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Technological Choice and Raw Material Availability: Lithic Production Implements in Western Belize

ABSTRACT In lithic studies, much attention is devoted to analyses of production processes and finished tools while little attention is paid to production implements. Hammerstones present an interesting problem as many areas with readily available lithic raw material sources lack materials for high-quality hammerstones. This paper uses a case study from a chert-rich area, the upper Belize River valley of western Belize, to examine how the Late Classic Maya acquired material to be used as hammerstones. This paper finds that lithic producers used locally available poor-quality stone as well as imported materials, such as groundstone, as hammerstones, suggesting multiple acquisition networks existed through which lithic producers obtained percussion implements.