Spatial and orientation patterns of experimental stone tool refits
Torre Sáinz, Ignacio de la (University College London. Institute of Archaeology)
Vanwezer, Nils (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)
Benito-Calvo, Alfonso (CENIEH)
Proffitt, Tomos (University College London. Institute of Archaeology)
Mora Torcal, Rafael (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Centre d'Estudis del Patrimoni Arqueològic de la Prehistòria)

Date:	2018
Abstract:	Freehand and bipolar experimental knapping of quartzite from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania is used to conduct spatial analysis of artefact distributions using GIS techniques, and to investigate the orientation of refit lines using circular histograms. The aim of our study is to discern patterns that can be applied to the archaeological record in two domains, namely the identification of knapping episodes and the utility of refitting line orientations in addressing post-depositional disturbance. Our spatial analysis shows that distinctive clustering patterns can be discerned according to knapping stance, handedness and flaking technique. The circular dispersion of refit lines in the horizontal distribution of bipolar assemblages is strongly patterned, indicating that anisotropy of conjoining sets is inherent to pristine hammer-and-anvil knapping episodes.
Note:	The workshop "The Big Puzzle 30 years after: a multidisciplinary, shared, Palaeolithic perspective" was kindly supported by the Wenner-Gren Foundation Ref: Gr CONF-737. We are also thankful to the volunteers of the UCL-Lithics Lab that helped in processing the experiments. T. Proffitt's contribution was funded by a British Academy Fellowship (#542133). Raw material collection at Olduvai Gorge was funded by the European Research Council (Starting Grants 283366).
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Conjoining sets ; Quartzite ; Bipolar flaking ; GIS ; Circular histograms ; Olduvai Gorge
Published in:	Archaeological and anthropological sciences, 2018 , ISSN 1866-9565

DOI: 10.1007/s12520-018-0701-z

16 p, 5.9 MB

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