There are several theories about the Midland and Folsom projectile point relationship. Some researchers contend that Midland points were nothing more than reworked Folsom points, or that the Midland points were Folsom channel flakes. My... more
There are several theories about the Midland and Folsom projectile point relationship. Some researchers contend that Midland points were nothing more than reworked Folsom points, or that the Midland points were Folsom channel flakes. My theory is that the flintknappers started out with flakes too thin to flute and created Midland points. Or perhaps everyone in the tribe or culture did not have the proper skill or experience to flute Folsom points. What is your theory?
During the Middle Paleolithic, hunter-gatherers were flexible in their use of lithic technologies and sometimes applied one knapping strategy, exploited different methods simultaneously or combined them in ramified operative chains. The... more
During the Middle Paleolithic, hunter-gatherers were flexible in their use of lithic technologies and sometimes applied one knapping strategy, exploited different methods simultaneously or combined them in ramified operative chains. The Levallois recurrent centripetal method and the bifacial discoid method were two of the flaking strategies most frequently used by Neanderthals, but understanding of their changeover in the archaeological record is still discussed. This paper aims to add new data to the current debate investigating the aspects of productivity of the Levallois recurrent centripetal and bifacial discoid technologies with an experimental series and an archaeological lithic series. The results reveal that these two knapping strategies not only share similarities in blank morphologies but also could have similar values in flake production. Productivity is strongly influenced by the knapper's goals and by the maintenance of low values of flake thickness during the reduction sequence. Although the bifacial discoid is a more flexible and simpler method, the exclusive use of the Levallois recurrent centripetal modality during the Middle Paleolithic might be related to the features of the Levallois products that were more advantageous during longer foraging movements.
The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the lithic implements created and used by the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people. Specifically, to explore the varied types of stone implements, their uses, durability, and how these tools played... more
The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the lithic implements created and used by the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people. Specifically, to explore the varied types of stone implements, their uses, durability, and how these tools played a role in agriculture, hunting, fishing and trade. Describe how such implements were crafted, traded for and evolved over time and what impact the eruption of Mount Mazama may have had on diet, as evidenced by tools. Determine some of the impacts of the arrival of metal tools through European trade. Examine what these things tell us about the Nimiipuu people.
Raw material mechanical tests were conducted to answer the question whether differences in raw material procurement among Early Upper Palaeolithic populations in Moravia (Czech Republic) may have been driven by different mechanical... more
Raw material mechanical tests were conducted to answer the question whether differences in raw material procurement among Early Upper Palaeolithic populations in Moravia (Czech Republic) may have been driven by different mechanical properties of those materials. Characterization of mechanical properties of erratic flints and Krumlovský les I type chert show that the relatively finer-grained erratic flints, preferred by local Aurignacian populations, are more easily and probably also predictably knapped at higher speeds, such as reached with soft (antler, wood) percussors, whereas cherts of Krumlovský les I type, exploited by both Szeletian and Aurignacian populations, are more resistant to fracture propagation. This implies the suitability of the former material for fine blade and bladelet production, and of the latter to projectile (e.g. Szeletian leaf points) manufacture, and possibly explains the export of leaf points from Szeletian areas (the Krumlov Forest) to Bohunician and Aurignacian sites within Moravia. Exploitation of erratic flints was easier as regards Aurignacian, and probably entire Upper Palaeolithic knapping technology. Certain tasks, however, were better met with other raw materials, thus reflecting the rela-tivity of chipped stone raw material quality perception in the Palaeolithic.
This paper presents a study of raw material procurement strategies during the Late Middle Paleolithic Eastern Micoquian industry in the Northwestern Caucasus, Russia. The study is based primarily on the data collected by the authors from... more
This paper presents a study of raw material procurement strategies during the Late Middle Paleolithic Eastern Micoquian industry in the Northwestern Caucasus, Russia. The study is based primarily on the data collected by the authors from the cave sites of Mezmaiskaya and Matuzka, the Baranaha-4 open-air site, and the Hadjoh-2 open-air flint-knapping workshop, as well as 51 flint outcrops that we surveyed and sampled in the region from 2007 to 2014. A comparative petroarchaeological analysis of 268 rock samples collected from these outcrops and the Eastern Micoquian assemblages indicates three zones of raw material procurement, each related to a specific model of mobility and strategies of raw material use and transport.
