An anthropological archaeologist with an interdisciplinary approach to the roles that dress, adornment, and related technologies play in prehistoric and historical societies. Contexts of research include the Middle Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic transition in France, the Terminal Pleistocene and Early Holocene in Malawi, ethnohistorical museum collections from the indigenous Nations of the Great Plains (in collaboration with source communities). I am also involved in community-engaged historical research related to the history of slavery in North Carolina, with the "People Not Property" project at UNC Greensboro and a team of faculty partners at North Carolina Central University, East Carolina University, and UNC Pembroke
Abstract Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aur... more Abstract Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian) deposits at four sites in the Aquitaine region of France, this article presents the results of morphometric analysis based on digital photographs using a freeware program developed in the biological sciences. The program, Tomato Analyzer 3. 0 presents a number of advantages in terms of portability, cost, efficiency, and ease-of-use. Adapting the program to the analysis of archaeological artifacts does require some modifications to the original protocol, which are described in this article. The morphological attributes assessed by the program are presented, as are the preliminary results of the case study. The ability of the program to quantify artifact color is briefly introduced, as is the potential applicability of the program to the study of other artifact-types.
Abstract The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications f... more Abstract The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications for understanding the role of these artifacts in Upper Palaeolithic societies, and the evolution of symbolic behavior and social organization more generally. For this special issue on “The Role of Art in Prehistoric Societies,” I present a case study of Early Aurignacian beads in ivory and soapstone, and related production debris, from four sites (Abri Castanet, Abri de la Souquette, Grotte des Hyenes at Brassempouy, Grotte d’Isturitz) in the Aquitaine region of France. The data from the case study are used to evaluate three hypothetical models of production and exchange in the given regional context, and are evaluated in terms of the current, common criteria for the recognition of craft specialization in the archaeological record. Based on these criteria, these artifacts could reasonably be considered the products of specialist producers. I argue that the data presented here indicates two possibilities in the interpretation of prehistoric production-organization: either the presence of craft specialization in the Early Upper Palaeolithic can be accepted, or the criteria for recognizing specialization in the archaeological record should be revised. In either case, there is a demonstrated need for the refinement of models and vocabularies related to production organization in small-scale societies that better reflect the complex patterns apparent in the ethnographic and archaeological records. In addressing these issues, it is necessary to reconsider many basic assumptions about production, wealth, and exchange in Palaeolithic contexts, the perceived limitations of the archaeological record, and thenature and the antiquity of what is considered “complex” social organization. This case study and the arguments that follow are not intended to be a definitive statement on craft specialization and production organization in the Upper Palaeolithic. They are presented as an example of the kind of data-driven modeling of production and exchange in the Early Upper Palaeolithic that can serve as a concrete basis for the reconsideration of production and exchange in these contexts.
ABSTRACT Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destruct... more ABSTRACT Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpilliere I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological provenance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), Jan 9, 2018
Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Pa... more Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Palaeolithic, approximately 40,000-30,000 uncal. BP, mammoth ivory assumed great social and economic significance, and was used to create hundreds of personal ornaments as well as the earliest known works of three-dimensional figurative art in the world. This paper reports on the results of micro-PIXE/PIGE analyses of mammoth-ivory artefacts and debris from five major sites of Aurignacian ivory use. Patterns of variable F-content indicate regionally-distinct strategies of ivory procurement that correspond to apparent differences in human-mammoth interactions. Preserved trace elements (Br, Sr, Zn) indicate that differences at the regional level are applicable to sourcing Palaeolithic ivory at the regional scale.
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), Jan 9, 2018
Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Pa... more Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Palaeolithic, approximately 40,000-30,000 uncal. BP, mammoth ivory assumed great social and economic significance, and was used to create hundreds of personal ornaments as well as the earliest known works of three-dimensional figurative art in the world. This paper reports on the results of micro-PIXE/PIGE analyses of mammoth-ivory artefacts and debris from five major sites of Aurignacian ivory use. Patterns of variable F-content indicate regionally-distinct strategies of ivory procurement that correspond to apparent differences in human-mammoth interactions. Preserved trace elements (Br, Sr, Zn) indicate that differences at the regional level are applicable to sourcing Palaeolithic ivory at the regional scale.
