Definitely not as common as the handaxe but just as exquisite a stone instrument.
Handaxes are usually made from river cobbles or large flint nodules.
Cleavers on the other hand, at least in my area, are made from a single very large flake.
River cobbles are used because these have already been bashed and battered many times and from all different angles when traveling downriver. In that process only the strongest most competent rocks withstand the beating and are therefore most suitable for tool making.
I cleaver is so named for its single, broad, almost strait edge in contrast to the oval or egg shape of the handaxe.
Cleavers are shaped in such a way that they could have been hafted to a stick and used like an axe.
In this case however, these were likely used just like a handaxe for butchery etc. The shape is simply the result of the manufacture process.
These are not manufactured from a rounded cobble but from the jutting up edge of a slab of outcropping rock.
The edge of the outcrop is given a very hard blow to remove a very large flake of stone that is then trimmed to form the cleaver.
These ones had been lying face down for so long that the upper surface of both show a significant amount of weathering.
The recent chips and damage to these specimens is due to the fact that this was retrieved from a pile of rocks that were removed from a plowed agricultural field.
The deep maroon colour of the rock is due to the high iron content. This is iron that was precipitated and mingled with sand in a delta 2 billion years ago and that was later solidified into an iron rich quartzite.
Interesting you post..thank you for sharing..good luck.
At one time in my misspent youth I fancied becoming an archeologist. Sadly life had other plans for me, but I still love the subject and I'm glad to see articles like this here. Thank you for an interesting read. Following and Resteeming =)
What would you say this is?
That is an adze. The stone tool was hafted to a handle and used sort of like a plane . Other ones are hafted at different angles depending on whether they were using it to trench dirt or plane a flat surface on wood.
Agreed, the one in picture is not produced by knapping, flaking or chipping but is ground away. In that case it was produced much later than than the ones I have covered.
The ones I have put up so far are from the Early Stone Age(ESA) to Middle Stone Age(MSA) yours would likely fall into the Neolithic.
It may even stem from as late as historical times.
Interesting how only river rocks are used because of their proven strength. I never would have thought of that
Not only but mostly, it depends on the area.
Oh I gotcha, that makes sense too. I used to be very into this stuff when I was younger and would learn about it in class or on field trips. So hopefully you can teach me some more awesome stuff!
This might have been the first time I actually learned something on Steemit haha!
Do you tie a lever to the cleaver to use it or do you just use your hand?
Both
Really neat cleavers there. In my area I have found old indian tools and arrow heads. One of the tools I found was a really sharp small type of slicing instrument. I did a little research and found out it is actually a skinning tool. It's pretty cool to actually be the one finding this stuff after all those years. Thanks for sharing!
Great picture of it along with the history!
How many rocks do you have at your home? XD
You don't really want to know... ;0
a more accurate question would be how many tonnes of rocks I have ;)
I have been wondering if there are any relic collectors on Steemit. I grew up by a river and I actually have some from paleo to woodland. It's really neat to find something someone lost thousands of years ago. Big up vote and follow . Interesting finds , thanks for sharing.
Very interesting, good post, wouldn't want one of those hit into my head that's for sure
Interesting post about the tools of the principle, the most relevant in terms of this ingenuity to mold them according to the needs and learning in the most efficient use of these tools
Interesting to learn about how certain river rocks / cobbles are better than others. A kind of geological survival of the fittest. I'd be curious to see a map of how erosion patterns along a river might yield the best (and worst) cobbles for handaxe-making.
It is more dependent on the source of the material than the action of the river. The good thing for our ancestors is that if a river cuts through a small but good source, that good material can be found for hundreds of kilometers downstream.
That's cool that they would pluck the strongest stones from the river... I guess they have to be strong so they can "cleave" lots of stuff without breaking or getting so dull as to stop being effective.
Learning a lot from this new series, I feel like thanks to you I'll be a little better off now if I get lost in the woods one day.
You can really see here how humans have evolved and adapted to the ever changing periods of time here on earth. From the most crude materials like a chipped stone, to the most cutting edge bladed instruments we have right now.
Thank you @gavvet for showing us our historical roots. Showing us who we were and how far we have come in this age. Have a great day and keep the wonderful and rich posts coming.
