A hammerstone is the archaeological term used for an object used as a prehistoric hammer, to percussion fractures on another object. Most frequently used in discussion of stone tool working, a hammerstone is likely to be of a rounded cobble of quartzite or other medium-grained material, and to weigh between 400 and 1000 grams. Hammerstone usewear is identified by one or more edges showing battering damage.
In the drawing, a flintknapper holds a hammerstone in his right hand and bangs it against the flint core in his left, making flattish stone flakes come off the core. This process is sometimes called "systematic flaking".
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This entry is one of the guide to Stone Tools in Archaeology, and part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
