Archaeology in the Pecan tree holes, hand axe or biface specifics.

I've pictured below some clearer specimeines of handaxes and cleavers, around the more weathered specimen that we found will digging the holes for the pecan trees.

The cleavers are the ones that have an axe head or tomahawk type shape and the hand axes are more teardrop or egg shaped.

Even with its severe weathering the weathered handaxe still retains its egg like shape and some of the flake scars are still visible.

Of these three there is another one that was also discarded half way through manufacture, for the same reasons, a stubborn lmp of stone refusing to be removed in the middle.

Notice the thinness of the weathered handaxe that was utilised compared to the one that was discarded.

Hand axes like the choppers also show signs of use. Its not so apparent in the weathered specimen but is nicely illustrated in the photos below.

Large clean flake scars from the manufacture process.

Smaller chipping scars along the edge that was utilised.

When the tool is freshly made it is as sharp as any knife.

Once it has chipped as above it becomes blunt, unusable and is discarded. Our throw away culture of to day is not a new thing.