The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications for unders... more The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications for understanding the role of these artifacts in Upper Palaeolithic societies, and the evolution of symbolic behavior and social organization more generally. For this special issue on " The Role of Art in Prehistoric Societies, " I present a case study of Early Aurignacian beads in ivory and soapstone, and related production debris, from four sites (Abri Castanet, Abri de la Souquette, Grotte des Hy enes at Brassempouy, Grotte d'Isturitz) in the Aquitaine region of France. The data from the case study are used to evaluate three hypothetical models of production and exchange in the given regional context, and are evaluated in terms of the current, common criteria for the recognition of craft specialization in the archaeological record. Based on these criteria, these artifacts could reasonably be considered the products of specialist producers. I argue that the data presented here indicates two possibilities in the interpretation of prehistoric production-organization: either the presence of craft specialization in the Early Upper Palaeolithic can be accepted, or the criteria for recognizing specialization in the archaeological record should be revised. In either case, there is a demonstrated need for the refinement of models and vocabularies related to production organization in small-scale societies that better reflect the complex patterns apparent in the ethnographic and archaeological records. In addressing these issues, it is necessary to reconsider many basic assumptions about production, wealth, and exchange in Palaeolithic contexts, the perceived limitations of the archaeological record, and thenature and the antiquity of what is considered " complex " social organization. This case study and the arguments that follow are not intended to be a definitive statement on craft specialization and production organization in the Upper Palaeolithic. They are presented as an example of the kind of data-driven modeling of production and exchange in the Early Upper Palaeolithic that can serve as a concrete basis for the reconsideration of production and exchange in these contexts.
Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian)... more Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian) deposits at four sites in the Aquitaine region of France, this article presents the results of morphometric analysis based on digital photographs using a freeware program developed in the biological sciences. The program, Tomato Analyzer 3.0 presents a number of advantages in terms of portability, cost, efficiency, and ease-of-use. Adapting the program to the analysis of archaeological artifacts does require some modifications to the original protocol, which are described in this article. The morphological attributes assessed by the program are presented, as are the preliminary results of the case study. The ability of the program to quantify artifact color is briefly introduced, as is the potential applicability of the program to the study of other artifact-types.
Keywords: Mammoth ivory Upper and Middle Palaeolithic Minor and trace element analysis Micro-Prot... more Keywords: Mammoth ivory Upper and Middle Palaeolithic Minor and trace element analysis Micro-Proton Induced X-ray Emission and Micro-Proton Induced Gamma Ray Emission Diagenesis Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological prove-nance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.
This article presents the results of two series of micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis on mammoth ivory samp... more This article presents the results of two series of micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis on mammoth ivory samples from four Aurignacian sites in France (Abri Castanet, Grotte d'Isturitz) and Germany (Hohle Fels, Vogelherd). Specifically, we report variation in ivory preservation as indicated by fluorine (F) content and ratios of MgO/CaO from Aurignacian horizons known to contain ivory industries. Though all samples derive from respectively homogenous sedimentary contexts, results show very different pattern of F- content variation among sites. F uptake in ivory is a more complex process than that observed for bone, and the structural/morphological reasons for this are explained. High-resolution data on the archaeo- logical context of the samples from Abri Castanet also allows for examination of the effects of horizontal and vertical distribution on F-content and the sorting of F-content data by sedimentary unit. A definitive model for fluorine uptake during ivory diagenesis will require further investigation, but a close exami- nation of the current data provides novel insight into processes of taphonomy and diagenesis in this exceptional and highly valued raw material, as well as further evidence to support regionally distinct strategies of ivory procurement in the Early Aurignacian. In combination with additional lines of faunal and archaeological evidence, it is demonstrated that ivory procurement in the Swabian Jura focused on fresh local sources of ivory, while procurement strategies in Northern Aquitaine focused on ivory collection from natural deposits of varying age.
Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive metho... more Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for
the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study
applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP.
