Skaill knives from the Ness of Brodgar: An experimental pilot study exploring their potential for functional and technological analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.10143Resumo
This paper presents the results of a pilot study exploring the biographies of Skaill knives from the Neolithic site of Ness of Brodgar (UK). Skaill knives are large sandstone flakes made from beach cobbles. We present an experimental study in which we replicated and used Skaill knives. A selection of ten archaeological Skaill knives was subjected to a detailed technological and functional analysis. Functional analysis of the experimental and archaeological tools was conducted both with a low power stereomicroscope and a high-power metallographic microscope. 3D models of the archaeological Skaill knives were made to better understand and visualise technological features and use-wear traces. These observations allowed us to link the flaked cobbles, frequently found in Neolithic Orkney, to the chaîne opératoire of Skaill knives. Regarding the production process, we were able to demonstrate that it seems likely that at least some of the Skaill knives were produced using bipolar percussion. Contrary to what was hitherto assumed, it seems unlikely that the Skaill knives were produced by dashing the stones on rocks, as the archaeological evidence points towards a more controlled method of production. The experimental work generally resulted in little to no polish development, but macroscopic features such as edge rounding and edge removals frequently occurred. The archaeological Skaill knives displayed diverse use-wear traces. Certain zones displayed heavy unifacial rounding, which most likely resulted from a scraping motion on an abrasive material. Other zones displayed extensive edge removals, which could either be linked to butchering activities or to contact with harder materials. Morphologically, these traces appeared to be linked to different zones on the Skaill knives. The extensively rounded zones more commonly appeared on the short sides of Skaill knives, when cobbles were split lengthwise. The edge removals tended to occur on the long sides of Skaill knives which were split along the width of the cobble. Although specific contact materials could not be assigned, the study revealed interesting insights into the biographies of these tools.
Referências
Artec 3D. (2015), Artec Space Spider. Blue-light surface scanner, Artec 3D, Luxembourg. URL: https://www.artec3d.com/
Artec 3D. (2020), Artec Studio 15. Software, Artec 3D, Luxembourg. URL: https://www.artec3d.com/
Card, N., Edmonds, M. & Mitchell, A. (Eds.) 2020, The Ness of Brodgar: As it stands, The Orcadian, Kirkwall, 388 p.
Childe, V.G., Paterson, J.W. & Bryce, T.H. 1929, Provisional Report on the Excavations at Skara Brae, and on Finds from the 1927 and 1928 Campaigns. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 63: 225-280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9750/PSAS.063.225.280
Clarke, A. 1989, The Skaill knife as a butchery tool. Lithics, 10: 16-27.
Clarke, P.A., 1995. Observations of Social change in Prehistoric Orkney and Shetland Based on a Study of the Types and Context of Coarse Stone Artefacts. Unpublished M.Litt. thesis at the Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, 597 p.
Clarke, A. 2006, Stone tools and the prehistory of the Northern Isles / Ann Clarke. British Archaeological Reports Ltd, Oxford, 141 p.
Clarke, A. 2020, Stone Tools from Ness of Brodgar. Chapter 18. In: The Ness of Brodgar: As it stands (Card, N., Edmonds, M. & Mitchell, A., Eds.), The Orcadian, Kirkwall: p. 224-243.
Dubreuil, L. & Savage, D. 2014, Ground stones: a synthesis of the use-wear approach. Journal of Archaeological Science, 48(0): 139-153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.06.023
Farrell, M., Bunting, M.J., Lee, D.H.J. & Thomas, A. 2014, Neolithic settlement at the woodland's edge: palynological data and timber architecture in Orkney, Scotland. Journal of Archaeological Science, 51: 225-236. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2012.05.042
Van Gijn, A.L. 1990, The wear and tear of flint. Principles of functional analysis applied to Dutch Neolithic assemblages. Analecta Praehistorica Leidensia Vol. 22. Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden, 183 p.
Van Gijn, A.L. 2008. Toolkits and technological choices at the Middle-Neolithic site of Schipluiden, The Netherlands. In: “Prehistoric Technology” 40 years later: Functional studies and the Russian legacy. Proceedings of the International Congress Verona (Italy), 20-23 April 2005 (L. Longo, N. Skakun, Eds.), BAR Series Vol. 1783, Archeopress, Oxford: p. 217-225.
Guo, J., Lei, Y., Yang, Y., Cheng, P., Wang, Z. & Wu, S. 2023, Effects of High Temperature Treatments on Strength and Failure Behavior of Sandstone under Dynamic Impact Loads. Sustainability, 15(1): 794. URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/794
Hamon, C. & Plisson, H. 2008, Functional analysis of grinding stones: the blind-test contribution. In: Prehistoric Technology' 40 years later: Functional Studies and the Russian Legacy. Proceedings of the International Congress Verona (Italy), 20-23 April 2005 (Longo, L. & Skakun , N., Eds.), BAR International Series, Archaeopress, Oxford: p. 29-38.
