Stone tools employed in prehistoric metal mining : a functional study of cobblestone tools from prehistoric metalliferous mines in England and Wales in relation to mining strategies by use-wear analysis and cobble morphometry
This is a study of cobblestone tools from metalliferous mine sites in England and Wales dated to the Bronze Age which were most probably used to extract copper ore. The site assemblages studied are from the Great Orme, Copa Hill in Cwmystwyth, Nantyreira, Parys Mountain and Alderley Edge. The majority of the tools are hammerstones used to mine and beneficiate metal ore. Some of these have been modified to facilitate hafting. The functional uses of these tools have been identified by the form and position of use- wear on a macroscopic level. The recording procedure encompasses cobble morphology, the degree, type and direction of use, breakage patterns, the reuse of tools and tool fragments and the classification of hafting modification. The possibility of tool specialization within tool types has been examined by the analysis of use-wear and cobble shape and size. The analysis of stone hammer size suggests that the Great Orme material is related to specific working techniques employed to extract ore from the different types of ore deposits. Ore comminution has been demonstrated to have been generally achieved by 'block-on-block' crushing with flat-sided hammers. Conclusions are draw on the overall efficiency
Gale, David
Prehistoric ; Britain ; Stone tools ; Metal mining ; Function ; Use-wear ; Cobble morphology ; Bronze Age ; Hammerstones
Stone tools employed in prehistoric metal mining : a functional study of cobblestone tools from prehistoric metalliferous mines in England and Wales in relation to mining strategies by use-wear analysis and cobble morphometry. This is a study of cobblestone tools from metalliferous mine sites in England and Wales dated to the Bronze Age which were most probably used to extract copper ore. The site assemblages studied are from the Great Orme, Copa Hill in Cwmystwyth, Nantyreira, Parys Mountain and Alderley Edge. The majority of the tools are hammerstones used to mine and beneficiate metal ore. Some of these have been modified to facilitate hafting. The functional uses of these tools have been identified by the form and position of use- wear on a macroscopic level. The recording procedure encompasses cobble morphology, the degree, type and direction of use, breakage patterns, the reuse of tools and tool fragments and the classification of hafting modification. The possibility of tool specialization within tool types has been examined by the analysis of use-wear and cobble shape and size. The analysis of stone hammer size suggests that the Great Orme material is related to specific working techniques employed to extract ore from the different types of ore deposits. Ore comminution has been demonstrated to have been generally achieved by 'block-on-block' crushing with flat-sided hammers. Conclusions are draw on the overall efficiency
stone_tool employ prehistoric metal mining functional study tool prehistoric mine england_wales relation mining strategy_use wear_analysis study tool mine site england_wales date bronze_age probably use extract copper ore site assemblage study great hill mountain edge majority tool use mine metal ore modify facilitate functional tool identify form position use wear macroscopic level record procedure encompass morphology degree type direction use breakage pattern reuse tool tool fragment classification modification possibility tool specialization within tool type examine analysis use_wear shape_size analysis stone size suggest great material_relate specific work technique_employ extract ore different_type ore deposit ore demonstrate generally achieve block block flat sided conclusions draw overall efficiency