarpathia (Zakarpatska Oblast, Ukraine), Eastern-Slovakia, Transylvania (Romania).

Enigmatic Perforated Stone Disk and Grooved Stones from Three Caves Sites in Sumatra

Ground stone tools, especially perforated stone disks and grooved stones, are rarely discussed in Indonesian prehistory. In terms of its quantity and workmanship, these types of artifacts are fairly unique. They are often limited in quantity, which makes it difficult to compare with the other references. Moreover, their technological aspect still needs to be widely understood by academics. For the first time in Indonesia, this article will discuss perforated stone disks and grooved stones in the context of prehistoric cave sites in Sumatra. Through formal analysis of its attributes at medium to high magnification, we provide a reference for their technological aspects as well as the context of the artifact. Our study reveals that both types of artifacts appear to be closely related to the aquatic culture. The practical function of these artifacts is associated with a fishery tradition on the rivers inland. Our argument is corroborated by the remnants of aquatic fauna associated with these two types of artifacts. Apart from that, the perforated stone disks that were previously reported were found in the mainland of Southeast Asia and, in fact, also found in Sumatra. It further emphasizes the connection between the cultural entities of prehistoric populations that inhabited insular and mainland Southeast Asia.

Watu Gilesan Jagung: Deskripsi, Eksistensi, Nilai Edukasi dan Rekomendasi Kebijakan Konservasi

Watu gilesan jagung (the corn grinding stone) is a historical relic that had an important use in its time, namely for grinding corn kernels into corn rice or smaller grains. As technology develops, watu gilesan jagung are becoming obsolete. Some were even damaged or thrown away. In fact, watu gilesan jagung has symbolic values that are relevant for education. This research aims to describe, reveal the existence, outline symbolic values that are relevant for education and recommend conservation policies. The research approach used is qualitative. Data was collected using observation, interviews, FGD and document collection techniques. Data analysis uses interactive models and the validity of the data is tested using triangulation. The research results show several important things. First, watu gilesan jagung has a unique description/profile and is different from other relics. Second, the existence of watu gilesan jagung is considered threatened, because many are thrown away, damaged or removed because they are considered unusable. Third, watu gilesan jagung has values that are relevant to education, namely the value of religiosity, social values and the value of struggle. Apart from that, there is also learning potential that can be applied, namely appropriate technology and character education. Fourth, for conservation policy recommendations, we suggest that watu gilesan jagung can be registered as a cultural heritage object. However, if this recommendation is not acceptable, we propose another conservation policy recommendation, namely an integrated approach, including integration with education, tourism, community and social media.

Rhyolite grinding-milling tools in focus

Past societies have used various raw materials for making grinding-milling tools (GMT). These included rhyolite, a hard volcanic rock with a porphyritic texture and pores, which is suitable for grinding. Thus far, no experiments have been carried out involving use-wear analysis on rhyolite grinding stones, and more specifically on Neolithic GMTs made of this raw material. Therefore, in this paper, we present an experimental program designed to investigate the development of wear from the grinding of einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) on rhyolite GMT replicas. To test the resulting observations, four GMTs found at the Neolithic site of Vchynice were used as a case study. However, the results of the experiments can be used to study these important artefacts in other geographic and cultural areas. The experiment has yielded several important findings relating to the kinematics of the tools and throws new light on their users. The orientation of the tool relative to the user can be distinguished based on the distribution of the use-wear traces. The study of the archaeological assemblage revealed that substances other than einkorn wheat, which was used for our experimental grinding, were processed on the Neolithic GMTs.

Changing Livelihood, and Culture in Pattharkatta (Kushbadiya) Community of Nepal

Pattharkatta (Kusbadiya), one of the endangered communities of Nepal, have been using multiple livelihood strategies from carving grinding stone to wage labour. In course of selling and carving grinding stones, they still practice semi-nomadic characteristics like tribal peoples’ routine of periodically moving from one place to another. Due to the lack of their own registered land, they were compelled to many livelihood strategies because the traditional occupation was replaced by new technology. The decline of their traditional occupation and landlessness generate questions about the traditional livelihood and culture strategies of the community. What are the current livelihood practices of the Pattharkatta? How do they negotiate to change livelihood and culture? What are socio-cultural changes they experienced? Nowadays, they have settled in some public places near the road, rivers, and slum areas of the municipality. Some of them temporally migrated to the near market and road where they make and sell grinding stones. Some of them migrated to Kathmandu and temporally settled along the ring road at Balaju Bus Park, Kalanki, Chahabil, Basundhara, and Koteswor.
 By employing a mixed method design, the researcher collected information through observations and interviews with the selected informants in Kapilbastu and Kathmandu. Descriptive and narrative analysis of the data explored that they were temporarily settled in a public land by making temporary huts in public lands or lands allocated by the local bodies. Few of them continued in traditional occupations- making grinding stones, making brooms and ropes using jute fibers and rest of them changed their livelihood strategies and culture.

