Digital Archaeology: The Hell Gap National Historic Landmark and The Ergonomic Use of Manos

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Digitizing the Past: Studying Ancient Ground Stone Toolkits Using Modern Technology" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This study discusses the ergonomic use of ground stone tools, specifically manos. A mano is a handheld tool used for processing foods and other materials. Through analysis of wear patterns, size and shape of artifact HG UWI 2158, this and other similar artifacts can reveal why they were chosen for efficiency, necessity and comfort. Ground stone tools can provide information on the daily use and cultural behaviors of early North American occupants. The use of photogrammetry and 3D modeling allows for detailed analysis of the ergonomic properties of the tool and its possible use for various tasks. Data from photogrammetry and 3D modeling can provide a broader cultural understanding for choosing manos. This research emphasizes the significance of interpretation of Ground stone tool kits at the Hell Gap National Historic Landmark. Digital archaeology research of the Hell Gap Site offers an alternative method that results in the long-term preservation of artifacts and deepens our cultural understanding of early North American societies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digitizing the Past: Studying Ancient Ground Stone Toolkits Using Modern Technology   •
• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52586