A Study On The Function Of Spindle-shaped Knife Of Lower Xiajiadian Culture From Locality I，Dashanqian Site

Dashanqian Site is located at Harqin Qi, Inner Mongolia.In1996and1997archaeologists excavated Locality Ⅰof the site(KDⅠ), where they found richarchaeological remains, that belong to Lower Xiajiadian Culture. Spindle-shapedknives, a characteristic stone tool, were unearthed in KDⅠ. There are sixty-threespindle-shaped knives, including two blanks, five complete specimens and fifty-sixbroken ones together. Similar to other Lower Xiajiadian Culture sites, archaeologistsalso found a large number of polished spades, aves, sickles made by stone or shell,other shapes of knives, chipped hoes, manos and metates and so on. These tools mightbe used in agricultural activities. It implies that spindle-shaped knives may be a kindof important tools in daily life other than agricultural activities during the period ofLower Xiajiadian Culture.But what’s the function and holding method about spindle-shaped knives?Scholars generally thought they were hand-held tools which were used to harvestmillet. This paper questioned this point of view. Referring to Adams’s researchmethodology about ground stone tools, I observed and measured archaeologicalrecords, finding that the major of spindle-shaped knives were made of crystallized tuff,one kind of cinerites. There ate many sources of cinerites in the area. This situationreduces the cost in procuring and transporting materials. Also, the grained texture ofcinerites was suitable to develop serrated edge in manufacturing and using processes.Considering the design of spindle-shaped knives, we could find why ancient peoplecose cinerites to manufacture spindle-knives. The width was between20to30mm,the thickness was between4to10mm. The variability of width, thickness, the rationbetween width and thickness are small. It indicates that spindle-shaped knives mightbe formal tools, used in everyday activities in high intensity. The size ofspindle-shaped knives was so small that they couldn’t be used with hand-holding.The angle of edge is blunt, which indicates that the major function of spindle-shapedknives might not be cutting. Each specimen had one heavily worn tip at least. If they were harvesting tools, use-wear should be heavily developed in the edge. Somespecimens are designed one notch in the back of knife intentionally. It could befunctioned as a brake. It not only helped fixed knife but also increased the area ofholding. If the knife was broken or loosed, it was convenient to maintain andrejuvenate.Through experiments and ethnological analogies, it proposes that the primary useof spindle-shaped knives should be piercing-cutting and sawing-cutting on maderatelyhard materials,such as processing fibers of plants, cutting fruits and vegetables,working wood. The secondary use of them might be harvesting millet, cutting freshmeats except hides and sinews.At last, it discusses the life history of spindle-shaped knives. This research showsthat spindles-shaped knives likely changed their function through manufacturing,using and abandoning processes.