The recent focus on methods of osseous material transformation in the study of Upper Paleolithic ... more The recent focus on methods of osseous material transformation in the study of Upper Paleolithic technologies has shown that approaches to these materials vary between phases of the Upper Paleolithic. In the absence of the groove-and-splinter technique of blank extraction first widely documented in the Gravettian, production of ivory, bone, and antler blanks in the Aurignacian relied on processes of splitting and percussive fracture. The technological treatment of bone and antler in Aurignacian contexts has benefitted from renewed attention, but ivory processing and blank-production remains poorly under- stood in spite of the unique place that ivory occupies in many Aurignacian assemblages. In order to clarify the diagnostic features of ivory debitage, a series of experiments was conducted to produce ivory flakes under varying knapping conditions. These diagnostic features are products of the application of force to the complex internal morphology of proboscidean tusks, as explained in this article. Improved criteria for the identification of ivory flakes and manufacturing byproducts in the archaeological record are pre- sented, and are illustrated with examples from two Aurignacian sites well known for ivory processing: Abri Castanet (Dordogne, France) and Hohle Fels Cave (Swabian Jura, Germany). A better understanding of ivory structure and improved identification of the products of ivory debitage in the Aurignacian will aid in the recovery and analysis of ivory artifacts and further efforts to reconstruct technological approaches to this complex material.
Mammoth ivory was a significant raw material for the production of representational objects and p... more Mammoth ivory was a significant raw material for the production of representational objects and personal ornaments in the early Upper Paleolithic. Archaeological approaches to these objects are enriched by an improved understanding of the relationship between the physical characteristics of ivory and its properties as a raw material. Drawing on physical science research, experimental archaeology, and microscopic analysis, this article offers a synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research and observations on the nature of ivory as a unique natural material. These observations are then applied to the subject of ivory work in the Upper Paleolithic, and the relationship between material exigency and cultural choice in prehistoric production processes is explored.
Abstract Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aur... more Abstract Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian) deposits at four sites in the Aquitaine region of France, this article presents the results of morphometric analysis based on digital photographs using a freeware program developed in the biological sciences. The program, Tomato Analyzer 3. 0 presents a number of advantages in terms of portability, cost, efficiency, and ease-of-use. Adapting the program to the analysis of archaeological artifacts does require some modifications to the original protocol, which are described in this article. The morphological attributes assessed by the program are presented, as are the preliminary results of the case study. The ability of the program to quantify artifact color is briefly introduced, as is the potential applicability of the program to the study of other artifact-types.
Abstract The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications f... more Abstract The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications for understanding the role of these artifacts in Upper Palaeolithic societies, and the evolution of symbolic behavior and social organization more generally. For this special issue on “The Role of Art in Prehistoric Societies,” I present a case study of Early Aurignacian beads in ivory and soapstone, and related production debris, from four sites (Abri Castanet, Abri de la Souquette, Grotte des Hyenes at Brassempouy, Grotte d’Isturitz) in the Aquitaine region of France. The data from the case study are used to evaluate three hypothetical models of production and exchange in the given regional context, and are evaluated in terms of the current, common criteria for the recognition of craft specialization in the archaeological record. Based on these criteria, these artifacts could reasonably be considered the products of specialist producers. I argue that the data presented here indicates two possibilities in the interpretation of prehistoric production-organization: either the presence of craft specialization in the Early Upper Palaeolithic can be accepted, or the criteria for recognizing specialization in the archaeological record should be revised. In either case, there is a demonstrated need for the refinement of models and vocabularies related to production organization in small-scale societies that better reflect the complex patterns apparent in the ethnographic and archaeological records. In addressing these issues, it is necessary to reconsider many basic assumptions about production, wealth, and exchange in Palaeolithic contexts, the perceived limitations of the archaeological record, and thenature and the antiquity of what is considered “complex” social organization. This case study and the arguments that follow are not intended to be a definitive statement on craft specialization and production organization in the Upper Palaeolithic. They are presented as an example of the kind of data-driven modeling of production and exchange in the Early Upper Palaeolithic that can serve as a concrete basis for the reconsideration of production and exchange in these contexts.
