Why did Clovis toolmakers choose difficult quartz crystal?

(phys.org)

15 points by PaulHoule2 days ago

3 comments

lexicality11 minutes ago
Given I've spent the last few weeks teaching myself CAD and completely designing a custom 3d printed racking system for my consumer networking gear from scratch, I would like to think that "I decided to do this ostensibly stupid and pointlessly difficult thing for a minor aesthetic improvement even when a blatantly easier (and possibly better) option is available" is a valid reason for humans to do things.<p>Besides, that green quartz crystal is beautiful. If you can only afford to carry a limited number of objects then I personally would try to find a way to turn it into an object I can hold, use, and admire every day.
vintermann1 hour ago
I'm always suspicious of "it was religious" claims in archeology.
- defrost1 hour ago
  Neither the article nor the backing paper discussed made any such definite claim.<p>Many casual readers confuse statements such as<p><pre><code> "which *may* have had symbolic or ritual significance." </code></pre> with meaning "absolutely had to do with (a) religion" ?<p>Attribution of potential cause of inferred behaviour to "ritual" is a long standing practice in archaeology; it's code for "we don't know" and covers all manner of things that may simply have developed as habit over years, may have unknown and non supernatural causes / motivations, etc.
mring336212 days ago
Because it looks cool!
- AngryData1 hour ago
  This is what I would bet on. If you spent decades of your life knapping various "easy" and ideal stones for tools and getting quite skilled at it, it doesn't seem like much of a stretch for them to try knapping a "difficult" stone just because it looks cooler and you can show it off.
- moscoe1 hour ago
  Exactly. Same reason kids and people today are drawn to it and gems in general. Even today, people imbue crystals with mystical properties.