Hits and misses when throwing stones at mass analysis

Bradbury, Andrew P.; Carr, Philip J.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.006

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, a body of research, commonly labeled "flake debris analysis" or "aggregatetrend/mass analysis" (Ahler 1989;Amick and Mauldin 1989;Bradbury and Carr 2004;Hall and Larson 2004), explored flake debris variability in a relatively systematic manner. However, empirical demonstrations of the effects of the variables outlined above have led many to caution against direct comparisons between experimental and archaeological data without proper controls on factors such as raw material size, shape, knapper skill, assemblage mixing, and taphonomic processes (Ahler 1989; Andrefsky 2007;Bradbury and Carr 2009;Bradbury and Franklin 2000;Carr and Bradbury 2010;Shott 1994).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Core Reduction Experiment Finds No Effect of Original Stone Size and Reduction Intensity on Flake Debris Size Distribution

et al. 2016

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Studies have long noted the influence of stone package size and reduction intensity on lithic assemblage composition, particularly in the form of flake size distributions. However, it remains difficult to distinguish objectively the effect of either factor in archaeological contexts without controlling for the variation in one of the two variables. Here we report on an experimental study designed to test the null hypotheses that original stone size and reduction intensity have no impact on the size distribution of lithic flake debris produced during core reduction. Results indicate statistically significant influence from original stone size but not reduction intensity, although the effects from the former are low enough to be considered trivial. In reviewing a sequence of archaeological assemblages from a Middle Paleolithic site, all exhibit an excess of smallsized materials in comparison to the experimental data. When exceptionally high frequencies of the smaller size classes occur, taphonomic processes are clearly responsible.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Core Reduction Experiment Finds No Effect of Original Stone Size and Reduction Intensity on Flake Debris Size Distribution

et al. 2016

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“…One way to further support or question the hypotheses of whether Welling was a “base camp” or “lithic workshop” is via the creation of an experimental model against which the Welling Clovis assemblage can be compared (Eren and Andrews 2013; Eren, Lycett, et al 2016; Lycett and Chauhan 2010). Specifically, we used experimental stone tool replication on the same stone raw materials used by the Welling Clovis Paleoindians to better understand the size distribution of Clovis bifacial debitage on the assemblage level (e.g., Ahler 1989; Andrefsky 2007; Bradbury and Carr 2004, 2009; Bradbury and Franklin 2000). One of us (Eren) used hard and soft hammers to reduce nodules of Upper Mercer chert via archaeologists’ current understanding of Clovis biface reduction (e.g., Bradley et al 2010; Eren and Buchanan 2016; Jennings and Smallwood 2019; Smallwood 2010, 2012; Smallwood and Jennings 2015).…”

Section: Clovis Settlement Of the Great Lakes And Base Campsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Was Welling, Ohio (33-Co-2), a Clovis Basecamp or Lithic Workshop? Employing Experimental Models to Interpret Old Collections

Martín¹,

Buchanan²,

Norris³

et al. 2020

Am. Antiq.

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Archaeological collections are foundational to the discipline. Yet, researchers who study curated assemblages can face challenges. Here, we show how experimental archaeology can play a vital role in the interpretation of old archaeological collections. The Welling site, in Coshocton County, Ohio, is a multicomponent, stratified site with a substantial Clovis component in its lower levels. Using experimental flaked stone replication, we create an analog model of a “pure” Clovis bifacial debitage assemblage, as might be found at a lithic workshop. We predicted that if the Welling Clovis debitage assemblage was representative of a lithic workshop, then it would be similar to the experimental model. If the debitage assemblage was representative of a base camp, however, then it would be significantly different from the model because Clovis people would have been using, transporting, resharpening, rejuvenating, and recycling the debitage—all activities that would modify a “pure” Clovis bifacial debitage assemblage. Our statistical analyses supported the latter prediction. Overall, our study illustrates how productive the integration of experimental and archaeological data can be, and it emphasizes how important the curation and accessibility of both archaeological and experimental collections are to the discipline.

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“…Although a researcher may find one valid path to creating an artifact, it is possible that there are many other tools and/or techniques that could be used to get to the same end result. Previous experimental studies of ancient life in the southeastern United States have focused on topics such as architecture [ 43 ], distinguishing between cultural or natural presence of small animal remains in pits [ 44 ], tattooing [ 45 ], pottery [ 46 ], and flintknapping [ 47 ]. For this project, experimental archaeology was used to understand the turtle shell rattle manufacturing process and identify the archaeological correlates of the process.…”

Section: Experimental Archaeology: Crafting Of Turtle Shell Rattlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An experimental study of turtle shell rattle production and the implications for archaeofaunal assemblages

Gillreath-Brown

Peres

2018

PLoS ONE

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Turtle shell rattles are percussion instruments used by Indigenous peoples of the Americas in ceremonial contexts to keep rhythm. Archaeological investigations in the southeastern United States produced several complete and partial Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) shell rattles from mortuary contexts dating from the Archaic (ca. 8000–1000 BC) through Mississippian periods (ca. AD 800–1500). Fragmentary turtle remains, some identified as Eastern box turtle, are frequently recovered from non-mortuary contexts. Traditionally, these fragmentary remains are attributed to food waste. Given the archaeological and ethnographic evidence for turtle shell rattles, we need to consider how fragmentary remains might fit into the chaîne opératoire of rattle production. This paper presents the results of an experimental study designed to identify one such chaîne opératoire of rattle production. During this experiment, the data on taphonomic processes such as manufacturing marks, use-wear, and breakage patterns, were recorded. We then tested the taphonomic findings from the experimental study and an object trait list we compiled from known rattle specimens and documentary sources with archaeological turtle remains recovered from non-mortuary contexts at two Mississippian period (ca. AD 1000–1450) sites in Middle Tennessee. Historic indigenous groups are known to have, and still do into the present-day, make and use turtle shell rattles in the region. Ultimately, we determined that “food refuse” should not be the default interpretation of fragmentary box turtle remains, and instead the taphonomic history and contextual associations must be considered in full. The experimental process of crafting turtle shell rattles enhances our understanding of an ancient musical instrument and the success rate of identifying musical artifacts and distinguishing between other modified turtle remains in the archaeological record. This study expands our knowledge of ancient music in North America and prompts re-analysis of curated turtle remains in museums for rattle-related modifications.

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Hits and misses when throwing stones at mass analysis

Cited by 11 publications

References 27 publications

A Core Reduction Experiment Finds No Effect of Original Stone Size and Reduction Intensity on Flake Debris Size Distribution

A Core Reduction Experiment Finds No Effect of Original Stone Size and Reduction Intensity on Flake Debris Size Distribution

Was Welling, Ohio (33-Co-2), a Clovis Basecamp or Lithic Workshop? Employing Experimental Models to Interpret Old Collections

An experimental study of turtle shell rattle production and the implications for archaeofaunal assemblages

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