Archaeological Science Under a Microscope: Studies in Residue and Ancient DNA Analysis in Honour of Thomas H. Loy

The tula adze is a distinctive composite tool that was used in the Australian arid zone during the late Holocene. In this paper we use design theory to investigate why this particular tool form was so pervasive across time and space. Design theory provides a rational means for classifying tool designs and for determining why particular tool design classes were employed over others. We draw upon ethnographic and archaeological evidence to characterize the design of the tula adze and conclude that it is consistently the product of a “reliable” design strategy. We further determine that the high cost of a reliable design was chosen because the tula adze was employed in situations where failure could not be tolerated. Specifically, we argue that an important role of the tula adze was to manufacture wooden goods for not only personal use but more significantly for trade. The quantity and quality of these goods had an extremely strong bearing on the economic sustainability of arid zone Aboriginal groups.

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The impact of micro-residue studies on South African Middle Stone Age research

Lombard¹,

Wadley²

2009

Archaeological Science Under a Microscope: Studies in Residue and Ancient DNA Analysis in Honour of Thomas H. Loy

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The Middle Stone Age of South Africa currently plays a central role in studies of the origins of symbolic behaviour. Micro-residue analyses on stone tools from sites with long Middle Stone Age sequences and good organic preservation are producing direct contextual evidence and detailed information about past technologies and associated behaviours. In this chapter we provide a brief and selected overview of some of our published contributions and demonstrate how microresidue studies can now be used to assess hypotheses regarding hunting efficiency and hafting technologies. Compelling evidence is being produced that is contrary to the once-held notion that the Middle Stone Age shows little meaningful change through time. The cumulative results provide clear evidence for variability and change associated with anatomically modern humans. While our published work demonstrates our commitment to a multi-analytical approach to usetrace analysis, including micro-residue, use-wear and macrofracture analyses, we focus here on residues as it was also the focus of Tom Loy's research in South Africa.

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Archaeological Science Under a Microscope: Studies in Residue and Ancient DNA Analysis in Honour of Thomas H. Loy

Cited by 13 publications

References 157 publications

Using digital colour to increase the realistic appearance of SEM micrographs of bloodstains

Using digital colour to increase the realistic appearance of SEM micrographs of bloodstains

Design Theory and the Australian Tula Adze

The impact of micro-residue studies on South African Middle Stone Age research

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