THE IMPACT OF RAW-MATERIAL SCARCITY ON GROUND-STONE MANUFACTURE AND USE - AN EXAMPLE FROM THE PHOENIX BASIN HOHOKAM

Current models of ground-stone design, which relate tool morphology an d size to subsistence economies, are based on assumptions of energy ef ficiency and processing constraints of the foodstuffs being ground. Th ese models do not consider the impact of raw-material scarcity on grou nd-stone technologies. This impact is investigated here using an assem blage from the Classic-period Hohokam site of Pueblo Grande, Arizona. The current model of ground-stone design is modified to account for ra w-material scarcity. Specifically, it is demonstrated that raw-materia l scarcity affects ground-stone manufacture, use, and discard patterns . It is argued here that studies using ground-stone assemblages to rec onstruct subsistence economies must take these factors into considerat ion in areas where raw-material scarcity occurs.