ABSTRACT Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destruct... more ABSTRACT Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpilliere I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological provenance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), Jan 9, 2018
Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Pa... more Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Palaeolithic, approximately 40,000-30,000 uncal. BP, mammoth ivory assumed great social and economic significance, and was used to create hundreds of personal ornaments as well as the earliest known works of three-dimensional figurative art in the world. This paper reports on the results of micro-PIXE/PIGE analyses of mammoth-ivory artefacts and debris from five major sites of Aurignacian ivory use. Patterns of variable F-content indicate regionally-distinct strategies of ivory procurement that correspond to apparent differences in human-mammoth interactions. Preserved trace elements (Br, Sr, Zn) indicate that differences at the regional level are applicable to sourcing Palaeolithic ivory at the regional scale.
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), Jan 9, 2018
Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Pa... more Among the earliest Homo sapiens societies in Eurasia, the Aurignacian phase of the Early Upper Palaeolithic, approximately 40,000-30,000 uncal. BP, mammoth ivory assumed great social and economic significance, and was used to create hundreds of personal ornaments as well as the earliest known works of three-dimensional figurative art in the world. This paper reports on the results of micro-PIXE/PIGE analyses of mammoth-ivory artefacts and debris from five major sites of Aurignacian ivory use. Patterns of variable F-content indicate regionally-distinct strategies of ivory procurement that correspond to apparent differences in human-mammoth interactions. Preserved trace elements (Br, Sr, Zn) indicate that differences at the regional level are applicable to sourcing Palaeolithic ivory at the regional scale.
The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications for unders... more The organization of beadproduction during the Aurignacian has significant implications for understanding the role of these artifacts in Upper Palaeolithic societies, and the evolution of symbolic behavior and social organization more generally. For this special issue on " The Role of Art in Prehistoric Societies, " I present a case study of Early Aurignacian beads in ivory and soapstone, and related production debris, from four sites (Abri Castanet, Abri de la Souquette, Grotte des Hy enes at Brassempouy, Grotte d'Isturitz) in the Aquitaine region of France. The data from the case study are used to evaluate three hypothetical models of production and exchange in the given regional context, and are evaluated in terms of the current, common criteria for the recognition of craft specialization in the archaeological record. Based on these criteria, these artifacts could reasonably be considered the products of specialist producers. I argue that the data presented here indicates two possibilities in the interpretation of prehistoric production-organization: either the presence of craft specialization in the Early Upper Palaeolithic can be accepted, or the criteria for recognizing specialization in the archaeological record should be revised. In either case, there is a demonstrated need for the refinement of models and vocabularies related to production organization in small-scale societies that better reflect the complex patterns apparent in the ethnographic and archaeological records. In addressing these issues, it is necessary to reconsider many basic assumptions about production, wealth, and exchange in Palaeolithic contexts, the perceived limitations of the archaeological record, and thenature and the antiquity of what is considered " complex " social organization. This case study and the arguments that follow are not intended to be a definitive statement on craft specialization and production organization in the Upper Palaeolithic. They are presented as an example of the kind of data-driven modeling of production and exchange in the Early Upper Palaeolithic that can serve as a concrete basis for the reconsideration of production and exchange in these contexts.
Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian)... more Based on a case study of over 400 basket-shaped beads from Early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian) deposits at four sites in the Aquitaine region of France, this article presents the results of morphometric analysis based on digital photographs using a freeware program developed in the biological sciences. The program, Tomato Analyzer 3.0 presents a number of advantages in terms of portability, cost, efficiency, and ease-of-use. Adapting the program to the analysis of archaeological artifacts does require some modifications to the original protocol, which are described in this article. The morphological attributes assessed by the program are presented, as are the preliminary results of the case study. The ability of the program to quantify artifact color is briefly introduced, as is the potential applicability of the program to the study of other artifact-types.
