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

are sufficiently differentiated from tools in the other functional categories. A single
object has been identified as a drawing compass; the veracity of this identification is
secondary to the fact that it raises the question of measuring implements and their relative
absence in preserved tool assemblages.
Carpentry/masonry implements are rarely confused with other tool categories, but
ambiguity exists between particular tools within that category (e.g. axes) and weapons.
This issue is addressed in the following section. Another problem for classifying
carpentry and masonry tools is the terminology used by previous publications. Axes,
adzes, and broad chisels are tricky to differentiate, and the applied nomenclature can vary
by region. To standardize these categories for comparative purposes, categories dictated
by the cutting widths of objects were formed for hard-to-read objects. This approach, as
explained below, will simplify and enhance the analysis of carpentry and masonry tools.
IV. Terminology and tool identification
Stone and metal implements are readily apparent in most archaeological
assemblages, even if the precise nature of the utensil is obscure. Yet problems of
detection may occur. Identifying certain stone tools (e.g. pounders) from un-worked
rocks may sometimes prove difficult, while the distinction of metal tools from both
weapons and small personal items also has its challenges. Most tools and weapons are
sufficiently well defined, yet certain items (e.g. axes and knives) fall into either category
depending upon the set of definitions used. Recognizing particular small metal objects
(e.g. pointed items with narrow shanks) as either small tools or personal items is also
difficult. The form of these narrow metal items varies minimally, and their precise
function can be ambiguous. Needles and pins are traditionally objects of personal use, yet
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