Which analytical framework for the functional analysis of grinding stones ? The blind test contribution
Résumé
Summary. Western archaeology really adopted S.A. Semenov's use-wear analysis method (Semenov 1964), with the blind-test of M.H. Newcomer and L.H. Keeley in 1977 (Keeley et al. 1977). Today, functional analysis on grinding and abrading stone tools is a promising field of research, especially for Neolithic studies. It requires a re-evaluation of the framework initially created for flint tools. This paper proposes an evaluation, through a blind-test, of the framework of grinding tools functional analysis. In this aim, H. Plisson took in charge the crushing of calcite and dry bone, the grinding of naked wheat, fresh bone and cartilage, dry meat and roasted acorn as well as the softening of dry hide. On the other side, the observation of these fourteen tools by C. Hamon helped her proposing hypothesis on the position of the tool, their action, the transformed matter, their condition and duration of use. Comparison of the hypothesis proposed and the effective experimentations help us discuss the reliability of each of these criterion.