Morpho-chemical characterization of individual ancient starches retrieved on ground stone tools from Palaeolithic sites in the Pontic steppe

Despite the extensive literature on the retrieval of digestible starches from archaeological contexts, there are still significant concerns regarding their genuine origin and durability. Here, we propose a multi-analytical strategy to identify the authenticity of ancient starches retrieved from macrolithic tools excavated at Upper Paleolithic sites in the Pontic steppe. This strategy integrates the morphological discrimination of starches through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with single starch chemo-profiling using Fourier transform infrared imaging and microscopy. We obtained evidence of aging and biomineralization in the use-related starches from Palaeolithic sites, providing a methodology to establish their ancient origin, assess their preservation status, and attempt their identification. The pivotal application of this multidisciplinar approach demonstrates that the macrolithic tools, from which starches were dislodged, were used for food-processing across the Pontic Steppe around 40,000 years ago during the earliest colonization of Eurasia by Homo sapiens.

From Stone Grinder to Lung Transplant Candidate: A Young Worker's Battle with Silicosis

Abstract This article presents a compelling case study of a young stone grinder who, after nine years of dedicated labour, now faces the prospect of a life-altering lung transplantation due to the development of silicosis, a debilitating pulmonary disease stemming from inhalation of crystalline silica dust, commonly encountered in stone grinding industries. This article delves into the pathophysiology of silicosis, its insidious onset, and the countless challenges confronted by the young worker upon receiving this radical diagnosis. This case highlights the critical importance of rigorous occupational safety protocols, early disease detection mechanisms, and the essential roles played by employers and healthcare professionals in preserving the well-being of individuals exposed to occupational hazards.

Digital twin models of replicative ground stones: insight into simulating usage of Upper Paleolithic tools

This work presents the first attempt to create a physics-based digital twin model for predictive analysis of damage evolution during the use of ground stone tools (GSTs) in transformative tasks, encompassing the processing of raw resources for nutritional and non-alimentary purposes. The proposed methodology introduces a digital twin of the GSTs developed from 3D models generated using a photogrammetric technique based on Structure-from-Motion and Multi-View Stereo reconstruction. These models serve as the foundation for the development of the finite element (FE)-based digital twin model of the GSTs that exploits a contact formulation and the phase-field approach to simulate tool damage during pounding and grinding tasks. Defining the initial relative positions of the stones, their mechanical behaviour, and controlling the movement of the active stone in a way as close as possible to the real one, the digital twin model has been devised to evaluate how the surface damage is affected by perturbations in the loading conditions. The simulated damage is compared with the surface traces observed from experiments. The developed digital twin model aims at demonstrating its potentials for the GSTs investigations, as a supporting tool for experiments and for simulated tests on the archaeological records.

Urbanizing food: New perspectives on food processing tools in the Early Bronze Age villages and early urban centers of the southern Levant

The Early Bronze Age in the southern Levant is associated with the onset of urbanization processes, expressed through the emergence of walled, densely populated settlements. The local agro-pastoral economy faced new challenges regarding subsistence of the aggregated communities. We compare ground stone tool assemblages involved in food processing from rural, fortified non-urban, and urban settlements in an attempt to understand the impact of the urbanization process on foodways during that period. Additionally, we explore food processing technologies and preferences as indicators of social complexity and urban development. The results point to specialized production and wide distribution of high-quality, standardized grinding implements and, consequently, an intensification of staple food provision. We propose that this phenomenon is associated with a change of socio-economic priorities that comes with the onset of urbanism, causing a decline of the basalt bowl industry and reorganization of the food processing habitus within growing settlements. We also propose that the enhanced organization of food production concerned mainly the early urban centers, whereas villages display higher variability in modes of food processing and tendencies to utilize easily accessible materials. This indicates an opportunistic approach regarding food processing technologies and/or higher variability of local staple food resources in the rural peripheries.

Plant, pigment, and bone processing in the Neolithic of northern Arabia-New evidence from Use-wear analysis of grinding tools at Jebel Oraf.

