What attributes are important for the measurement of assemblage reduction intensity? Results from an experimental stone artefact assemblage with relevance to the Hoabinhian of mainland Southeast Asia

Marwick, Ben

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2007.08.007

Cited by 58 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…proportions of overhang removal tend to occur during more advanced stages of 329 assemblage reductions, and may relate to the knappers adjusting the core platforms to 330 prepare them for the more difficult blows required to detach flakes from smaller or 331 more awkward cores (Clarkson, 2007;Macgregor, 2005;Marwick, 2008). 332…”

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confidence: 99%

Early modern human lithic technology from Jerimalai, East Timor

Marwick

Clarkson

O’Connor

et al. 2016

Journal of Human Evolution

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Jerimalai is a rock shelter in East Timor with cultural remains dated to 42,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest known sites of modern human activity in island Southeast Asia. It has special global significance for its record of early pelagic fishing and ancient shell fish hooks. It is also of regional significance for its early occupation and comparatively large assemblage of Pleistocene stone artefacts. Three major findings arise from our study of the stone artefacts. First, there is little change in lithic technology over the 42,000 year sequence, with the most noticeable change being the addition of new artefact types and raw materials in the midHolocene. Second, the assemblage is dominated by small chert cores and implements rather than pebble tools and choppers, a pattern we argue pattern, we argue, that is common in island SE Asian sites as opposed to mainland SE Asian sites. Third, the Jerimalai assemblage bears a striking resemblance to the assemblage from Liang Bua, argued by the Liang Bua excavation team to be associated with Homo floresiensis. We argue that the near proximity of these two islands along the Indonesian island chain (c.100 km apart), the long antiquity of modern human occupation in the region (as documented at Jerimalai), and the strong resemblance of distinctive flake stone technologies seen at both sites, raises the intriguing possibility that both the Liang Bua and Jerimalai assemblages were created by modern humans. Jerimalai is a rock shelter in East Timor with cultural remains dated to 42,000 years 26 ago, making it one of the oldest known sites of modern human activity in island 27 Southeast Asia. It has special global significance for its record of early pelagic fishing 28 and ancient shell fish hooks. It is also of regional significance for its early occupation 29and comparatively large assemblage of Pleistocene stone artefacts. Three major 30 findings arise from our study of the stone artefacts. First, there is little change in lithic 31 technology over the 42,000 year sequence, with the most noticeable change being the 32 addition of new artefact types and raw materials in the mid-Holocene. Second, the 33 assemblage is dominated by small chert cores and implements rather than pebble tools 34 and choppers, a pattern we argue is common in island SE Asian sites as opposed to 35 mainland SE Asian sites. Third, the Jerimalai assemblage bears a striking resemblance 36 to the assemblage from Liang Bua, argued by the Liang Bua excavation team to be 37 associated with Homo floresiensis. We argue that the near proximity of these two 38 islands along the Indonesian Island chain (c.100km apart), the long antiquity of 39 modern human occupation in the region (as documented at Jerimalai), and the strong 40 resemblance of distinctive flake stone technologies seen at both sites, raises the 41 intriguing possibility that both the Liang Bua and Jerimalai assemblages were created 42 by modern humans. 43 44

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confidence: 99%

Early modern human lithic technology from Jerimalai, East Timor

Marwick

Clarkson

O’Connor

et al. 2016

Journal of Human Evolution

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“…methods for estimating the amount or effects of mass removed from a flake or tool by retouch or resharpening-has received extensive coverage in the literature (Andrefsky 2006;Bradbury, Carr, and Randall Cooper 2009;Braun et al 2010;Clarkson 2002;Davis and Shea 1998;Eren et al 2005; Eren and Prendergast 2008; Eren and Sampson 2009;Hiscock and Clarkson 2005;Horowitz and McCall 2013;Patten 2005;Shott et al 2000Shott et al , 2007Marwick 2008;Morales, Lorenzo, and Vergès 2015;Wilson and Andrefsky 2008), but with some exceptions, it has not been intensive. Rather, researchers have focused on using an experiment for the purpose of proposing new or newly revamped methods rather than for thoroughly vetting methods and validating that they actually work for their asserted purpose (Shott et al 2007:205-206).…”

Section: Replication As Methods Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2016

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“…If true, many of the choices made by MSA hominins would have been subsequently manifest in their use of lithic materials. In particular, the intensity with which materials were reduced is intimately linked to raw material requirements, availability and quality, and thus provides an effective means of recognizing Total 278 63 108 14 501 changes in mobility, home-range size, trade, raw material preferences and transport (Barut 1994;Dibble et al 2005;Marwick 2008). Archaeological and ethnographic research has demonstrated that humans largely make cost-effective decisions about lithic raw material procurement (Andrefsky 2005;Bamforth 1986;Barut 1994;Bicho 2002;Gould and Saggers 1985;McCall 2007).…”

Section: Lithic Reduction Intensitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This tendency usually results in the preferred use of local materials over those located more distantly, especially if raw material quality is held constant. Because of this relationship, higher procurement and transportation inputs are frequently correlated with higher reduction intensity, as foragers implement practices to maximize high quality materials obtained at greater cost (Marks et al 1991;Marwick 2008). Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the raw material quality requirements of certain technological approaches can significantly alter the relationship between procurement and mobility (Bamforth 1986;Gould and Saggers 1985).…”

Section: Lithic Reduction Intensitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of its relevance to a number of common archaeological questions a series of different metrics have been developed and deployed to measure reduction intensity in stone tool assemblages (Blades 2003;Clarkson 2010;Clarkson and Hiscock 2008;Henry 1989;Hiscock and Clarkson 2005;Hiscock and Tabrett 2010;Marwick 2008). However, not all of these methods are applicable to all types of lithic assemblages.…”

Section: Lithic Reduction Intensitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Middle Stone Age Technology and Cultural Evolution at Magubike Rockshelter, Southern Tanzania

Werner

Willoughby

2017

Afr Archaeol Rev

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This paper contributes new information to the body of evidence for Middle Stone Age tool-use in Tanzania. Magubike rockshelter is located in an archaeologically unexplored region of the south-central part of the country, and thus fills a significant geographical gap between sites further to the north and those to the south in Zambia and Mozambique. Early analysis of a portion of the lithic materials demonstrates parallel changes in lithic reduction intensity, raw material preference and typology. This article explores possible explanations for this pattern, including the possibility that they reflect changes to local environment, and suggests avenues for future research.Résumé Cet article apporte de nouvelles informations à l'ensemble des preuves sur l'utilisationd'outille de l'âge de pierre moyen en Tanzanie. L'abris sous roches de Magubike est situé dansune région archéologique inexplorée de la partie sud-centrale du pays, et remplit ainsi unespace géographique entre les sites plus au nord et celles du sud en Zambie et au Mozambique. L'analyse préliminaire d'une partie des matériaux lithiques démontre des changementsparallèles dans l'intensité de réduction lithique, la préférence des matières premières et de latypologie. Cet article explore les explications possibles de ce modèle, y compris la possibilitéqu'elles reflètent des changements de l'environnement local, et propose des pistes pour larecherche future.

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What attributes are important for the measurement of assemblage reduction intensity? Results from an experimental stone artefact assemblage with relevance to the Hoabinhian of mainland Southeast Asia

Cited by 58 publications

References 40 publications

Early modern human lithic technology from Jerimalai, East Timor

Early modern human lithic technology from Jerimalai, East Timor

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

Middle Stone Age Technology and Cultural Evolution at Magubike Rockshelter, Southern Tanzania

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