Retooling involves resharpening/refurbishing a tool so it can be reused (Torrence 1989; Conard and Adler 1997; Hoffman and Enloe 1992) and represents the maintainability/flexibility trajectory on Figure 2. For example, in the Mesolithic tranchet axes were curated and resharpened (as indicated by the tranchet removal scar(s) perpendicular across the distal end of the axes and hence also the distinctive tranchet flakes). These two lithic types are notably present in the assemblage from Ringstone reservoir, West Yorkshire (Stonehouse 2001). Supporting evidence is that tranchet axes tend to be larger (compared to elsewhere) in chalk areas and hence nearer flint sources (Butler 2005). Moreover, generally the smaller the axe the more likely it is to have been resharpened (unless it was made on smaller blank/raw material). Similarly it has been demonstrated in later prehistory that axes were larger nearer the raw material sources and smaller further away due to retooling (Field and Wooley 1984). Wymer (1991) argues that this was the case also in the Mesolithic.
Indeed my own studies show that many of the central Pennine sites have a strikingly large proportion of debitage and in particular chips (microdebitage), spalls, and small flakes associated with tool maintenance and retooling.
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Last updated: Wed Jul 29 2009