Hammerstone

Hammerstones were a very versatile tool. They were typically made from a
rounded cobble of medium-grained stone, such as quartzite or granite. They
weighed between 400 and 1000 grams (14-35 ounces or 0.8-2.2 pounds). The
rock which is being fractured is typically of a finer-grained material, rocks such as
flint, chert or obsidian. These tools have been found in parts of Europe, India and
North America.

The hammerstone was used during the Paleolithic era to chip other stones
into sharp-edged flakes. They were applied to the edges of such stones so that the
impact forces caused brittle fractures, and loss of flakes. It was widely used to
reduce the bulk of stones such as jade, jadeite and hornstone to make polished
stone tools. The hammerstone was also used to break apart nuts, seeds and
bones and to grind clay into pigment. This tool was also used to butcher animals
and extract marrow.

I chose the hammerstone because I find this tool very interesting. I liked
learning about this tool. I created the hammerstone prototype with the help of
my Dad. I found some rocks similar to the ones used by the Paleolithic and we
could make a very nice tool. It was a very fun activity.