Internet Archaeol 2. Grace 4

4. Function

The next stage in the operational sequence is site function, including the specific use of tools, both of motion and worked materials (scraping bone,whittling wood, etc.), the identification of activities (hunting, hide processing,etc.), and the interpretation of site type (hunting camp, home base, etc.).

At Kvernepollen, 21 pieces had recognisable use-wear and Farsund had 48. In terms of site use it is interesting that there is a difference between Farsund and Kvernepollen even though both sites are coastal and exploiting similar natural resources. Kvernepollen has a limited range of activities (Fig. 10), consisting of processing wood and fish. It is suggested that the projectile points were not used in conjunction with the site (i.e. it isnot a kill site), because of the distribution of the projectile points (see section 5). Farsund has a wide range of activities including processing woodand fish but also working bone, antler, hide and one case of scraping shell.This produces a different functional configuration (see Grace 1990), to Kvernepollen (Fig. 11).

Figure 10 Functional configuration:Kvernepollen

Figure 11: Functional configuration: Farsund
Tools are displayed as being used on soft, medium and hard materials foreach major motion category.

Farsund is interpreted as a temporary home base because of the representation of a spread of activities. From this and the size of the site it was probably occupied by an extended family group. Kvernepollen represents a small group, possibly only one or two individuals, occupying the site for a short periodduring a hunting expedition.