Middle and Late Bronze Age Metal Tools from the Aegean, Eastern ...

Turkey. Upon touring these sites, it became evident that a comprehensive study of tool
marks required its own research project if it were to match the level of thoroughness
given to the metal tools. The identification of regional tool preferences and kits in this
dissertation establishes a contextual background for craft industries that may be explored
in the future through tool markings, and the importance of tool markings is acknowledged
when discussing tool types not preserved in the archaeological record (e.g. the
pendulum/convex saws and the tubular drill).
Although many tools are well published with good photographs and descriptions,
seeing and studying as many implements first hand was important for several reasons.
First of all, tools are difficult to categorize, and it was hoped that personal inspection
would confirm basic functional classifications. Object descriptions vary according to
region, so a form of standardization was necessary to evaluate the tools across myriad
cultures. For instance, many tools from the Late Bronze Age came from hoard contexts,
prompting them to be understood as scrap metal assemblages. It was necessary to re-
examine these hoard tools to ascertain whether the implements were serviceable at the
time of deposition or merely items junked for recycling. The inspection of the hoard tools
proved useful in reassessing the value of hoarded items, the interpretation of specific
components of an assemblage, and the general understanding of the entire cache. These
findings are discussed in Chapter 5.
From the outset, the project attempted to differentiate between wood- and stone-
working tools through meticulous examination, for these craft tools are not easily
differentiated. To gauge tool functionality, the cutting edges of the implements had to be
checked, an impossible task when using publication photographs alone. It was hoped that
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