Killian Driscoll
Lines of research:
Lithic technology
Experimental archaeology
Social archaeology
Landscape archaeology
Petroarchaeology
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic archaeology
Killian Driscoll’s Masters research focused on the social archaeology of the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic (c.8000-3500 cal BC) in the west of Ireland.
His doctorate research investigated the use of quartz in the stone tool traditions of the Mesolithic and Neolithic in Ireland. This research was based on experimental archaeology, using experimental knapping, experimental burning, and the recognition of quartz artefacts by archaeologists to develop a framework for the analysis of quartz artefacts. This framework was then used to analyse quartz from Mesolithic and Neolithic assemblages in Ireland.
His previous post-doctoral research develops on his doctoral research, applying it to assemblages from the Magdelanian in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula. This project investigates the use of flint alternatives (quartz, rhyolite,…….) and involves geoarchaeological fieldwork and mapping, experimental knapping of raw materials, and a technological analysis and characterisation of these materials from the Magdelanian assemblages from the open air site at Montlleo and the cave site at Cova del Parco.
His current post-doctoral research is a chert provenancing project based at the Unversité de Montréal: the Irish Lithic Landscapes project, is investigating the places where prehistoric communities obtained the raw materials for their flaked stone tools during the Irish Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Early Bronze Age, which dates to about 8,000–2,000 BC. While Ireland has a very rich archaeological heritage, there is a significant gap in the country's flaked stone tool raw material sourcing research. This project will begin to fill this gap, and therefore deepen our understanding of the prehistoric communities there. The first season's geoarchaeological prospection for the project is centred on the northwest of the country which includes a group of sites from the UNESCO World Heritage candidate site of the Céide Fields on the north coast of County Mayo, as well as sites located in and around the Knocknarea/ Carrowmore and Carrowkeel prehistoric complexes in County Sligo.
Phone: (514) 343-6111 ext. 51717
Address: Département d'anthropologie
Université de Montréal
Pavillon Lionel-Groulx
3150 Jean-Brillant
Montréal QC H3T 1N
Lithic technology
Experimental archaeology
Social archaeology
Landscape archaeology
Petroarchaeology
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic archaeology
Killian Driscoll’s Masters research focused on the social archaeology of the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic (c.8000-3500 cal BC) in the west of Ireland.
His doctorate research investigated the use of quartz in the stone tool traditions of the Mesolithic and Neolithic in Ireland. This research was based on experimental archaeology, using experimental knapping, experimental burning, and the recognition of quartz artefacts by archaeologists to develop a framework for the analysis of quartz artefacts. This framework was then used to analyse quartz from Mesolithic and Neolithic assemblages in Ireland.
His previous post-doctoral research develops on his doctoral research, applying it to assemblages from the Magdelanian in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula. This project investigates the use of flint alternatives (quartz, rhyolite,…….) and involves geoarchaeological fieldwork and mapping, experimental knapping of raw materials, and a technological analysis and characterisation of these materials from the Magdelanian assemblages from the open air site at Montlleo and the cave site at Cova del Parco.
His current post-doctoral research is a chert provenancing project based at the Unversité de Montréal: the Irish Lithic Landscapes project, is investigating the places where prehistoric communities obtained the raw materials for their flaked stone tools during the Irish Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Early Bronze Age, which dates to about 8,000–2,000 BC. While Ireland has a very rich archaeological heritage, there is a significant gap in the country's flaked stone tool raw material sourcing research. This project will begin to fill this gap, and therefore deepen our understanding of the prehistoric communities there. The first season's geoarchaeological prospection for the project is centred on the northwest of the country which includes a group of sites from the UNESCO World Heritage candidate site of the Céide Fields on the north coast of County Mayo, as well as sites located in and around the Knocknarea/ Carrowmore and Carrowkeel prehistoric complexes in County Sligo.
Phone: (514) 343-6111 ext. 51717
Address: Département d'anthropologie
Université de Montréal
Pavillon Lionel-Groulx
3150 Jean-Brillant
Montréal QC H3T 1N
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Books by Killian Driscoll
In order to understand these different characteristics of quartz, a series of knapping experiments using different stone working methods were conducted in order to develop an analytical framework for quartz lithic analysis. This framework was then used to analyse quartz assemblages from two case study assemblages – a Later Mesolithic/Neolithic quartz scatter from Belderrig, Co. Mayo, and a Neolithic quartz assemblage from Thornhill, Co. Londonderry. Two other experiments were conducted. An experimental knapping assemblage was burnt in order to understand the effects of burning on quartz and to help identify burnt quartz in the archaeological record. The second experiment was a quartz recognition experiment which tested the identification and classification of the experimentally knapped quartz artefacts by volunteer participants who had varied levels of experience in analysing stone tools in general and quartz stone tools in particular.
