Characteristics of grinding stones at LoDaisKa are largely summarized
in Tables III and IV. These are presented in the hope that future
studies will make it possible to distinguish cultural associations from
such tools, although as Haury (1950) and Jennings (1957) reiterated,
metates or grinding stones are often so nondescript as to defy cultural
interpretation. Dealing for the most part with complete examples, there
seem to be two general types: large worn boulders, and flat slabs
often with a slight depression. The former are usually of an igneous
material. Either type may be intentionally shaped. Most were more
or less rectangular. The largest of the first type weighs about 120
pounds, and is 2 feet 3 inches long × 14 inches wide. The smallest is
11 inches × 12 inches and weighs about 20 pounds. Of the second type
the maximum is 1½ feet × 14 inches, the minimum 10 inches × 12 inches.
Shaping, when present, is confined to percussion and smoothing around
the edges. Pecking probably served to roughen the surface.
A number of specimens in the ½ to ¾ inch thick class were made of
hard fine sandstone. On some of the large fragments both faces appear
parallel with no concavity. Only one fairly complete example of this
type was found. This (Fig. 45) is a roughly triangular section about
5 inches on a side. It was found in Hearth B. It shows no basin and
is very smooth. Two sides appear to have been the original edges of
the complete specimen. These are roughly shaped. The smoothing extends
all the way to these edges. There is ethnological evidence, (see
below Lowie, 1924; R. M. Underhill, p.c.) that stones similar to this
specimen were used for cooking stones. Since most of the artifacts of
this type are small pieces, it would be hard to distinguish definitely
between a small section of a cooking stone and a section of a slab
metate. Lacking further proof, these have been treated as grinding
stones, with this possible reservation.