stone tool
Let an agent explain stone tools, relay technologies, chronology, manufacture and interpretation from archaeology sources with debates attributed, describe the named forms, advise reporting finds, and distinguish stone tools from naturally broken rocks, metal tools, ground stone querns as a subgroup and modern replicas.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain stone tools, relay technologies, chronology, manufacture and interpretation from archaeology sources with debates attributed, describe the named forms, advise reporting finds, and distinguish stone tools from naturally broken rocks, metal tools, ground stone querns as a subgroup and modern replicas.
A tool made from stone by knapping, grinding or pecking, the earliest known technology of humans and their ancestors, with the oldest finds at Lomekwi 3 in Kenya dated to about 3.3 million years ago, followed by Oldowan choppers and hammerstones, Acheulean handaxes, Levallois prepared-core points, and later blades, arrowheads and javelin points; regional forms the registry aliases name include mata a, obsidian blades or points from Rapa Nui, and plano-convex knives, flat on one face and domed on the other. Collecting artefacts from archaeological sites is illegal in many places, and finds should be reported to heritage authorities.
What it is for: Cutting, scraping, hunting and processing materials in prehistory.
It can be explain technologies and chronology; relay manufacture; describe named forms; advise on reporting finds.
Distinguishing features
Knapped or ground
Deep time span
Recognisable technologies
Archaeological evidence
What it looks like
Flaked flint, obsidian or quartzite pieces with sharp edges, handaxes, points and ground stone axes.
Physical character
oldest known stone tools: about 3.3 million years ago note - Lomekwi 3, Kenya
Oldowan: from about 2.6 million years ago note
obsidian edge thickness: can be a few nanometres note - very sharp
How it is recognised
Tool made of stone
Hammerstone, javelin point, mata a, Levallois point, chopper, plano-convex knife
Natural breaks lack patterned flaking; metal tools are later technology; querns are ground stone equipment; replicas are modern
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is made by -
includes -
is contrasted with -
In practice
Families and kinds
Oldowan tools
Acheulean handaxes
Levallois and Mousterian tools
blades and projectile points
ground stone tools
Standards and regulation
Antiquities and heritage protection laws
UNESCO 1970 Convention on illicit trafficking of cultural property
Failure modes and hazards
Illegal collecting from sites
Misidentifying natural rocks
Cuts from knapping
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a stone tool is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a stone tool, and how does it differ from natural breaks, metal tools, querns and replicas? definition
- Has someone found a possible artefact, in which case leave it in place where possible and report to heritage authorities? boundary
Forms
Named forms.
Forms
Forms.
- What are hammerstones, javelin points, mata a, Levallois points, choppers and plano-convex knives? definition
- Which entry fits the specific form? action
Technology Technologies.
Sources.
Knapping
Knapping.
Knapping
Knapping.
- How does conchoidal fracture let knappers shape flint and obsidian? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Industries
Tool industries.
Industries
Industries.
- How do Oldowan, Acheulean and Levallois technologies differ? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Archaeology Interpretation.
Attribution.
Lomekwi
Oldest tools.
Lomekwi
Lomekwi.
- What do researchers argue about who made the Lomekwi tools, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
Use-wear
Use-wear analysis.
Use-wear
Use-wear.
- How does use-wear analysis reveal what tools were used for? provenance
- Which entry fits use-wear analysis? action
Context Regions.
Context.
Rapa Nui
Mata a.
Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui.
- What were mata a used for, and what do studies say about their function, with views attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits Rapa Nui? action
Law
Heritage law.
Law
Law.
- Why is collecting artefacts often illegal? provenance
- Which entry fits archaeological looting? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should mata a be a separate entry?
- How should archaeological typologies be linked?
- How should debates about early tool makers be presented?