Ground stone

Ground stone is a category of stone tool formed by the grinding of a coarse-grained tool stone, either purposely or incidentally. Ground stone tools are usually made of basalt, rhyolite, granite, or other cryptocrystalline and metamorphic rocks, whose coarse structure makes them ideal for grinding other materials, including plants and other stones.

Production

The process of manufacturing ground stone tools involves a continuum of techniques, from the earliest form of lithic reduction known as battering, followed by pecking, and finally grinding. The development of ground stone tools allowed for the processing of plants and the refinement of other tools.

Use

Ground stone tools were a significant advancement in the archaeological record, and are a main indicator of the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural societies. They were used for a wide variety of tasks, including grinding grains, seeds, and nuts, as well as for processing other materials such as leather and wood.

Types

There are several types of ground stone tools, including quern-stones, saddle querns, and rotary querns, which were used for grinding grains into flour. Other types include mortar and pestles, which were used for grinding and mixing ingredients, and manos and metates, which were used in the processing of corn and other grains.

Archaeological significance

Ground stone tools are important in the study of prehistoric archaeology because they provide evidence of the technological advancements and changes in subsistence strategies of ancient societies. They are often found in archaeological sites and can provide valuable information about the diet and lifestyle of the people who used them.

See also

• Stone tool
• Lithic reduction
• Quern-stone
• Mortar and pestle
• Mano (stone)
• Metate

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