Overview

Stone tools constitute our earliest record of human material culture. As such, they have held a fascination since the earliest days of archaeological research. Procedures by which archaeological stone tools have been analyzed have traditionally operated on an apprenticeship model, whereby a novice acquires competency from an expert in the field. While this pedagogical model has been tried and tested, it is not always the most efficient method: it is labor intensive, and it requires a resident lithics expert. This practical volume does not intend to replace a mentor, but acts as a readily accessible guide to the basic tools of lithic analysis that a researcher can consult. Some focuses of the manual include: - History of stone tool research, Procurement, manufacture and function, Assemblage variability. This manual also includes text boxes, bringing basic terms and information to the attention of the researcher. Lithic Analysis will be an incomparable source for academic archaeologists, cultural resource and heritage management archaeologists, government heritage agencies, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students of archaeology focused on the prehistoric period.

Full Product Details

Author:   George H. Odell
Publisher:   Springer Science+Business Media
Imprint:   Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers
Edition:   2004 ed.
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.40cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   1.300kg
ISBN:  

9780306480676

ISBN 10:   0306480670
Pages:   262
Publication Date:   31 December 2003
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1. History Of Stone Tool Research.- Procurement.- Tool Manufacture.- Assemblage Variability.- Tool Use.- Behavioral Questions.- Perspectives.- 2. Procurement.- Formation Of Rock.- Igneous Rocks.- Sedimentary Rocks.- Metamorphic Rocks.- Summary.- Geomorphic Processes.- Defining The Problem.- Is This Material Local?.- What is the Source of the Material?.- Visual Characterization.- Hand Specimens.- Petrographic Techniques.- Geochemical Techniques.- Neutron Activation Analysis.- X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis.- PIXE and Similar Techniques.- Other Instrumental Types of Analysis.- General Remarks.- 3. Tool Manufacture.- Fracture Mechanics.- General Principles.- Types of Fracture.- Fracture Features.- Types Of Flaking And Flakers.- Percussion Flaking.- Pressure Flaking.- Primary And Secondary Modification.- Primary Modification.- Secondary Modification.- Ground Stone.- Manufacture-Ground Specimens.- Use-Ground Specimens.- Analyzing Ground Stone Tools.- 4. Assemblage Variability.- Detecting Vectors Of Information.- Raw Material.- Technology: Basic Partitioning.- Technology: Distinguishing Trajectories.- Morphology: Characterizing Shape.- Function.- Comparing Assemblages.- Comparing Class Structure.- Comparing Specific Classes.- Analyzing Unretouched Debris.- Individual Flake Analysis.- Mass Analysis.- Summary.- 5. Toolfunction.- Use-Wear Analysis.- Background.- Techniques.- Summary.- Residue Analysis.- Plant Remains.- Blood Residues.- Summary.- 6. Ecountering Pehistoric Bhavior.- Subsistence.- Food Procurement.- Food Processing.- Shelter, Facilities And Clothing.- Structures and Facilities.- Clothing.- Organization Of Mobility And Technology.- Tool Design.- Raw Material Procurement, Supply, and Use.- Complex Societies.- Production of Surplus Goods.- Material Replacement.- Concluding Remarks.- References.

Reviews

"From the reviews: ""The book is organized into six chapters, each of which is driven by a series of questions the potential lithic analyst might pose. In addition to a question driven structure, sidebars are used to make supplemental points to the primary narrative."" (William Andrefsky, Jr., Journal of Field Archaeology)"

From the reviews: ""The book is organized into six chapters, each of which is driven by a series of questions the potential lithic analyst might pose. In addition to a question driven structure, sidebars are used to make supplemental points to the primary narrative."" (William Andrefsky, Jr., Journal of Field Archaeology)

From the reviews: <br> The book is organized into six chapters, each of which is driven by a series of questions the potential lithic analyst might pose. In addition to a question driven structure, sidebars are used to make supplemental points to the primary narrative. <br>(William Andrefsky, Jr., Journal of Field Archaeology)

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