Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How were Neolithic ground stone tools made?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Stone Age
Stone tool flaked on one surface only, known as a uniface blade, and three end scrapers.
Neolithic ground stone tools were created through a multi-step process that evolved from earlier Paleolithic flaking techniques. The manufacturing process generally involved the following stages:
- Rough Shaping: The stone was first chipped or flaked into a rough form, similar to traditional methods used in the Old Stone Age.12
- Pecking (Crumbling): An additional technique involved bruising the surface of the rock with a hard hammerstone. This caused the struck points to crumble into powder, allowing for the shaping of non-flaking rocks and the leveling of ridges between flake scars.1
- Grinding: The roughed-out tool was rubbed against a coarse abrasive rock to remove chip scars from the entire surface or specifically around the working edge.12
- Polishing: As a final step, the tool was ground with a fine abrasive to create a smooth, polished finish.1
This process resulted in tools with superior strength, a more even cutting edge, and better handling characteristics compared to earlier flaked implements. These ground tools, such as axes and adzes, were essential for the Neolithic transition to slash-and-burn agriculture and woodworking.12