Interpretations - Use-Wear from Different Areas of Surface, Different Wear

To understand a tool’s surface use-wear, images were taken from several different locations on the tools. The kinetic movements of grinding stones and the placement of hands on the stones create kinematic differences over the worked surfaces. The most intriguing result is that different use-wear patterns may appear over the surface. For example, with grinding stones that are placed at an angle in an udo table, the madit is placed a few centimeters from the proximal end of the mațhan before downward pressure and forward force is applied. The proximal end, which did not experience the effects of grinding, shows different use-wear than a few centimeters away where the heavy madit was in contact with the mațhan resulting in the production of increased friction and wear. At the opposite distal end flour builds up between the grinding stone surfaces providing a cushion of intermediate substance that protects the surfaces from heavy abrasions and fracture wear caused by stone-on-stone contact. In each of these three areas of the surface there is a possibility for different use-wear to develop.

The practices of using the thinner madqos and wedimadqos also involve different kinetics depending on the product being processed. The grinding of salt and spices occurred in the center of the surface, with various strokes. Strokes witnessed included reciprocal, circular, and fanned strokes. Noting the different strokes employed with different grinding tools set an expectation of finding varying use-wear patterns on the surfaces. Included are a few notable examples where this has been observed.