Prehension and Hafting Traces on Flint Tools: A Methodology

The capacity to mount stone tools in or on a handle is considered an important innovation in past human behavior. The insight to assemble two different materials (organic and inorganic) into a better functioning entity indicates the presence of the required mental capacity and technological expertise. Although the identification of stone tool use based on microscopic analysis was introduced in the 1960s, distinguishing between handheld and hafted tool use has remained a more difficult issue.

This volume introduces a methodology, based on a systematic, in-depth study of prehension and hafting traces on experimental stone artifacts. The author proposes a number of distinctive macro- and microscopic wear traits for identifying handheld and hafted stone tools and for identifying the exact hafting arrangement. Included with this book is a CD-ROMthat contains additional data tables and images.