Archaeological sites with surface hearths are a ubiquitous feature across the arid zones of the Arabian interior. At Jebel Oraf, in the Jubbah basin of the Nefud Desert of northern Arabia, numerous grinding stone fragments were found in association with hearths, though the original purpose of these stones was unclear owing to the poor preservation of faunal and botanic remains. Here we describe results from use-wear analysis on five grinding tools at Jebel Oraf, demonstrating that such artefacts were used during the Neolithic for plant processing, bone processing, and pigment production. Grinding stones were often broken up after initial use and fragments were subsequently re-used for alternative purposes, before finally being placed on hearths or discarded. More specifically, plants were ground or prepared and possibly cooked in the hearths, and bones were processed as well. The analyses also highlight the importance of pigment processing at Neolithic sites and provide a link to painted rock art. The frequent use of pigment in the archaeological record suggests that pigment was widely used, and that Neolithic painted art may have been more common than the surviving images suggest.

Human-plant interaction at the onset of agriculture: the PATH project

Plant domestication represents a major turning point in human history, resulting in the shift from a hunting/gathering/fishing-based economy to food production. Combining the analysis of ground stone tools and dental calculus, the PATH project aims to investigate dynamics of plant consumption, and the knowledge and toolkits involved in their processing.

An experimental investigation of the ground stone knives and sickles in the Lower Yangtze River Region during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age

Ground stone knives and sickles were important implements in the Lower Yangtze River Region during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age. Previous studies had suggested that harvesting gramineous plants such as rice was probably one of their functions, but there is very few empirical evidence of whether these tools were used and how. In this study, a set of replicative experiments were carried out to examine their effectiveness as harvesting tools and use-wear analysis was adopted to determine the multi-stage formation process of the use-wear traces on tool’s surface. The results showed that the knives and sickles were efficient for rice harvesting when used in proper working motions. The use-wear patterns generated by rice harvesting are dominated by bright domed polish linked in reticulated patches often accompanied by fine striations. The distribution of the polish and its morphological characteristics are influenced by working motion, use intensity, and the nature of the stone raw material in varying degrees. The results of our study provide significant reference data and images for deciphering the functions of stone knives and sickles in archaeological records, which are crucial for investigating the development of rice farming agriculture in the Lower Yangtze River Region during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age.

Style decolorization treatment of denim fabric: Decomposition of indigo dyes via horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 system at room temperature

The decolorization treatment for denim fabric (jeans) could give the fabric a bright blue and white appearance, a sense of vintage, and meet the needs of different styles. In industrial production, the common decolorization methods included sphysical methods such as stone grinding and water washing, which can cause strong damage to the fabric, and chemical methods such as bleach washing and snow washing, which also have some problems of environmental pollution. Therefore, an efficient, clean, and controlled decolorization method for denim fabric was proposed using the horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 system, which was first reported in this article. The optimized decolorization treatment process was studied, and the optimal process was as follows: the dosage amount of horseradish peroxidase was 150 u/mL, the dosage amount of H2O2 was 2.5 mL/L and added 3 times, the pH of buffer solution was 5, the reaction temperature and time were 35 °C for 1 h. And controllable (local) decolorization of denim fabric was applied through printing methods. The decomposition mechanism and reaction kinetics of indigo by the horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 system was also analyzed and proved the indigo was decomposed into the isatin and some small molecule substances. In addition, compared with cellulase and laccase decolorization methods, the horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 system has the advantages of no anti-staining, high efficiency, and environmental protection. It was expected to become a promising partial style decolorization treatment method.

Close-range photogrammetry reveals morphometric changes on replicative ground stones.

The pursuit of a quantitative approach to functional analysis of stone tools is an ongoing endeavour for traceologists. Technological advancements in 3D imaging techniques, such as photogrammetry/3D scanners, CT scanning, 3D digital microscopy, confocal microscopy, AFM and FEG-SEM and micro-topographical scanning, have greatly facilitated the detailed capturing of the geometry and surface texture at multiple levels of observation, from the object-scale to the nano-scale. However, while such technological innovations have predominantly focused on flaked assemblages, ground stone tools have only recently begun to receive due attention, and a standardised protocol for their study is yet to be established. In order to comprehend the function(s) of these tools, analytical techniques that enable a 3D visualisation of the entire item and the wear affecting the used surfaces have proven to be of great support. To this end, an analytical procedure was developed and tested on slabs and pebbles in order to replicate the use-wear traces observed on Upper Palaeolithic tools. The purpose was to assemble a site-specific reference collection tailored on the artefacts from the cultural level III of the Brînzeni I cave in north-west Moldova. Experimental replicas were used to treat different plant organs during controlled sequential experiments. The present article reports on the analysis based on photogrammetric data acquired during two stages of replicative usage. We tested multiple acquisition setups and elaborations to assess the geometry modification and the surface depletion. By exploring various acquisition strategies, a critical evaluation of potential sources of bias in data collection and subsequent elaboration were performed, and the methodology was accordingly adjusted thereby enhancing the reliability and reproducibility of the results. This study highlights the importance of carefully considering the acquisition strategy in archaeological related research to ensure accurate analyses and to validate robust interpretation.

