Controlled experiments support the role of function in the evolution of the North American copper tool repertoire

Bebber, Michelle R.; Norris, James D.; Flood, Kat; Fisch, Michael R.; Meindl, Richard S.; Eren, Metin I.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.101917

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…It follows that, recycling copper materials would ultimately lead to smaller artifacts being made from copper (i.e. awls and beads), consistent with Red Ochre traditions’ preference for smaller, ornamental copper pieces, which happen to be the two most common types of copper artifacts to persist into the Late Pre-contact Period [ 44 , 45 ]. Additionally, as access to copper became more restricted and the raw material became less readily available, the social value of copper may have increased due to the scarcity principle [ 84 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Refining the chronology of North America’s copper using traditions: A macroscalar approach via Bayesian modeling

2022

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North America’s ancient copper use, predicted to originate as early as 9000 cal BP, represents the earliest use of native copper for utilitarian tool production in the world. Although recent work has focused on establishing the first use of copper in the western Great Lakes region, little attention has been paid to determining the age ranges of subsequent copper using groups or to the identification of broader trends in copper use during the Archaic Period (10,000–3000 RCYBP). Here we address this issue by applying Bayesian modeling to a comprehensive suite of 76 radiocarbon dates directly associated with copper use. Our results identified two distinct peaks in copper usage, ca. 5500 cal BP and ca. 3300 cal BP. Age ranges for the three Archaic Period traditions and practices associated with copper use of the western Great Lakes are revised using modern calibration curves. Bayesian revisions of age ranges from sites where copper tools and/or production debris have been found provide insight into the historical relationships between, and cultural interactions among, these early copper using groups. This study provides an updated, refined chronology based on the most recent calibration curve (IntCal20) for the varied cultural contexts of copper use across the western Great Lakes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Refining the chronology of North America’s copper using traditions: A macroscalar approach via Bayesian modeling

2022

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“…Material testers (e.g. Astruc, Vargiolu, and Zahouani 2003;Bebber et al 2019aBebber et al , 2019bEren 2018, 2020;Poulis 2016, 2017;Lewis et al 2011;Marín-Monfort, Pesquero, and Fernández-Jalvo 2014;Martisius et al 2018;Mraz et al 2019;Vargiolu, Zahouani, and Anderson 2003) allow for very precise movements, high control of factors and sensors, which are all necessary to test how materials behave. In consequence, they cannot reproduce human-like movements.…”

Section: Comparison Of Mechanical Designsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bebber and Eren 2018;Cohen et al 2016;Iovita et al 2014;Loendorf et al 2018;Schoville et al 2017;Schoville and Brown 2010;Shea, Davis, and Brown 2001;Waguespack et al 2009;Wilkins, Schoville, and Brown 2014), tool performance (e.g. Bebber et al 2019aBebber et al , 2019bCollins 2008;Eren 2018, 2020;Lewis et al 2011;Schmidt et al 2019), post-depositional alterations (e.g. Marín-Monfort, Pesquero, and Fernández-Jalvo 2014), and strength of adhesives (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A versatile mechanized setup for controlled experiments in archeology

Calandra¹,

Gneisinger²,

Marreiros

2020

STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research

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Experimentation has always played an important role in archeology, in particular to create reference collections for use-wear studies. Different types of experiments can answer different questions; all types should therefore be combined to obtain a holistic view. In controlled experiments, some factors are tested, while the other factors are kept constant to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Yet, controlled experiments have been conducted with variable degrees of control. Although they seem decoupled from archeological applications, mechanized experiments and the robust causal relationships they measure are critical to answer archeological questions like understanding the processes of use-wear formation. Here we introduce the concept behind using the SMARTTESTER®, a modular material tester, and we present four different setups (linear, rotary, percussion and oscillating) and their potential archeological applications. Such experiments will contribute to our understanding of causality in human tool use.

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“…Consciously or not, early people would have plausibly favoured, and then culturally transmitted, tool forms or tool form attributes that would have increased the time or energy efficiency of performing functional tasks involving cutting behaviours such as slicing, cleaving, scraping, sawing, drilling, piercing and abrading (Key, 2016: 70–72). Archaeological and engineering experiments demonstrate that there is a plethora of tool forms or tool form attributes that can potentially influence cutting efficiency, including edge sharpness (Atkins et al, 2004; Key, Fisch, & Eren, 2018), tool shape (Collins, 2008; Mika et al, 2022), tool mass/size (Biermann Gürbüz & Lycett, 2021b; Bilbao et al, 2019; Key & Lycett, 2014), edge length (Key, 2016), edge angle (Key & Lycett, 2015; Prasciunas, 2007), edge kerf and curvature (including serration and scalloping; Key, 2016), and raw material (Bebber, Key, et al, 2019; Bebber, Norris, et al, 2019; Gould & Saggers, 1985; Gürbüz & Lycett, 2021a; Jones, 1994; Key et al, 2020; Key, Pargeter, & Schmidt, 2021). Whether or not a tool is hafted can also play an important role in a stone tool's cutting efficiency (Clarkson et al, 2015; Key, Farr, et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental assessment of plan‐view and profile‐view gross‐edge curvature on stone flake slicing efficiency

et al. 2022

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Separating two or more aspects of an object via cutting was likely an important factor in the origin and evolution of flaked stone technology. In recent years experiments have demonstrated that several stone tool attributes can influence different kinds of cutting behaviour: slicing, cleaving, scraping, sawing, drilling, piercing and abrading. Here we experimentally assessed the role of stone flake plan‐ and profile‐view gross‐edge curvature in a controlled slicing task. We also assessed the role of edge length. A total of 21 participants, using 252 stone flakes with distinct gross‐edge curvatures and edge lengths, were asked to cut through a standardized substrate, and their efficiency in the task was measured over time. Flakes with longer edge lengths increased the efficiency of the cutting task, but increasing either plan‐ or profile‐view edge curvature decreased the efficiency of the cutting task. These results have implications for the emergence of particular tool forms or reduction sequences throughout the Pleistocene, and may in part explain why certain forms were favoured by Paleolithic people, leading to their convergent evolution or widespread transmission.

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Controlled experiments support the role of function in the evolution of the North American copper tool repertoire

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

Refining the chronology of North America’s copper using traditions: A macroscalar approach via Bayesian modeling

Refining the chronology of North America’s copper using traditions: A macroscalar approach via Bayesian modeling

A versatile mechanized setup for controlled experiments in archeology

Experimental assessment of plan‐view and profile‐view gross‐edge curvature on stone flake slicing efficiency

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