Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
O F STONE TOOLS
By Don E . C r a b t r e e
-
PREFACE
A study of lithic technology r e v e a l s the p r o g r e s s of primitive m a n
for approximately 2,000,000 y e a r s of making and using tools and weapons
I am indebted t o the National Science Foundatlon f o r of stone, wood, and bone, which i s a predominance of approximately
financia1 support t o me and Earl H. Swanson, r . through 99. 5% of human history. But a r t i f a c t s made of organic m a t e r i a l s a r e
Idaho State University since 1965. The final d r a f t of the generally perishable and the m o s t enduring identifiable tools of p r e h i s -
original PaPer w a s p r e p a r e d by Helen Millard whi1.e the t o r i c m a n a r e those made of stone.
published f o r m was dane by Mae Jones. E a r l Swanson edited
and Lucille Harten copyread the published paper. A s always The e a r l i e s t m a n c a n be identified as human a s much by a s s o c i -
mY wife. Evelyn, gave m e m o r a l support. knowledgeable ation with stone tools a s by h i s anatomy. F o r this r e a s o n , the techniques
comment, and typed the e a r l y d r a f t s of the papep which of making stone tools a r e of g r e a t importance i n the study of human origins
organized i t into a coherent whole. and d i s p e r s a l s . F l a k e s c a r s on the a r t i f a c t s a r e the r e s u l t of v a r i o u s
flintknapping techniques and consequently furnish evidence and diagnostic
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of a t l e a s t the l a s t stage of manufacture. F u r t h e r , a
microscopic study of functional s c a r s on the edges c a n give s o m e b a s i s
for t h e o r e t i c a l functional analysis. Reducing the initial m a s s of lithic
Don E . C r a b t r e e m a t e r i a l t o the finished product r e q u i r e s many s t a g e s of manufacture,
discarding waste flakes during the p r o c e s s . These debitage flakes a r e
January, 1972 usually m o r e diagnostic t h a n flake s c a r s , for t h e i r s i z e , thickness, shape
and d e g r e e of curvature c a n r e v e a l s e v e r a 1 manufacturing s t e p s . They
c a n indicate the technique, for they r e t a i n the bulb of applied f o r c e
(platform a r e a ) , show the method of p l a t f o r m preparation and innumerable
bther c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s which indicate the technique. F o r this reason, a
c a r e f u l study of the flaking d e b r i s is a p r i m e requisite i n determining
tbe manufactur ing t e chnique.
Don E . C r a b t r e e
with t h e e d i t o r i a l a s s i s t a n c e of
G u y Muto
Christine Lovgren
E a r l H. Swanson
and i l l u s t r a t i o n s b y
Mary Keeler
GLOSSARY
Term
Denoting a n i r r e g u l a r shape. Of no
d e t e r m i n a t e forrn, without c l a s s i f i a b l e
shape e s p e c i a l l y with referente t o
some cores.
Anvil technique
De finition
Axis of S e e "Angle of F o r c e .
Applied F o r c e
S p l i t Cobble
Technique of r e s t i n g c o r e on a n v i l f o r p e r c u s s i o n blow.
Bulbs of f o r c e a r e - n o t p r e s e n t a t b o t h ends. The cone of f o r c e
i s s h a t t e r e d o r severed.
Definiton
An i n s e r t of bone, a n t l e r , i v o r y o r 3 . Alternate
m e t a l into one end of a handle, o r flaking t o produce
ridge.
c r u t e h , t o m a k e a e s m p o s i t e pressimre
tool. The t i p o r forepieee o a omposite
p r e s s u r e tool.
Hard hammer b l a d e
d. Pronounced b u l b o f f o r c e
g. S l i g h t l y curshed c o n t a c t a r e a ; absence of l i p
Hard H
Ventral
P e r c u s s i o n c o r e and b l a d e s
Definition
49
Term Definition
Term Definition
Curved Flaking S e e Bending F l a k e s .
Elasticity T h e p r o p e r t y of stone t o r e t u r n t o i t s
f o r m e r s t a t e a f t e r being d e p r e s s e d by
application of force. Ideal lithic m a t e r i a l s
a r e almost perfectly elastic.
1 .,a
61 p,,i,-,,,
s2 :-',., ;~; [ ; i
, !:.r.:; y;>;jT;{
8 ! 8 $;!,;;<ji,;;jp,' '.'..''-i
(-, :,, 7 , r1
I :,,?.
t
d~~lvld\?i,
! i &,,, ).;
559 v , \ i : , , ~ ~ ~ i <
" ~l ~8i
Term
67
Term
Hackle s
and of c r y s t a l s of the i s o m e t r i c s y s t e m . In
a n i s o t r o p i c e l a s t i c medium, the velocities of
propagation of e l a s t i c wave s a r e independent
of direction,
Jade A m e t a m o r p h i c rock of v a r i e d c o l o r s . G e m
v a r i e t y i s a p p l e - g r e e n and waxy-white. A
m a t e r i a l of e x t r a o r d i n a r y toughne s s but only
s i x and one-half on the Mohs s c a l e of h a r d -
n e s s . Must be f o r m e d by grinding, not flaking.
