Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses

Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses PDF Author: Lawrence H. Keeley
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226428893
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
A major problem confronting archeologists is how to determine the function of ancient stone tools. In this important work, Lawrence H. Keeley reports on his own highly successful course of research into the uses of British Paleolithic flint implements. His principal method of investigation, known as "microwear analysis," was the microscopic examination of traces of use left on flint implements in the form of polishes, striations, and breakage patterns. The most important discovery arising from Keeley's research was that, at magnifications of 100x to 400x, there was a high correlation between the detailed appearance of microwear polishes formed on tool edges and the general category of material worked by that edge. For example, different and distinctive types of microwear polish were formed during use on wood, bone, hide, meat, and soft plant material. These correlations between microwear polish and worked material were independent of the method of use (cutting, sawing, scraping, and so on). In combining evidence of polish type with other traces of use, Keeley was able to make precise reconstructions of tool functions. This book includes the results of a "blind test" of Keeley's functional interpretations which revealed remarkable agreement between the actual and inferred use of the tools tested. Keeley applied his method of microwear analysis to artifacts from three excavation sites in Britain—Clacton-on-the-sea, Swanscombe, and Hoxne. His research suggests new hypotheses concerning such Paleolithic problems as inter-assemblage variability, the function of Acheulean hand axes, sidescrapers, and chopper-cores and points the way to future research in Stone Age studies.

Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses

Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses PDF Author: Lawrence H. Keeley
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226428893
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267

Get Book Here

Book Description
A major problem confronting archeologists is how to determine the function of ancient stone tools. In this important work, Lawrence H. Keeley reports on his own highly successful course of research into the uses of British Paleolithic flint implements. His principal method of investigation, known as "microwear analysis," was the microscopic examination of traces of use left on flint implements in the form of polishes, striations, and breakage patterns. The most important discovery arising from Keeley's research was that, at magnifications of 100x to 400x, there was a high correlation between the detailed appearance of microwear polishes formed on tool edges and the general category of material worked by that edge. For example, different and distinctive types of microwear polish were formed during use on wood, bone, hide, meat, and soft plant material. These correlations between microwear polish and worked material were independent of the method of use (cutting, sawing, scraping, and so on). In combining evidence of polish type with other traces of use, Keeley was able to make precise reconstructions of tool functions. This book includes the results of a "blind test" of Keeley's functional interpretations which revealed remarkable agreement between the actual and inferred use of the tools tested. Keeley applied his method of microwear analysis to artifacts from three excavation sites in Britain—Clacton-on-the-sea, Swanscombe, and Hoxne. His research suggests new hypotheses concerning such Paleolithic problems as inter-assemblage variability, the function of Acheulean hand axes, sidescrapers, and chopper-cores and points the way to future research in Stone Age studies.

Stone Tools in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Near East

Stone Tools in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Near East PDF Author: John J. Shea
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107006988
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 427

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Book Description
This book surveys the archaeological record for stone tools from the earliest times to 6,500 years ago in the Near East.

Using Microwear Analysis to Determine Stone Tool Use at Elden Pueblo

Using Microwear Analysis to Determine Stone Tool Use at Elden Pueblo PDF Author: Caryn M. Berg
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Arizona
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description


Prehistoric Stone Tools of Eastern Africa

Prehistoric Stone Tools of Eastern Africa PDF Author: John J. Shea
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108424430
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 309

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Book Description
A detailed overview of the Eastern African stone tools that make up the world's longest archaeological record.

Stone Tool Use at Cerros

Stone Tool Use at Cerros PDF Author: Suzanne M. Lewenstein
Publisher: University of Texas Press
ISBN: 0292741278
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 239

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Book Description
For centuries scholars have pondered and speculated over the uses of the chipped stone implements uncovered at archaeological sites. Recently a number of researchers have attempted to determine prehistoric tool function through experimentation and through observation of the few remaining human groups who still retain this knowledge. Learning how stone tools were made and used in the past can tell us a great deal about ancient economic systems, exchange networks, and the social and political structure of prehistoric societies. Suzanne M. Lewenstein used the artifacts from Cerros, an important Late Preclassic (200 BC–AD 200) Mayan site in northern Belize, to study stone tool function. Through a comprehensive program of experimentation with stone tool replicas, she was able not only to infer the tasks performed by individual tool specimens but also to recognize a wide variety of past activities for which stone tools were used. Unlike previous works that focused on hunter-gatherer groups, Stone Tool Use at Cerros is the first comprehensive experimental study of tool use in an agricultural society. The lithic data are used in an economic interpretation of a lowland Mayan community within a hierarchically complex society. Apart from its significance to Mayan studies, this innovative work offers the beginnings of a reference collection of identifiable tool functions that may be documented for sedentary, complex society. It will be of major interest to all archaeologists and anthropologists, as well as those interested in economic specialization and artisanry in complex societies.

Use-wear Analysis on Quartzite Flaked Tools

Use-wear Analysis on Quartzite Flaked Tools PDF Author: Antonella Pedergnana
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1527537870
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 172

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Book Description
Quartzite is a particularly frequently used lithology for knapping stone tools throughout all stages of human evolution. Despite this, however, there is a surprising lack of detailed methodological research on the formation and appearance of use-wear on this type of rock. As such, this book fills in a gap in the research, and proposes a new method to analyse use-wear on quartzite, by evaluating the variability of use-wear appearance on different rock varieties. This book is conceived as a handbook for the application of microwear analysis on quartzite, and is addressed to both students and lithic use-wear analysists. The extreme surface irregularities of quartzite, mainly due to its microcrystalline structure and the diverse orientation of quartz crystals surfaces, have always been regarded as a major obstacle when applying use-wear analysis. As shown here, the use of scanning electron microscopy allows this and other obstacles when observing highly reflective surfaces, such as quartzite, to be overcome.

Designing Experimental Research in Archaeology

Designing Experimental Research in Archaeology PDF Author: Jeffrey R. Ferguson
Publisher: University Press of Colorado
ISBN: 1607320223
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 281

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Book Description
Each chapter addresses a particular classification of material culture---ceramics, stone tools, perishable materials, composite hunting technology, butchering practices and bone tools, and experimental zooarchaeology---detailing issues that must be considered in the development of experimental archaeology projects and discussing potential pitfalls. The experiments follow coherent and consistent research designs and procedures that are given theoretical context. Contributors outline methods that will serve as a guide in future experiments. This degree of standardization is uncommon in traditional archaeological research but is essential to experimental archaeology. --

Stone Tool Analysis

Stone Tool Analysis PDF Author: Mark G. Plew
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description


Understanding Stone Tools and Archaeological Sites

Understanding Stone Tools and Archaeological Sites PDF Author: Brian Patrick Kooyman
Publisher: UNM Press
ISBN: 9780826323330
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
Covers manufacturing techniques, lithic types and materials, reduction strategies and techniques, worldwide lithic technology, production variables, meaning of form, and usewear and residue analysis.

Stone Tools

Stone Tools PDF Author: George H. Odell
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1489901736
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
Lithic analysts have been criticized for being atheoretical in their approach, or at least for not contributing to building archaeological theory. This volume redresses that balance. In Stone Tools, renowned lithic analysts employ explicitly theoretical constructs to explore the archaeological record and use the lithic database to establish its points. Chapters discuss curation, design theory, replacement of stone with metal, piece refitting, and projectile point style.