@gavvet your obvious interest and deep understanding of this subject lead me to ask if you've taken up the art of flaking yourself?
I've seen and read a lot of information on the subject but don't have the time or inclination to put into it to become even a beginner at it.
Arrowheads can be made from the thick base of a glass bottle, google it on you tube, its easy and fun... all you need is a face mask and protective glasses, A 6 inch nail and some leather.
I've also made my own handaxes as experiments.
I was going to mention that.
I've seen some of the videos and there's a surprising number of people here in the US who hunt with "aboriginal" methods, making sinew backed bows and there may even be some who attempt using atlatls.
While some head in the direction of more and more technology, i.e crossbows that near the capabilities of firearms, I like the low-tech approach better.
I gave up hunting years ago, more out of time constraints than ethical considerations.
But I've come across a few innovative techniques recently that make me wonder about re-purposing modern materials and applying them to aboriginal methods. Glass arrowheads and some modern materials that can serve the same purpose as traditional things like rawhide & sinew.
Thank you for sharing with us the rare cleaver, nice clear pics and explanation :)
De très belles photos et pierres de qualité. Merci
Cordialement
Did you find these stones? They appear to be in very good condition.
Yes, there are plenty where I live but these are from one of the best sites because the source material is such good quality.
Wouldn't ever see the difference between this one and the previous one.
Sometimes you are a historian. Sometimes you are an archaeologist. I applaud your insight.
Hard to use but is useful tho. I had seen it being used in the Internet videos.
This comment has received a 0.14 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @cryptopie.
Haha! Good old Vegeta!
Did somebody call my name?
Just checked out your page, huge DBZ fan right here absolutely following you now :D
Nice! Same here man.
Very interesting post...you seem to a great archaeologist.. thank @gavvet for sharing with us a rare antique stones.
Really interesting to read your blog. I'm always been fascinate about the stone. Thanks for sharing.
these artifacts are like used for burning something by rubbing each other
Are they now available there ?
believe me The slot you present for us is unbelievable
Thank you @gavvet and thank you @steemit for giving us opportunity to see what is happening around world.
steem on
@gavvet it is interesting
these stones are unique! thanks for sharing love it! cheers
Cool pieces!
Im learning from you sir @gavvet that's a very interesting form of rock 😀 i follow you now.👍
Cool to look back and see how man used to do things
Wow man strange pieces
Incredible observations @gavvet. We are surrounded by all of these amazing artifacts, but with an untrained eye they are hard to spot. I'll keep looking out for it my side. But I live in the city in Cape Town so it does make it slightly more challenging. RESTEEMD :D
Brother, it's really inspiring to see that someone with such a prime account, and so much power, is being so consistent. Well done man! You have earned my respect. I hope to see my account looking as powerful as your some day :) I have given you a follow. Keep things rolling. Talk soon.
Well man @gavvet I really appreciate your profound interest in archaeology. I was never interested in these things but now after going through a couple of posts of yours, I have developed an interest in this. I also urge you to study Indus Valley Civilization and you will come across plenty of interesting archaeological stuff. Go through 'Harappa' and 'Mohenjo Daro' for epic information. I'm sure you will love reading about that.
Beautiful stone
Amazing to see how we went from this to the cleavers we have nowadays.
To be honest we just added a handle to it but in true essence, the cleaver is the same now as it was centuries ago.
Really interesting and enthralling post.
Nice post and beautiful stone, thanks for sharing this post to all of us @gavvet, very interesting. ;)
Threw away a spoon and a fork.
From now on using only a stone cleaver! :d
In my place also there are many stones, the most stone in the rush is a stone that can be used as a stone ring that some time ago had a scene with jade or the like.
good post ,l like this
Cool. I like it.
this is really nice
You have created a great instrument
thanks for sharing
I always follow you
Note my post may also be interesting
Thank you very much
Great post man. I thought you might like to share your stories in my latest post. Its a roundtable on how to steem. Check it out if your interested: https://steemit.com/steemit/@cryptoboost/how-to-make-sick-money-on-steemit-roundtable
Such a tool will help you survive if lost somewhere in the wilderness.
Looks like stone age tool
Thanks @gavvet for sharing such interesting posts.
Nice write up, It has realky shows that you love handaxe stone.
Great post
thank you