| 3 horsehoof cores | location unknown |  |
| 2 cores | location unknown |  |
There is a considerable variety of cores, however the collection contains two particular types - the horeshoof core (named because of it is shaped like the hoof of a horse) and the common core. The cores in the collection vary in size from about 8cm to about 12cms in length and height. They are large enough to be hand held, making production of flakes easier. They are also produced from a great variety of stone types which vary depending on the particular type of tool being manufactured from the core.
A core usually consists of one single platform on either the top or bottom of the stone, and three or four platforms on the sides of the stone. This is very clear when looking at the Horsehoof cores but the other 2 cores differ slightly depending on how they are being viewed.
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| Side view of 2 horsehoof cores | Side view of 2 cores |
Cores are essential for the manufacture of many particular stone tool types for example - blades, backed blades, scrapers, and flakes. Below is a diagram showing the manufacture of flakes from a core.
The manufacture of flakes from a core using a hammerstone
(Schick & Toth, 1993: p93)
By varying the type and direction of the force used on the core, different varieties of stone tools can be produced. However, the use of the core is not restricted to using the force of the hammerstone to manufacture tools, but throwing the core onto a rock surface or using a chisel type device can also be used in the production of tools.
Horsehoof cores and other varieties of cores can also be used to some extent as scrapers, which have a variety of uses in almost every aspect of prehistoric life. However, it is important to remember that the uses of many of these stone tools are purely speculative, as many have not been in use for hundreds of years and archaeologists are not entirely sure of the tools intended function. They can also be used for chopping, for example chopping a large piece of bark off a tree.
Because of the many uses of a core, they were carried with the owner until their resources had been exhausted, but until that point they played an important part in an Aboriginal portable stone tool kit.
The article by R.V.S. Wright entitled Stone Implements is a useful reference on the use of cores to produce stone implements.
