A methodological protocol for the analysis of Early Stone Age lithic assemblages

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2021.0046

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper proposes an analytical protocol for the study of early Palaeolithic stone tools. Our proposal follows a macroscopic approach and therefore does not cover the equally-important analysis of microscopic traces. Also, it focuses on techno-typological attributes of pre-Middle Palaeolithic artefact, thus avoiding entering into the discussion of the techno-morphological and regional particularities inherent to the lithic record from the Middle Stone Age onwards. Given the overall similarities of technological solutions employed during the Early Stone Age lithic assemblages and their relative typological homogeneity across the Old World, we argue that using standardized protocols in the description of stone tool collections may improve comparability and help understanding global patterns of technological behaviour across the early Palaeolithic. From this perspective, this paper will review the main theoretical approaches to the study of Early Stone Age stone assemblages and will propose analytical perspectives and terminologies in the description of flaked, detached and pounded tools, as well in the study of refits and conventions in artefact measuring and illustration.

Key words: Lithic technology, Theoretical perspectives, Analytical protocols, Early Stone Age

CLC Number:

K871.11

Ignacio de la TORRE, Rafael MORA, PEI Shuwen, MA Dongdong. A methodological protocol for the analysis of Early Stone Age lithic assemblages[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2021, 40(04): 547-567.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig.1 Main features of flake and core

Fig.2 Features of the flake striking platform and scar directionality in the dorsal face of flakes

Fig.3 Knapping accidents in flakes/ flake fragments

Fig.4 Idealized schemes of free-hand core reduction

Fig.5 Knife from EF-HR (Olduvai, Tanzania)

Fig.6 Pick from EF-HR (Olduvai, Tanzania)

Fig.7 typological and technological morphotypes of cleavers

Fig.8 Biface from Mieso 43 (Mieso valley, Ethiopia)

Fig.9 Retouched tools from Feiliang and Madigou site (Nihewan basin)

Fig.10 Description of retouch/shaping

Fig.11 Hammerstone

Fig.12 Positives detached from anvils during experimental battering processes

Fig.13 Alternative functions of stone anvils

Fig.14 Experimental refit set of Olduvai bipolar lithics

Fig.15 Biface (A-B) and knife (C-D) from EF-HR (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania), and symbols used in diacritic schemes

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