Initial Upper Palaeolithic industries of South Siberia and Central Asia are dated to 35,000—50,000 14C years BP. They have been identified in Russian Altai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Dzungaria and Ordos in the north of... more
Initial Upper Palaeolithic industries of South Siberia and Central Asia are dated to 35,000—50,000 14C years BP. They have been identified in Russian Altai, Eastern Kazakhstan, Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Dzungaria and Ordos in the north of China. This paper deals with the materials from Mountain Altai (Kara-Bom and Ust-Karakol 1), Eastern Kazakhstan (Ushbulak-1) and Northern Mongolia (Tolbor 4). The traceological analysis and the stydy of core platform morphologies have shown that the technology of large blade production included a combination of several methods of fracture zone preparation. The preparation of striking platforms and flaking surfaces was done by means of consequtive overhang removal and/or reverse plarform reduction and picketage. This technique is characteristic of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic industries of South Siberia and Central Asia and can be regarded as a feature specific for this cultural unity.
The study of archaeological collections from the Ushki-I site, Layer VI (Kamchatka) made it possible to detect more than 200 items related to the production and use of pieces with burin facets. The following groups can be identified:... more
The study of archaeological collections from the Ushki-I site, Layer VI (Kamchatka) made it possible to detect more than 200 items related to the production and use of pieces with burin facets. The following groups can be identified: burins on retouched truncation (lateral, diagonal and transverse), angle burins, double burins, and multiple ones. In most cases, the spall platforms were prepared by retouch. The basic knapping method was pressure technique. The number of burin spalls detached from the same flaking surface varies from two to nine. The use of pressure technique allowed a high level of regularity and standardization of the production process, with burin spalls having predetermined morpho- logical characteristics. As a result of experimental and use-wear studies 30 pieces with burin spalls have been identified as inserts for planing and drawing knives used to work solid organic materials. The character of wear traces together with the size of tools and the presence of numerous spalls of previous burin blows testify that these tools were used repeatedly over a long period of time.
В результате анализа коллекции VI слоя стоянки Ушки-I (Камчатка) нами выявлено свыше 200 предметов, связанных с технологическим контекстом производства и использования изделий с резцовыми сколами. Выделены варианты одинарных ретушных (боковых, диагональных, поперечных), угловых, двойных и комбинированных резцов. В большинстве случаев площадкой для нанесения резцового скола служила подготовленная ретушированная поверхность, основной техникой скола являлся отжим. Снятие резцовых сколов с одной и той же плоскости скалывания могло осуществляться от двух до девяти раз. Использование отжимной техники позволяло добиваться высокого уровня регулярности и стандартизации в получении резцового негатива заданных морфологических параметров. Результаты экспериментально-трасологического иссле-дования 30 изделий с резцовыми сколами позволило идентифицировать их в качестве вкладышей строгальных ножей и скобелей по твердым органическим материалам. Характер следов износа, размеры изделий и многочисленные следы предыдущих резцовых снятий указывают на длительное использование изучаемых инструментов в работе.
The article presents first and preliminary results of an experimental study conducted as a part of the multidisciplinary exploration of the Middle Paleolithic complexes in Chagyrskaya Cave in 2017. Research program included physical... more
The article presents first and preliminary results of an experimental study conducted as a part of the multidisciplinary exploration of the Middle Paleolithic complexes in Chagyrskaya Cave in 2017. Research program included physical simulation of mineral raw material knapping and stone tools production, as well as experiments on manufacturing bone tools and using the resulting bone replicas for processing organic and non-organic materials available to the inhabitants of Chagyrskaya Cave. The experiments on processing stone tools by retouchers made of long bones of large mammals have made it possible to identify the sequence traces of utilization and compare the results with the tools from the archaeological assemblage of Chagyrskaya Cave. This data forms the basis for the further experimental trace analysis of the Middle Paleolithic complexes from the Altai Mountains.
