Context in Stone Tools and Craftsmanship: A Material Culture Perspective

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The relationship between humanity and stone spans approximately three million years, enduring from the Paleolithic era to the present day. This enduring connection has evolved in tandem with economic, technological, and social transformations, continuously acquiring new meanings across different epochs. Stone—whether in the form of multipurpose tools, specialized implements, adaptive designs reflecting shifting needs, or even non-utilitarian objects—has played a pivotal role in archaeological investigations into human life and existence. Stone and stone craftsmanship serve as critical conduits for the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and experience, encapsulating records of human subsistence strategies and cognitive evolution. Through the study of stone artifacts—including knapping techniques, master craftsmanship, innovations, quotidian productions, and sophisticated designs—we gain invaluable insights into prehistoric communities. These objects must be analyzed within their precise temporal, social, geographical, and spatial contexts, alongside other environmental variables, to yield a comprehensive understanding of past societies. Stone artifacts encompass a broad spectrum, ranging from chipped and ground stone tools to personal adornments, figurines, decorated stones, and vessels. Specialists examine these artifacts through multiple lenses, including raw material selection, production technologies, functional intent, and formal attributes. Geoarchaeological, experimental archaeological, and ethnographic methodologies further enrich these investigations, situating stone and its craftsmanship within a broader analytical framework that enhances our comprehension of prehistoric humans and their communities. In the prehistoric archaeology of Anatolia, stone tools and craftsmanship hold particular significance, especially in periods predating the advent of pottery. Their centrality in cultural and chronological classifications grants stone a distinctive status within material culture studies. Scholarly literature abounds with analytical studies demonstrating that the chaîne opératoire of stone tools—encompassing production, use, and consumption—unfolds across diverse phases, contexts, and temporalities. Since the 1960s, archaeological research has underscored that stone tools cannot be confined to narrow disciplinary silos. These objects possess dynamic "biographies," accruing new meanings as they are manufactured, utilized, and transported across time and space. Consequently, their analysis demands a holistic approach that transcends purely technical or functional assessments, instead considering their mobility, transformation, and cultural significance. In recent decades, the proliferation of scientific methodologies in archaeology has led to increasing specialization. However, this methodological emphasis has coincided with a decline in the number of scholars dedicated to stone tool studies. Against this backdrop, TAÇ III seeks to convene researchers engaged in stone studies, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, revitalizing Anatolia-centric research, and cultivating a robust interpretative framework that extends beyond chipped and ground stone tools. The workshop aims to explore the diverse applications of stone—from polished axes and beads to figurines and vessels, as well as unmodified stones employed in their natural state—and to interrogate their role as mediators in complex human interactions across temporal and spatial dimensions. By prioritizing contextual approaches, this workshop endeavors to systematically examine stone tools and craftsmanship while addressing a critical lacuna in theoretical discourse. Furthermore, it seeks to illuminate the cognitive processes underlying the production, use, and cultural embedding of stone tools within material culture. The inaugural workshop (TAÇ I) was held in 2017 in Edirne under the title "Stone Tools in Anatolian Archaeology: Theory, Method, and Practice," emphasizing the application of theoretical and methodological frameworks to empirical research. The second iteration (TAÇ II), convened in Düzce in 2019 under the theme "Talking about Stones in Archaeology / Stone Tools: Interpretation and Creativity," explored interpretative paradigms and creative approaches. Both events successfully facilitated scholarly exchange, accelerating the dissemination of knowledge and enabling integrative assessments. The third workshop (TAÇ III), scheduled for March 26–27, 2026, in Ankara, will be titled "Stone and Stone Craftsmanship: Material Culture and Context." We invite researchers specializing in prehistoric Anatolian stone artifacts to contribute to this forum, which will examine humanity’s multifaceted engagement with stone through interdisciplinary perspectives.

The workshop welcomes all scholars working on prehistoric Anatolian lithic materials. Researchers from international institutions are also encouraged to participate, with presentations to be delivered in English.