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INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

This course will train the student to recognise the characteristics of humanly modified lithics, to understand and interpret the techniques of their manufacture, and to comprehend their various uses. The course also studies stone tool assemblages from the perspective of the excavator and analyst, taking into account methodologies for extraction and interpretation and by looking at the taphonomic history of artefact assemblages. Finally, we shall examine the different ways we might interpret past human behaviour from the analysis of stone artefacts. Stone artefacts dominate the prehistoric archaeological record, are a significant component of the material cultural repertoire of later prehistoric and early historic societies, and are an extremely important and interesting area of archaeological research. We shall concentrate on ways in which we can approach the analysis and understanding of prehistoric technologies in particular but will also consider typological, functional, contextual and cognitive analysis of stone artefacts, and examine the different ways we can build an understanding of past human behaviour from the analysis of flaked stone and to a lesser extent ground stone tool assemblages. The Institute has extensive stone tool reference material and we shall utilise prehistoric assemblages from Britain, Europe and Africa, although material from other regions will be introduced when appropriate.

This module introduces students to the analysis of stone tools in theory and practice. Issues of raw material variability, technology, typology and functional analysis will be considered. Key themes include:Ìý

• the chaîne opératoire and the analysis of technology;
• typological approaches to stone tool analysis;
• approaches to the functional analysis of stone tools;
• the relationship between technology, form and function.

Special attention will be given to Middle and Upper Palaeolithic assemblages (of Europe, the Near East and Africa), although Mesolithic, Neolithic and later material will also be considered. There is a strong practical element to the module.

Aims

The specific aims of the course are to introduce you to:

• Methodological approaches used in the identification and analysis of stone artefacts.

• Ways in which stone artefacts can be and have been used to interpret the dynamic human past.

• The importance of stone artefacts as a source of information about past human behaviour.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course you should:-

• Understand the basic elements of the fracture mechanics of stone.

• Be aware of the range of information lithic assemblages provide on past human behaviour.

• Be familiar with the different approaches used in lithic stone analysis.

• Be able to illustrate lithic artefacts for study purposes.

• Be able to produce a critical essay on an academic report of a lithic assemblage.

• Be able to describe and critically assess a lithic assemblage.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course students should have developed:

• Observational skills and critical reflection.

• The ability to apply acquired knowledge of a topic.

• Demonstrate a good understanding of the principles and methods by which lithic data are acquired and analysed. Ìý

• Show an awareness of the issues involved in planning, designing, and executing a specialist post-excavation report.

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