Several freshly knapped pieces of fine-grained basalt were utilized by an experimenter for a large variety of tasks. The tools were then submitted to an analyst, who was ignorant of the uses to which each of the objects had been put. Employing low-power microscopic techniques, he was able to identify with reasonable accuracy the used part(s) of the implements, the prehended part(s), the activities in which the pieces had been engaged, and the relative resistance of the materials worked. It is argued that low-power micro-wear techniques have several advantages, among which are ease and speed of analysis and availability of equipment. The methods selected for any use-wear analysis of stone tools, however, must be adapted to the particular situation and the questions to be asked of the data.