A geometric index of reduction for unifacial stone tools

An Index of Invasiveness for the Measurement of Unifacial and Bifacial Retouch: A Theoretical, Experimental and Archaeological Verification

“…Several techniques for the quantification of stone artefact retouch have been proposed in recent years (Barton, 1988;Close, 1991;Dibble, 1995a;Kuhn, 1990;Dibble & Pelcin, 1995;Davis & Shea, 1998). Unfortunately, limitations and problems associated with each of these methods severely restricts their application to archaeological assemblages.…”

“…This is because assessments of relative curation are useful in testing models of changing mobility, land-use, economy, and technological organization, as well as in defining the relationships between tool design, labour investment and morphological standardization (for discussion of the value of the curation, tool design and use life concepts in addressing these questions see Ammerman & Feldman, 1974;Bamforth, 1986;Binford, 1979;Bleed, 1986;Close, 1991;Davis & Shea, 1998;Dibble, 1984Dibble, , 1995aDibble, , 1995bGordon, 1993;Hayden, Franco & Spafford, 1996;Hiscock, 1994Hiscock, , 1996Hiscock, , 1998Kelly, 1988;Kelly & Todd, 1988;Parry & Kelly, 1987;Holdaway, McPherron & Roth, 1996;Kuhn, 1990Kuhn, , 1992Kuhn, , 1995Nash, 1996;Neeley & Barton, 1994;Nelson, 1991;Odell, 1996;Shott, 1989Shott, , 1996Roland & Dibble, 1990;Torrence, 1983Torrence, , 1989.…”

“…It has been argued (Barton, 1988;Kuhn, 1990;Davis & Shea, 1998;Dibble, 1984Dibble, , 1995aDibble, , 1995b) that measurement of the amount of retouching present on tools provides one such means of addressing the relative curation and use-life of artefacts in different archaeological contexts.…”

Test, Model, and Method Validation: The Role of Experimental Stone Artifact Replication in Hypothesis-driven Archaeology

“…After some early work (Kuhn 1990), this use of replication has increased substantially over the last 15 years. One avenue of inquiry-creating figure 2 A replica Clovis biface core and flakes knapped by M. I. Eren.…”

“…Barham 1987;Bradley and Sampson 1986;Davis and Shea 1998;Kuhn 1990;Odell and Cowan 1986;Roux, Bril, and Dietrich 1995;Whittaker 1987). Within a decade or so, a number of controlled replication experiments appeared (e.g.…”