Grinding tools from Mai Adrasha.—— Subsistence activities in the Shire region and northern highlands

The site of Mai Adrasha is an important settlement in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. It has a relatively abundant plant resources, especially crop resources. Many archaeological researches have been undertaken in this region. There are a large number of grinding tool excavated from this site. Grinding tools have played an important role in local people’s daily life for many years. In order to analyze the function these grinding tools, use wear analysis is needed now. This technique was started and developed from the 1930s and it is now relatively mature. In this thesis, I try to use this technique to analyze some grinding tools excavated from the Mai Adrasha. Based on the reference collection in the laboratory at Leiden University, I find that these grinding tools might be used for food preparation. People at that time might use these tools to grind cereals like finger millet and tef into flour. Although if we want to know the details of these plant species, a further study is...Show moreThe site of Mai Adrasha is an important settlement in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. It has a relatively abundant plant resources, especially crop resources. Many archaeological researches have been undertaken in this region. There are a large number of grinding tool excavated from this site. Grinding tools have played an important role in local people’s daily life for many years. In order to analyze the function these grinding tools, use wear analysis is needed now. This technique was started and developed from the 1930s and it is now relatively mature. In this thesis, I try to use this technique to analyze some grinding tools excavated from the Mai Adrasha. Based on the reference collection in the laboratory at Leiden University, I find that these grinding tools might be used for food preparation. People at that time might use these tools to grind cereals like finger millet and tef into flour. Although if we want to know the details of these plant species, a further study is necessary and residue analysis is also important.Show less

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Grinding tools from Mai Adrasha.—— Subsistence activities in the Shire region and northern highlands