Tool-use experiments to determine the function of an incised ground stone artefact with potential symbolic significance

IF 1.1 0 ARCHAEOLOGY
E. Hayes, C. Spry, R. Fullagar, Anna Tuechler, Petra Schell, M. Goulding
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引用次数: 5

Abstract

Ground stone implements are found across most Australian landscapes and are often regarded as Aboriginal tools that were used for processing or modifying other items such as plant foods, plant fibres, resins, bone points, pigments and ground-stone axes and knives. Less common are ground stones modified for non-utilitarian, symbolic purposes; for example, polished and carved stone ornaments; ritual implements such as cylcons and tjuringa sacred stones; and unused, well-crafted ground-stone axes. In this paper, we report on the function and potential significance of an unusual ground stone artefact from a site near Bannockburn, southwestern Australia. A set of regularly spaced, shallow grooves has been cut into the surface of each side of the stone. Use-wear, residues and experimental replica tools indicate that the grooves were probably made with a stone flake and then used to shape or sharpen wooden implements such as spear points or the edges of boomerangs or other weapons. The microscopic wear outside the grooves indicates contact with soft wood or other plant material, possibly a soft plant fibre bag. We suggest that the Bannockburn artefact primarily functioned as a woodworking tool, but the even spacing of the incisions suggests that they were intentionally placed, perhaps to convey a special meaning, perhaps as a tally system or other form of communication.
工具使用实验确定具有潜在象征意义的琢石工艺品的功能
磨碎的石制工具在澳大利亚的大部分地区都有发现,通常被认为是土著的工具,用于加工或修改其他物品,如植物食物、植物纤维、树脂、骨尖、颜料和磨碎的石斧和刀。不太常见的是为非实用的象征性目的而修改的磨石;例如,抛光和雕刻的石头饰品;仪式工具,如赛昂和特朱林加圣石;以及未使用的、精心制作的石斧。在本文中,我们报告了在澳大利亚西南部班诺克本附近的一个遗址中发现的一种不寻常的地面石头人工制品的功能和潜在意义。一组有规则间隔的浅槽被切割到石头的每一面表面。使用磨损,残留物和实验复制工具表明,这些凹槽可能是用石片制成的,然后用于塑造或磨尖木制工具,如矛尖或回飞镖或其他武器的边缘。凹槽外的微小磨损表明与柔软的木材或其他植物材料接触,可能是柔软的植物纤维袋。我们认为班诺克本的人工制品主要是作为木工工具,但切口的均匀间距表明它们是有意放置的,可能是为了传达特殊的含义,可能是作为一种计数系统或其他形式的交流。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
自引率
10.00%
发文量
6
审稿时长
8 weeks
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