Stone pipe-making tools in ancient North America

Several types of smoking pipes have been manufactured and used throughout later prehistoric and historic times around the world. Although substantial information exists on the styles of these pipes, little is known about their methods of manufacture or the types of sites on which they were made. Thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of archaeological science Vol. 57; pp. 32 - 41
Main Authors:	Law de Lauriston, P.B. MacLaren, Odell, George H., Lambert-Law de Lauriston, Timothy
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2015
Subjects:	Experimental archaeology Lithic analysis Ritualistic smoking Stone pipes Use-wear Experimental archaeology Stone pipes Lithic analysis Use-wear Ritualistic smoking
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Several types of smoking pipes have been manufactured and used throughout later prehistoric and historic times around the world. Although substantial information exists on the styles of these pipes, little is known about their methods of manufacture or the types of sites on which they were made. This study focuses on testing a postulated model of pipe manufacture through the experimental replication of an artifact type known as the Florence/Windom pipe, made of soft red argillite (pipestone), and the use-wear analysis of chipped stone artifacts, representative of stone tools found in association with these pipes. Results of analyses showed that certain tool types, such as reamers, drills, tabular tools, scrapers, and gouges, were integral parts of the manufacture process. Other types, such as punches and awls, proved not to have been employed in this activity. While our model was applied to a regionally specific pipe style and raw material, we suggest that our methods and approach can easily be used generally and more broadly in the analyses of similar archaeological assemblages worldwide. •Our study focused on the manufacture of the Great Bend Aspect Florence/Windom pipe.•We analyzed 78 chipped stone artefacts for use-wear related to pipe manufacture.•The artifacts were classified into 7 morpho-type groups for more detailed analysis.•5 types (drills, gouges, reamers, endscrapers & tabular tools) had pipestone wear.•The other 2 types (awls & punches) were utilized, but not for pipe manufacture.
ISSN:	0305-4403 1095-9238
DOI:	10.1016/j.jas.2015.02.014