Lithics: Macroscopic Approaches to Analysis

by William Andrefsky, Jr

• ISBN13: 9780521849760
• ISBN10: 0521849764
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-12-26
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book is a fully updated and revised edition of William Andrefsky Jr's ground-breaking manual on lithic analysis. Designed for students and professional archaeologists, this highly illustrated book explains the fundamental principles of the measurement, recording and analysis of stone tools and stone tool production debris. Introducing the reader to lithic raw materials, classification, terminology and key concepts, it comprehensively explores methods and techniques, presenting detailed case studies of lithic analysis from around the world. It examines new emerging techniques, such as the advances being made in lithic debitage analysis and lithic tool analysis, and includes a new section on stone tool functional studies. An extensive and expanded glossary makes this book an invaluable reference for archaeologists at all levels.

Author Biography

William Andrefsky Jr. is Professor of Anthropology at Washington State University

Table of Contents

List of figures	xii
List of tables	xvi
Preface	xix
Preface to second edition	xxi
Acknowledgments	xxiii
A brief introduction to lithic analysis	1	(10)
The organization of the book	1	(2)
Early historical development	3	(2)
A perspective on microwear	5	(2)
The truth about replication	7	(4)
Basics of stone tool production	11	(30)
Basic terminology	12	(12)
Fracture mechanics	24	(6)
Stone tool morphological dynamics	30	(8)
Summary	38	(3)
Lithic raw materials	41	(20)
A brief review of geochemical techniques	43	(3)
Rock genesis	46	(1)
Igneous rocks	47	(3)
Sedimentary rocks	50	(6)
Metamorphic rocks	56	(3)
Summary	59	(2)
Getting started in lithic analysis: identification and classification	61	(25)
Attributes and attribute states	62	(4)
Types and typologies	66	(8)
A basic chipped stone typology	74	(10)
Summary	84	(2)
Flake debitage attributes	86	(27)
Debitage condition and termination	87	(2)
Debitage striking platforms	89	(9)
Debitage size	98	(5)
Debitage dorsal cortex	103	(6)
Debitage curvature	109	(2)
Summary	111	(2)
Approaches to debitage analysis	113	(30)
Typological analysis of debitage	114	(17)
Aggregate analysis of debitage	131	(9)
Dissecting debitage assemblages	140	(1)
Summary	141	(2)
Approaches to stone tool analysis	143	(58)
Core analysis	144	(16)
Flake tool analysis	160	(17)
Biface analysis	177	(18)
Tool function	195	(4)
Summary	199	(2)
Artifact diversity and site function	201	(23)
Artifact types and function	202	(8)
Site function models	210	(11)
Summary	221	(3)
Lithic analysis and prehistoric sedentism	224	(21)
Sedentism and archaeology	224	(3)
Sedentism in North America	227	(4)
Occupation duration and the Mousterian of west-central Italy	231	(4)
Raw-material qualities and relative sedentism	235	(8)
Summary	243	(2)
Conclusion	245	(7)
Glossary	252	(11)
References	263	(33)
Index	296