Hamon, C. 2016. Technology and function of grooved abraders in the early Neolithic of northwestern Europe. Journal of Lithic Studies, 3(3): 243-259. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v3i3.1649
Hayes, E., Pardoe, C., & Fullagar, R. 2018. Sandstone grinding/pounding tools: Use-trace reference libraries and Australian archaeological applications. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 20: 97-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.04.021
Hurcombe, L. 2008, Organics from inorganics: using experimental archaeology as a research tool for studying perishable material culture. World Archaeology, 40(1): 83-115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00438240801889423
Jones, A., 2001. A biography of ceramics in Neolithic Orkney. In: Archaeological Theory and Scientific Practice (Jones, A., Ed.). Topics in Contemporary Archaeology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 145-167.
Kompaníková, Z., Gomez-Heras, M., Michňová, J., Durmeková, T. & Vlčko, J. 2014, Sandstone alterations triggered by fire-related temperatures. Environmental Earth Sciences, 72(7): 2569-2581. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3164-2
Kutschera, W. & Rom, W. 2000, Ötzi, the prehistoric Iceman. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 164-165: 12-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-583X(99)01196-9
Lloyd, G. 2024, Coarse Stone Tools from the Ness of Brodgar: Investigating the Function and Significance of Orcadian Neolithic Multi-Hollowed Cobbles. Unpublished Master of Research Thesis, UHI Orkney, Archaeology Institute, Kirkwall, 220 p.
Mainland, I., Blanz, M., Ayres, J. & Webster, C. 2020, Cattle and other animals: human-animal relationships at the Ness of Brodgar. Chapter 21. In: The Ness of Brodgar: As it stands (Card, N., Edmonds, M. & Mitchell, A., Eds.), The Orcadian, Kirkwall: p. 266-277.
Pelegrin, J. 1990. Prehistoric lithic technology: Some aspects of research. Archaeological Review from Cambridge, 9(1): 116-125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.109791
Petrie, G. 1870, Notice of Ruins of Ancient Dwellings at Skara, Bay of Skaill, in the Parish of Sandwich, Orkney, recently excavated. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 7(1): 201.
Van Regteren Altena, J.F., Bakker, J.A., Clason, A.T., Glasbergen, W., Groenman-van Waateringe, W. & Pons, L.J. 1962, The Vlaardingen culture I. Helinium, 2: 3-35.
Richards, C., Clarke, A., Ingrem, A. & Mulville, C.M., I. 2015, Containment, closure and red deer: a Late Neolithic butchery site at Skaill Bay, Mainland, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 145: 91-124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5284/1000184
Saville, A. 1994, A decorated skaill knife from Skara Brae, Orkney. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 124: 103-111.
Sellet, F. 1993. Chaine Operatoire; The concept and its applications. Lithic Technology, 18(1 2): 106-112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/009346990791548349
Verbaas, A. 2005, Stenen werktuigen en hun gebruik; een onderzoek naar de stenen werktuigen van Geleen-Janskamperveld en de gebruikssporenanalyse op stenen werktuigen als methode. Unpublished MA thesis thesis at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, 92 p. (in Dutch)(“Stone tools and their use; a study on the stone tools of Geleen-Janskamperveld and the use-wear analysis on stone tools as method”)
Verbaas, A. & Van Gijn, A.L. 2007, Querns and other hard stone tools from Geleen-Janskamperveld. Chapter 13. In: Excavations at Geleen-Janskamperveld 1990-1991 Vol. 39 (Van de Velde, P., Ed.), Analecta Praehistorica Leidensia, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden: p. 191-204.
Wentink, K., Van Gijn, A.L. & Joosten, I. 2024, Shine on you crazy diamond: Functional analysis of the stone and flint tools from the Ommerschans hoard. In: Larger than Life. The Ommerschans hoard and the role of giant swords in the European Bronze Age (1500-1100 BC) Vol. 30 (Amkreutz, L.W.S.W. & Fontijn, D.R., Eds.), PALMA: Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities, Sidestone Press, Leiden: p. 181-194.
Zupancich, A., Cristiani, E., Carra, M., Antonović, D., & Borić, D. 2025. Mesolithic plant processing unveiled: Multiscale use-wear analysis of the ground stone tools from Vlasac (Serbia). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 61, 104907. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104907
Downloads
Ficheiros Adicionais
Publicado
Edição
Secção
Licença
Direitos de Autor (c) 2025 Journal of Lithic Studies
Este trabalho encontra-se publicado com a Licença Internacional Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0.
