A Study On The Function Of Stone Spades Of Xinglongwa Culture From Baiyinchanghan Site In Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Archaeologists have unearthed a great quantity of stone spades fromBaiyinchanghan site. Most of the current researches still at the level ofanalyzing its shape and structure, and the estimate to the function of stonespades is based on the modern person’s common sense or based on just take theinference for granted. The aim for archaeological research is that from the relicscan find as much as possible relationships between relics and person. In order toreach this goal, there must be a lengthy archaeological inference process to gothrough. We must avoid make inference by skip over some parts. For the studyof stone spades, the primary problem we need to settle is the issue of function.The research object of this paper is the class B stone spades unearthed duringthe periodⅡof Baiyinchanghan site. Form an inference chain by analyze theshape and structure, analyze the technological design, observe the using trace,make simulated experiment of usage and use ethnological material as evidencethis five aspects, so that we can make a reliable inference about the function ofthe stone spades to some extent.Through the morphological characteristics analysis of the stone spades’blade part, we can generally divide the stone spades into two categories: stonespade with centre blade and stone spade with slanting blade. The morphologicalcharacteristics analysis and the observed result of the using trace show thatthese two kind of stone spades have different using pattern. From the analysis ofmorphological characteristics, we can see that the different kinds of design was intended to cope with different using pattern, and the using trace they leavebehind also have each different characteristic, the using trace observation canprove this viewpoint. During the simulated usage experiment, on the one hand,we need to observe the similarities and differences of the experimental sample’susing trace under the different experimental object and the pattern of usage, andthen compared with the unearthed sample; On the other hand, the experimentershould experience the comfortableness of the using pattern, and record theefficiency for each using pattern. Through the research, it was found that thestone spade with slanting blade was used as a hoe; and the stone spade withcentre blade was used as a shovel. The work efficiency of these two kind ofstone spades is different for the difference of the working object. Under certaincircumstance, the combination use of the hoe and the shovel can make themaximum working efficiency. Compared with the woodiness spade and theother kinds of spades, the comparative experiment discussed the different scopeof application of these unearthed stone spades. In the end, through the analogyof ethnonymics, and compared with other relics and the related research, toexplain that these farm implements assemblage was more appropriate for theagriculture production pattern of extensive and shallow ploughing, and peoplelive and do daily work mainly on sloping fields.