Jasper An i m p u r e v a r i e t y of chalcedony f o r m e d in
v a r i o u s opeque c o l o r s . Adaptable f o r flaking
and forming stone a r t i f a c t s .
Knapping P r o c e s s of f r a c t u r i n g stone. F o r m e r l y
indicated a p e r c u s s i o n technique but now
includes the p r e s s u r e technique a s well.
Marginal See F i s s u r e s .
Fissures
77
Term Definition
Term Definition
Notch B a s a l indentations to facilitate hafting.
M i c r olith s V e r y s m a l l g e o m e t r i c - f o r m tools commonly
used in composite tools. F o r m e d f r o m p r i s - Not ching Technique of indenting the b a s e of a
m a t i c blades, using the s h a r p unmsdified p r ~ j e c t i l epoint o r knife t o facilitate
l a t e r a l edges a s the cutting edge. hafting. Usually by the p r e s s u r e t e c h -
(P-75). nique. Severa1 t r a i t s m a y be identified.
Deep s e r r a t i o n s a r e a style of notching.
Mingle T o m i x o r mingle m a t e r i a l f r o m one s o u r c e .
Nucleus The core. A central m a s s or a kernel.
Morphological An unreliable method of typing stone tools The p a r t remaining a f t e r remova1 of
Typology accor.ding t o f o r m alone. T h i s c a n be m i s - e x c e s s m a t e r i a l , o r a f t e r flakes o r blades
leading, f o r tools having the s a m e f o r m have been detached. A c o r e to01 could be
m a y well have been produced b y different a nuclear artifact.
techniques, have different technolsgical a t -
t r i b u t e s , and csuld have been intended f o r Objective Lithic m a t e r i a l being worked o r f o r m e d
different functional p u r p o s e s . P i e ce by v a r i o u s techniques. Can be nodule,
flake, blade, blank, p r e f o r m , c o r e uni-
Multidirectional C o r e b e a r i n g s c a r s whch show that flakes face, b i f a c e o r a permutation o object
Core o r blades w e r e rernoved in m o r e than one t o completed f o r m .
direction.
* Oblique Flaking F l a k e s removed diagonally t o the long a x i s
Naturefacts P s e u d o - a s t i f a c t s caused by n a t u r a l s o i l of the a r t i f a c t . P a r a l l e l flaking d i r e e t e d
(Pseudo-tools) movement, glaciation, wave action, high diag:onall$ a c r o s s the s u r f a c e of the a r t i -
velocity w a t e r movement, g r a v i t y ( s u c h a s fact. Generally done b y the p r e s s u r e
alluvial fans o r s t e e p inclines), r a p i d t e m - technique. See Diagonal Flaking.
p e r a t u r e changes, interna1 p r e s s u r e ( s u c h a s (P* 87).
s t a r c h f r a c t u r e s and pot l i d s ) , exfoliation,
tectonic movements, d i a s t r o p h i s m , s olifluction, Ob sidian Igneous g l a s s , volcanic rock. G e n e r a l l y
foot t r a m p l i n g and othe r unintenticnal activity black although s o m e deposits a r e r e d , g r e e n
caused by n a t u r e r a t h e r than by man. T h e s e o r brown. 1s often banded and of different
conditions c a n detach flakes f r o m the m a s s in d e g r e e s of t r a n s p a r e n c y . Well suited f o r
s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t the piece m a y r e s e m b l e a n flaked implement manufacture f o r it produces
embryonic tool. a v e r y s h a r p cutting edge.
Parallel F l a k e s c a r s a r e p a r a l l e l t o e a c h o t h e r , uni-
Flaking f o r m o r graduated i n s i z e , and leave a s h a r p
s t r a i g h t edge. T h i s technique w a s applied
t o d i r e c t the flakes a c r o s s tke face of the
a r t i f a c t , making it s t r o n g e r and m o r e r e g u l a r .
T h i s type of flaking i s accomplished by the
s e r i a 1 remova1 of blades continuously a c r o s s
the face of the s u r f a c e worked. The flake
p l a t f o r m i s placed i n line with a ridge with
the g r e a t e s t f o r c e applied d i r e c t l y perpen-
d i c u l a r t o m a r g i n with p r e s s u r e tip. The
to01 m u s t be kept i n line with ridge during
detachment. (p. 8 7 ) .
Patina A n a l t e r a t i o n of the s u r f a c e by m o l e c u l a r o r
c h e m i c a l change and not t o be confused with
sand blasting.
