Editing Hand axe (section)

===Evidence from wear analysis===
The [[use-wear analysis]] of Palaeolithic hand axes is carried out on findings from emblematic sites across nearly all of Western Europe. Keeley and Semenov were the pioneers of this specialized investigation. Keeley stated, "The morphology of typical hand axes suggests a greater range of potential activities than those of flakes".<ref name="keeley1">{{cite book|last=Keeley|first= Lawrence H. |chapter=Microwear Analysis of Lithics|title=The Lower Palaeolithic site at Hoxne, England|year=1993|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=London|isbn=978-0-226-76111-4|pages=129–149}}</ref>

Many problems need to be overcome in carrying out this type of analysis. One is the difficulty in observing larger pieces with a microscope. Of the millions of known pieces and despite their long role in human history, few have been thoroughly studied. Another arises from the clear evidence that the same tasks were performed more effectively using utensils made from flakes:
{{Quote|This raises the question: why make hand axes, whose production is more complicated and costly, if the flakes can do the same work with the same efficiency? The answer could be that, in general, hand axes were not conceived for a particular function (excluding certain specialized types) [...], they were not made for one main task but covered a much more general purpose.|Keeley{{sfn|Keeley|1993|p=136}}}}

Keeley based his observations on archaeological sites in England. He proposed that in base settlements where it was possible to predict future actions and where greater control on routine activities was common, the preferred tools were made from specialized flakes, such as [[racloir]]s, backed knives, [[scraper (archaeology)|scrapers]] and punches. However, hand axes were more suitable on expeditions and in seasonal camps, where unforeseen tasks were more common. Their main advantage in these situations was the lack of specialization and adaptability to multiple eventualities. A hand axe has a long blade with different curves and angles, some sharper and others more resistant, including points and notches. All of this is combined in one tool. Given the right circumstances, it is possible to make use of [[Debitage|loose flakes]].<ref name="keley2">{{cite book|last=Keeley |first=Lawrence H.|chapter=The Uses of Hand Axes|title=Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses|year=1980|publisher=University of Chicago|location=London|isbn=978-0-226-42889-5|pages=160–165}}</ref> In the same book, Keeley states that a number of the hand axes studied were used as knives to cut meat (such as hand axes from [[Hoxne]] and [[Caddington]]). He identified that the point of another hand axe had been used as a clockwise [[drill]]. This hand axe came from [[Clacton-on-Sea]] (all of these sites are located in the east of England). Toth reached similar conclusions for pieces from the Spanish site in [[Ambrona]] ([[Province of Soria|Soria]]).<ref>{{cite book|last1=González Echegaray |first1=Joaquín |last2=Freeman |first2=Leslie Gordon |title=Le Paléolithique inférieur et moyen en Espagne |language=fr |trans-title=The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in Spain |year=1998|publisher=Jérôme Millon |series=Collection L'homme des origines: Préhistoire d'Europe |volume=6|isbn=978-2-84137-064-1|page=134}}</ref> Analysis carried out by Domínguez-Rodrigo and co-workers on the primitive Acheulean site in Peninj ([[Tanzania]]) on a series of tools dated 1.5 [[Myr|mya]] shows clear microwear produced by plant [[phytolith]]s, suggesting that the hand axes were used to work wood.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Domínguez-Rodrigo |first1=M.|last2=Serrallonga |first2=J.|last3=Juan-Tresserras |first3=J.|last4=Alcalá |first4=L.|last5=Luque |first5=L.|title=Woodworking activities by early humans: a plant residue analysis on Acheulian stone tools from Peninj (Tanzania)|year=2001|journal=[[Journal of Human Evolution]]|volume=40|number=4|pages=289–299|doi=10.1006/jhev.2000.0466|pmid=11312582|bibcode=2001JHumE..40..289D }}</ref> Among other uses, use-wear evidence for [[fire making]] has been identified on dozens of later [[Middle Paleolithic|Middle Palaeolithic]] hand axes from [[France]], suggesting [[Neanderthal]]s struck these tools with the mineral [[pyrite]] to produce sparks at least 50,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sorensen |first1=A. C. |last2=Claud |first2=E. |last3=Soressi |first3=M. |title=Neandertal fire-making technology inferred from microwear analysis |journal=Scientific Reports |date=19 July 2018 |volume=8 |issue=1 |page=10065 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-28342-9 |pmid=30026576 |pmc=6053370 |bibcode=2018NatSR...810065S }}</ref>
[[File:Bifaz-Rotura de la punta.png|center|thumb|upright=1.5|{{center|Drawing of the fracturing of the point of a hand axe, due to its use.}}]]

====Macroscopic traces====
Some hand axes were used with force that left clearly visible marks. Other visible marks can be left as the scars from retouching, on occasion it is possible to distinguish them from marks left by the initial manufacture. One of the most common cases is when a point breaks. This was seen at sites in Europe, Africa and Asia. One example comes from the El Basalito site in [[Province of Salamanca|Salamanca]], where excavation uncovered fragments of a hand axe with marks at the tip that appeared to be the result of the action of a wedge, which would have subjected the object to high levels of torsion that broke the tip.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Benito del Rey |first1=Luis |last2=Benito Álvarez |first2=José Manuel |chapter=El análisis funcional de artefactos líticos prehistóricos: la Trazalogía|title=Métodos y materias instrumentales en Prehistoria y Arqueología (la Edad de la Piedra Tallada más antigua) |volume=II: Tecnología y tipología|year=1998|publisher=Gráficas Cervántes |location=Salamanca|isbn=978-84-95195-05-0}}</ref> A break or extreme wear can affect a tool's point or any other part. Such wear was reworked by means of a secondary working as discussed above. In some cases this reconstruction is easily identifiable and was carried out using techniques such as the {{lang|fr|coup de tranchet}} (French, meaning "[[Tranchet axe|tranchet]] blow"), or simply with scale or scalariform retouches that alter an edge's symmetry and line.
[[File:Bifaz-Punta reconstruida.png|center|thumb|upright=1.5|Acheulean hand axe whose point fractured and was reconstructed using a different working]]