Sumaki Höyük (Batman, Türkiye) Neolitik Yerleşiminde Bulunan Bazalt Parçalarının Çok Perspektifli Jeokimyasal ve Mineralojik Analizi

This study aims to determine the provenance of grinding stone tools unearthed from the Neolithic phases of Sumaki Höyük settlement using a portable Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (P-EDXRF) and X-ray Diffraction spectrometer (XRD). Sumaki Höyük is located in the Lower Garzan Basin of Batman province, Turkey. The settlement is dated to 9084 - 8123 cal BP. Grinding stone tools in this settlement are usually made of basalt. Albeit at low amounts, limestone was also used in the production of grinding stones. The Lower Garzan Basin, located to the east of Diyarbakır Basin, is surrounded by Mount Kıradağı and Mount Raman to the west and the Garzan and Kentalan Anticlinal to the east with Kıradağı extending in a northwest-southeast direction. The basalt flow occurred in the Quaternary period. Samples collected from different parts of the Neolithic phase of Sumaki Höyük and the Kıradağı basalt flows were analyzed using P-EDXRF to determine their chemical composition. The same samples were also analyzed using XRD to determine their mineral composition. P-EDXRF and XRD analyses reveal that the samples from Sumaki Höyük and Kıradağı are in good accordance with each other. It is therefore understood that the basalt stone tools used in the settlement were taken from the Kıradağı basalts. Data gathered on the characteristics of potential source locations provide an insight into the settlement strategy and mobility of Neolithic communities.

Earliest curry in Southeast Asia and the global spice trade 2000 years ago.

The global spice trade has played an essential role in world history. However, because of poor preservation conditions, archaeobotanical remains of spices have been limited in archaeological contexts until now. This study reports evidence for spice processing from the archaeological site of Oc Eo in southern Vietnam, an entrepôt of the state of Funan that was occupied during the early centuries CE. Analysis of plant microremains recovered from the surfaces of Oc Eo grinding stone tools thought to be of South Asian origin has identified culinary spices that include turmeric, ginger, fingerroot, sand ginger, galangal, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. These spices are indispensable ingredients used in the making of curry in South Asia today. We suggest that South Asian migrants or visitors introduced this culinary tradition into Southeast Asia during the period of early trade contact via the Indian Ocean, commencing about 2000 years ago.

Traditional Knowledge and Ethnoarchaeological Investigations in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands: Pathways to Understanding Past and Present Foodways

ABSTRACT Research on ancient and present-day foodways in northern highland Ethiopia, focused on grinding stones (querns, handstones) and non-mechanized crop processing, has demonstrated the continuity of food processing systems since at least 1600 BCE to the present. This long-term research has employed archaeological, ethnoarchaeological, and traditional knowledge approaches. Traditional knowledge is often understood to be an accumulation of knowledge and “know how” acquired and handed down through generations of ancestors. Ethnoarchaeology involves ethnographic studies to build analogies, models, and ways of understanding that can be applied to the archaeological record for interpretive purposes. Increasingly, archaeology and ethnoarchaeology integrate traditional knowledge research by working with community members. This article presents results of two projects separated by 13 years that together demonstrate the effectiveness of combining these approaches for understanding the archaeological past in northern highland Ethiopia. Importantly, incorporating traditional knowledge into research methodologies also ensures that Indigenous people have a voice in explaining their past.

Tracing Old Gestures: A Multiscale Analysis of Ground Stone Tools Developed on Sequential Lab-Controlled Replicative Experiments

This article presents an analytical procedure developed to replicate, document, and analyse the formation and evolution of use-wear traces on task-specific ground stone tools. The purpose of this study is to build a reference collection for wear patterns that occurred during the processing of vegetal resources, specifically those compatible with the MIS 3 period. To create the collection, riverine slabs and pebbles were utilised and various aspects related to their use in the transformation of aerial and underground plant organs were explored. Moreover, the feasibility of using perishable supports, such as a wooden base, for processing tasks was examined. The experiments explored the transformation of pebble stone surfaces during repeated cycles of processing plant organs by monitoring and recording the features at fixed intervals. Several variables that affect the surface texture, morphology, distribution, and extent of use-wear traces are identified and discussed. The influential factors under control included the petrographic and morphological characteristics of the unused stones, the type and amount of transformed vegetables, and the duration of the process, as well as monitoring human factors. The documentation strategy applied at various stages of the experiment was found to be suitable for tracing the cumulative development of wear. The replicative collection was tailored to the morphological and petrographic characteristics of the ground stone tools retrieved from the level attributed to the Prut River culture of Brînzeni I, a cave site located in NW Moldova.