P l a n o - convex F l a t on v e n t r a l s u r f a c e - curved on d o r s a l
s u r f a c e . Common t o unifacial a r t i f a c t s .
Pervesse fracture
83
Term Definition
Term Definition
a n g l e s , o r l e s s t o the longitudinal a x i s .
Angle of p l a t f o r m on flake o r blade c o r - Generally they a r e a n a t u r a l o c c u r r e n c e
responding with parenta1 platform angle r a t h e r t h a n intentional r e s u l t s of m a n - m a d e
of c o r e . f lake S .
Platform The table o r s u r f a c e a r e a receiving the Precision A p r e c i s i o n method of thinning by which the
f o r c e n e c e s s a r y t o detach a flake o r blade. Thinning w o r k e r controls the d i r e c t i o n and t e r m i n a t i o n
Can be e i t h e r n a t u r a l o r p r e p a r e d . The of the f l a k e s a t the m e d i a n l i i e of the a r t i f a c t
truncation of the cone p a r t . by applying e i t h e r the p a r a l l e l o r c o l l a t e r a l
flaking technique. F l a k e s a r e intentionally
Platform The grinding, polishing, faceting, beveling t e r m i n a t e d in a hinge o r s t e p f r a c t u r e a t the
Preparation of that p a r t of the p l a t f o r m t o r e c e i v e the m e d i a n line t o allow flakes detached f r o m the
applied f o r c e . Usually done t o s t r e n g t h e n opposite m a r g i n t o m e e t and i n t e r s e c t t h e s e
the platform in o r d e r t o c a r r y off a l a r g e r hinge f r a c t u r e S .
flake. See a l s o T u r n e d Edge, Grinding,
Polishing, F a c e t , Beveled E d g e . Preform P r e f o r m i n g denotes the f i r s t shaping. P r e f o r m
i s a n unfinished, unused f o r m of the proposed
P oint of P l a t f o r m p a r t o r cone truncation. A r e a a r t i f a c t . It i s l a r g e r than, and without the
C ontact o the forceful meeting of p e r c u s s o r o r refinement of, the completed tool. It i s thick,
c o m p r e s s o r and the objective piece. with deep bulbar s c a r s , h a s i r r e g u l a r e d g e s ,
and n o m e a n s of hafting. G e n e r a l l y m a d e b y
P o l i s hing T o make smooth by rubbing with fine d i r e c t p e r c u s s i o n . Not t o be confused with a
a b r a s i v e m a t e r i a l . Strengthens the plat- "blank. ' I
f o r m . C a n a l s o be the r e s u l t of function.
See Grinding. ( p . 6 7 ) . Prehistoric T h e s c i e n c e of knowledge of forming stone
Lithic into u s e f u l cutting, chopping, and other
Polyhedral C o r e b e a r i n g multiple blade s c a r s . T e chnology functional i m p l e m e n t s , c o m p r i s e d of two
Core Generally cylindrical ( p . 55). f a c t o r s - the methods and the technique. S e e
Method and T e c h n i q u ~ .
P o s i t i v e Bulb of Rounded (onion- shaped) protuberance
Force found on the v e n t r a l side of a flake o r Pressure P r o c e s s of f o r m i n g and sharpening stone by
blade a t the p r o x i m a l end. Bulb i s p a r t Flaking removing s u r p l u s m a t e r i a l - in the f o r m of
of the cone of f o r c e . flakes - f r o m the a r t i f a c t b y a p r e s s i n g f o r c e
r a t h e r than b y p e r c u s sion. T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s
Posterior Bottom. Base. Opposite of a n t e r i o r . individual technique s of p r e s s u r e flaking .
P o t Lid A plano-convex flake leaving a concave s c a r . Primary Remova1 of i r r e g u l a r i t i e s on the a r t i f a c t by
P o t lids a r e the r e s u l t of differential expansion Retouch the p r e s s u r e technique t o m a k e the piece
and contsaction of i s o t r o p i c m a t e r i a l but a r e r e a d y f o r the second retouch.
minus the c o m p r e s s i o n rings of f o r c e lines
usually a s s o c i a t e d with t h e s e conditions.
Term De finition
87
Term Definitioai
88
Term Definition
v a r i e t i e s can be f o r m e d into v a r i o u s a r t i f a c t s
by p e r c u s s i o n flaking.
Seriation Gradation f r o m e a r l y f o r m s t o l a t e r f o r m s
i n lithic manufacture.
91
Term Definition
Term Definition
ADDENDA
T h e w o r k e r c a n a l t e r the c h a r a c t e r of levering
f o r c e by slowing o r a c c e l e r a t i n g the action but
t h i s does not a l t e r the amount of f o r c e f o r the
m o r e intense the f o r c e the slower and m o r e
limited i t s action.
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