The results of the experimental knapping, the experimental burning, and the quartz recognition experiment have shown that the analysis of vein quartz artefacts is certainly difficult, but not impossible – a clear understanding of the fracture mechanics of the material as set out in the experimental knapping helps in the analysis of vein quartz in the archaeological assemblages, and therefore helps in understanding the prehistoric communities who chose to use this material.
Papers by Killian Driscoll
Introduction
Ce chapitre présente une première analyse technologique et tracéologique d’un assemblage en quartz d’un site datant de l’Archaïque ancien au Québec. Il s’agit du site CeEt-482 situé dans l’actuelle ville de Lévis dans le secteur nommé Côte Rouge. Le site fut fouillé par Marcel Laliberté et son équipe en 1990 et 1991. Au moment de ces interventions c’était le premier site ayant livré des datations aussi anciennes au Québec, autour de 8000 ans AA. L’assemblage lithique du secteur ouest de la station principale du site était dominé par le quartz. Les fouilleurs avaient identifié des outils unifaciaux, des nucléus et du débitage, mais aucun outil bifacial. L’objectif de ce chapitre est de ré-analyser la collection lithique des aires 1 et 2 de la station principale du site CeEt-482. Cet assemblage a été choisi car il est en étroite association avec trois structures anthropiques ayant livré trois datations radiométriques qui placent cette occupation à l’Archaïque ancien. La question principale de recherche est la suivante : à quoi ont servi ces outils en quartz si bien il s’agit d’outils ? Nous espérons aussi définir les paramètres qui pourraient caractériser la technologie en quartz associée aux groupes archaïque anciens de la région de Québec. Les résultats pourront ensuite contribuer à une meilleure compréhension du site, des groupes de l’Archaïque ancien dans le sud du Québec, et possiblement à établir leur relation culturelle avec d’autres groupes dans le grand Nord-Est.
studies. The aim is to enable the archaeological community to have a readily accessible, common set of general principles and analytical tools to facilitate and enhance research agendas involving quartz lithics."
Talks by Killian Driscoll
In order to understand these different characteristics of quartz, a series of knapping experiments using different stone working methods were conducted in order to develop an analytical framework for quartz lithic analysis. This framework was then used to analyse quartz assemblages from two case study assemblages – a Later Mesolithic/Neolithic quartz scatter from Belderrig, Co. Mayo, and a Neolithic quartz assemblage from Thornhill, Co. Londonderry. Two other experiments were conducted. An experimental knapping assemblage was burnt in order to understand the effects of burning on quartz and to help identify burnt quartz in the archaeological record. The second experiment was a quartz recognition experiment which tested the identification and classification of the experimentally knapped quartz artefacts by volunteer participants who had varied levels of experience in analysing stone tools in general and quartz stone tools in particular.
The results of the experimental knapping, the experimental burning, and the quartz recognition experiment have shown that the analysis of vein quartz artefacts is certainly difficult, but not impossible – a clear understanding of the fracture mechanics of the material as set out in the experimental knapping helps in the analysis of vein quartz in the archaeological assemblages, and therefore helps in understanding the prehistoric communities who chose to use this material.
Introduction
Ce chapitre présente une première analyse technologique et tracéologique d’un assemblage en quartz d’un site datant de l’Archaïque ancien au Québec. Il s’agit du site CeEt-482 situé dans l’actuelle ville de Lévis dans le secteur nommé Côte Rouge. Le site fut fouillé par Marcel Laliberté et son équipe en 1990 et 1991. Au moment de ces interventions c’était le premier site ayant livré des datations aussi anciennes au Québec, autour de 8000 ans AA. L’assemblage lithique du secteur ouest de la station principale du site était dominé par le quartz. Les fouilleurs avaient identifié des outils unifaciaux, des nucléus et du débitage, mais aucun outil bifacial. L’objectif de ce chapitre est de ré-analyser la collection lithique des aires 1 et 2 de la station principale du site CeEt-482. Cet assemblage a été choisi car il est en étroite association avec trois structures anthropiques ayant livré trois datations radiométriques qui placent cette occupation à l’Archaïque ancien. La question principale de recherche est la suivante : à quoi ont servi ces outils en quartz si bien il s’agit d’outils ? Nous espérons aussi définir les paramètres qui pourraient caractériser la technologie en quartz associée aux groupes archaïque anciens de la région de Québec. Les résultats pourront ensuite contribuer à une meilleure compréhension du site, des groupes de l’Archaïque ancien dans le sud du Québec, et possiblement à établir leur relation culturelle avec d’autres groupes dans le grand Nord-Est.
studies. The aim is to enable the archaeological community to have a readily accessible, common set of general principles and analytical tools to facilitate and enhance research agendas involving quartz lithics."