Artifacts
by Scott G. Ortman
Table 39. Axes and Mauls, Castle Rock Pueblo
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PD
FS
Type
Portion Present
Material
Length (cm)
Width (cm)
Thickness (cm)
Bit Length (cm)
Groove Type
Weight
Use Wear
Inferred Use(s)
Comments
22
5
ax
bit fragment
Morrison quartzite
unknown
25.8
several small flakes removed from bit edge, unclear if use wear or retouch
unknown
minimum width 5.5 cm, minimum bit length 3.21 cm
50
5
ax
bit end
Morrison quartzite
7.2
unknown
121.5
A few large flakes removed from bit edge, then bit was retouched before breaking off of parent piece
unknown
minimum bit length 5.1 cm, minimum thickness 2.2 cm
85
26
ax
bit fragment
Morrison quartzite
unknown
190.0
unclear whether high-point polish reflects original surface or polish resulting from use
too heavy to be a weapon
minimum width 8.9 cm, minimum thickness 2.7 cm, minimum bit length 7.74 cm
325
12
single-bitted ax
complete
Morrison quartzite
15.9
7.4
8.0
3.44
full
1187.4
one large flake removed from poll end, and heavily used bit, with several flakes and chunks removed
wood chopping
too heavy to be a weapon
460
5
ax
bit end
Morrison chert/siltstone
5.17
unknown
76.9
a few small flakes removed from bit edge, additional flakes removed bifacially from distal end of broken bit
unknown
may have served as a core after breakage, minimum width 6.4 cm, minimum thickness 3.0 cm
544
13
single-bitted ax
complete
Morrison quartzite
11.2
5.5
2.9
5.10
notches
223.4
a few small flakes broken off of bit edge
weapon
weight evenly balanced by placement of groove
559
7
ax/maul
groove and one head
unknown quartzite
7.3
3.3
full
232.7
large flakes removed from use, and battering damage
stone working
probably used as a peckingstone after it was no longer haftable
619
107
maul
complete
Morrison quartzite
10.7
6.7
4.0
notches
367.7
both heads battered, surface patination removed by haft wear
stone working
630
14
ax
flake from midsection
Morrison chert/siltstone
unknown
16.9
unknown
unknown
portion of hafting groove present
731
34
ax
bit fragment
igneous
unknown
15.6
entire piece may have broken off an ax during use
unknown
minimum bit length 2.48 cm, minimum width 4.2 cm
775
18
single-bitted ax
original bit missing
Morrison chert/siltstone
8.9
6.3
3.3
full
233.9
bit broken off, then bifacial flaking, possibly resharpening, but no use wear on final bit edge, poll not utilized, groove polished from haft
wood chopping or weapon
1016
1
single-bitted ax
complete
Morrison chert/siltstone
15.9
7.3
6.3
5.00
full
883.3
several large flakes removed from bit after polishing
wood chopping
1089
3
ax/maul
poll end
Morrison chert/siltstone
7.5
4.2
3/4
274.2
one end, presumably the bit of a small ax, broken off, groove polished from haft
unknown
1182
7
ax/maul
1/2 of poll end
Morrison quartzite
7.1
at least 3/4
96.9
missing head was broken at proximal edge of groove, at least one flake removed after polishing
stone working
groove close to poll end, suggesting that a long ax bit was never present
1206
3
single-bitted ax
original bit and 1/2 of original cross-section missing
unknown quartzite
9.1
6.8
4.2
1/2
367.4
bit broken off during original use, subsequently used as a maul, with battering apparent, poll end not utilized, groove polished from haft
wood chopping, then stone working
groove only on rounded side, and flat side is polished across haft location
1213
6
maul
complete
igneous
24.3
12.0
7.8
notches
2,559.6
large flakes broken off both heads
stone quarrying
probably made from a metate fragment
PD = provenience designation; FS = field specimen.
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