Sharpening Archaeological Approaches to Linear “Tool Grooves”

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

"Tool grooves”, "incised lines" and “axe-sharpening marks” are some of the varying names used to describe linear rock modifications found across western North America. Previous ethnoarchaeological research has examined methods and motivations surrounding the creation of such markings, but consideration of their individual landscape contexts remains limited. Further, the use of technique-oriented terminology to describe linear forms encourages the oversimplification of a large variety of rock art images into a single analytical category. This poster examines the utility of taking a landscape and iconographic approach to the analysis of linear "tool grooves". Through a case study of over 1,300 incised linear icons located in the Colorado Gunnison River Basin, I examine the diverse forms these images can take, and the trends that emerge from their placement within specific topographic and vegetational surroundings. This poster illustrates the need for more detailed study of linear "tool grooves" which promote better contextualized interpretations of their role in cultural landscapes and Indigenous histories.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39557.0