Technology and Terminology of Knapped Stone - IRIT

Only the major milestones in the constitution of this new discipline need to be
mentioned : the first symposium on the subject was held in Vancouver in 1977 97
, followed in
1980 by Keeley's synthesis 98
, the first comprehensive piece of work since Semenov's.
Research within the discipline concerns all prehistoric periods, even though convincing
results pertaining to the more ancient ones are at present difficult to obtain 99
.
The study of wear traces requires an understanding of the rock types used to make tools,
as well as of the contact substances. This knowledge is acquired through the sustained practise
of experimentation. It is by systematically alternating archaeological observation and experimental
study that one succeeds in understanding the different stages of tool manufacture and use
(hafting, use pattern, sharpening, etc.). The technical approach varies according to the archaeological
question and may involve different optical instruments, such as stereoscopic microscopes,
metallographic microscopes, or scanning electron microscopes.
In their current form, microwear studies pertain to different research designs.
Either they try to answer a number of questions, such as :
- what material was processed with the tool ?
- what was the duration of the work ?
- what type of movement was performed ?
- was the tool hafted ?
The aim is thus essentially to explain how a tool was used, or to compare the results with
typological data.
Alternatively, such studies focus on the origin, the cause, of wear traces, thus proving
efficient for defining the very concept of what a tool is. Indeed, by allowing the reconstruction
of composite tools, microwear studies have cast light on the problem of hafting.
The study of wear traces also contributes to the detection of natural alterations.
However, one should bear in mind that a result valid for a single site cannot be
considered universally valid without verification.
Microwear studies are now incorporated into all palaeoethnically oriented research, since
it is often the only way to confirm hypotheses about domestic, economic, or artistic activities.
The agricultural realm 100
certainly contributed the most to enrich possible interpretations, thanks
to the combined studies of wear traces, knapping techniques (pertaining to the choice of blanks),
paleobotany and archeozoology.
4. Technical behaviou r
Technological analysis is proving a most fruitful approach for deciphering lithic
assemblages in terms of technical activities to begin with, and then in terms of technical
behaviour through the assessment of motor dexterities and cognitive capacities.
4.1. Assessmen t
The assessment of motor dexterities and cognitive capacities is a fundamental process,
because any interpretation depends upon it for its significance and credibility. It can always be
undertaken, whatever cultures and human types are concerned, because it is based on lithic
production, as it is possible to assess prehistoric people's subsistance strategies by examining the
faunal remains from archaeological sites. It depends however both on the quality of the
excavations and on that of the recovered material, and also to a great extent on the type of site :
there will be little to say about a short-term hunting camp containing only a small assemblage,
but far more about a knapping workshop where several chaînes opératoires may be represented
101
. This type of work can nevertheless be carried out on old museum collections, provided
the information concerning the context of finds is sufficient.
97 Lithic Use-wear Analysis, 1979.
98 Keeley, 1980.
99 Beyries 1993.
100 Anderson, 1992.
101 Karlin, Ploux, 1994.
99