Keywords: Mammoth ivory Upper and Middle Palaeolithic Minor and trace element analysis Micro-Prot... more Keywords: Mammoth ivory Upper and Middle Palaeolithic Minor and trace element analysis Micro-Proton Induced X-ray Emission and Micro-Proton Induced Gamma Ray Emission Diagenesis Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. This approach evaluated preservation state in terms of mean elemental concentrations (Mg vs. Ca) and a comparative assessment of F-content as an indication of relative burial time. The results also indicate that analysis of trace elements (Sr, Zn, Br) can provide chemical markers of archaeological prove-nance. The results of this study are compared to data in the existing database established by the same methods of analysis on ivory objects from several different time periods and archaeological sources. The implications of these results for the study of archaeological ivories from Palaeolithic contexts are discussed.
This article presents the results of two series of micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis on mammoth ivory samp... more This article presents the results of two series of micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis on mammoth ivory samples from four Aurignacian sites in France (Abri Castanet, Grotte d'Isturitz) and Germany (Hohle Fels, Vogelherd). Specifically, we report variation in ivory preservation as indicated by fluorine (F) content and ratios of MgO/CaO from Aurignacian horizons known to contain ivory industries. Though all samples derive from respectively homogenous sedimentary contexts, results show very different pattern of F- content variation among sites. F uptake in ivory is a more complex process than that observed for bone, and the structural/morphological reasons for this are explained. High-resolution data on the archaeo- logical context of the samples from Abri Castanet also allows for examination of the effects of horizontal and vertical distribution on F-content and the sorting of F-content data by sedimentary unit. A definitive model for fluorine uptake during ivory diagenesis will require further investigation, but a close exami- nation of the current data provides novel insight into processes of taphonomy and diagenesis in this exceptional and highly valued raw material, as well as further evidence to support regionally distinct strategies of ivory procurement in the Early Aurignacian. In combination with additional lines of faunal and archaeological evidence, it is demonstrated that ivory procurement in the Swabian Jura focused on fresh local sources of ivory, while procurement strategies in Northern Aquitaine focused on ivory collection from natural deposits of varying age.
Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive metho... more Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for
the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study
applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP.
The recent focus on methods of osseous material transformation in the study of Upper Paleolithic ... more The recent focus on methods of osseous material transformation in the study of Upper Paleolithic technologies has shown that approaches to these materials vary between phases of the Upper Paleolithic. In the absence of the groove-and-splinter technique of blank extraction first widely documented in the Gravettian, production of ivory, bone, and antler blanks in the Aurignacian relied on processes of splitting and percussive fracture. The technological treatment of bone and antler in Aurignacian contexts has benefitted from renewed attention, but ivory processing and blank-production remains poorly under- stood in spite of the unique place that ivory occupies in many Aurignacian assemblages. In order to clarify the diagnostic features of ivory debitage, a series of experiments was conducted to produce ivory flakes under varying knapping conditions. These diagnostic features are products of the application of force to the complex internal morphology of proboscidean tusks, as explained in this article. Improved criteria for the identification of ivory flakes and manufacturing byproducts in the archaeological record are pre- sented, and are illustrated with examples from two Aurignacian sites well known for ivory processing: Abri Castanet (Dordogne, France) and Hohle Fels Cave (Swabian Jura, Germany). A better understanding of ivory structure and improved identification of the products of ivory debitage in the Aurignacian will aid in the recovery and analysis of ivory artifacts and further efforts to reconstruct technological approaches to this complex material.
Mammoth ivory was a significant raw material for the production of representational objects and p... more Mammoth ivory was a significant raw material for the production of representational objects and personal ornaments in the early Upper Paleolithic. Archaeological approaches to these objects are enriched by an improved understanding of the relationship between the physical characteristics of ivory and its properties as a raw material. Drawing on physical science research, experimental archaeology, and microscopic analysis, this article offers a synthesis of quantitative and qualitative research and observations on the nature of ivory as a unique natural material. These observations are then applied to the subject of ivory work in the Upper Paleolithic, and the relationship between material exigency and cultural choice in prehistoric production processes is explored.
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Papers by Claire E Heckel
the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study
applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP.
the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study
applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpillière I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP.