Lab Quiz #2

Question 1

Most frequently found artifacts in archaeological sites?

Answer 1

Stone tools, and debris from the process of their manufacture

Question 2

Lithic Artifacts provide information about what?

Answer 2

Tool making and activities closely related to the use of the tools

Question 3

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Technology

Answer 3

Tools might preserve while the product they were used to make has vanished

Question 4

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Activities Practiced Within a Culture

Answer 4

The clustering of specific stone tools at specific locations at a site suggests that certain activities were restricted to defined areas

Question 5

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Function of a Site

Answer 5

Once activities performed at a site have been identified, the function of the site can potentially be determined

Question 6

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Settlement Pattern of a Human Group

Answer 6

Once its determined that a certain cultural tradition existed in a region at 1 time and that the people produced specific tool types, its possible to study the movement of this group in a territory; and the extent of the territory they normally used

Question 7

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Trade

Answer 7

Popular types of material were often traded over short/long distances. Knowing the source of these material, it becomes possible to investigate trade patterns and relationships between/among various groups

Question 8

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Ideology/Religion

Answer 8

The shape, color, and material of an artifact can be suggestive of religious and ideological concepts

Question 9

What we can learn from Lithic Artifacts - Development of Human Brain

Answer 9

Great differences in complexity and efficiency of stone tools from period starting with Homo habilis, the 1st toolmakers over 2.5 million years ago, to modern humans

Question 10

Lithic artifacts are classified into different types based on:

Answer 10

Material, Method of manufacture, Form, Function

Question 11

Method of manufacture is based on:

Answer 11

Whether the material is fine-grained texture or coarse-grained texture

Question 12

How are materials with fine-grained texture manufactured?

Answer 12

A process of ‘chipping’ or ‘knapping’ because they easily flake and crack (like glass)

Question 13

How are materials with coarse-grained texture manufactured?

Answer 13

A process of abrading or grinding because they won’t easily flake/crack (rough like sandpaper)

Question 14

Core

Answer 14

A piece of hard stone
Core itself can become a tool - hand axe

Question 15

How are flakes removed?

Answer 15

By striking the edge of the core with a sharp, forceful, blow. - Chipping/Flaking
Requires ability to control the way rock breaks when its stuck

Question 16

Methods of Flaking - Direct Percussion

Answer 16

Usually involves striking core directly with another object. Can be with a hard hammer(stone)/soft hammer(antler)

Question 17

Methods of Flaking - Indirect Percussion

Answer 17

Involves use of an object between striking hammerstone and rock being shaped

Question 18

Methods of Flaking - Pressure Flaking

Answer 18

Used for the finishing stage of tool manufacture/to reshape tool when edge gets broken or becomes dull

Question 19

Methods of Flaking - Bipolar Percussion

Answer 19

Usually involves placing the core on an anvil and hitting it directly with a hammer. This usually splits the core into 2 pieces. The flakes produced usually have 2 bulbs of percussion

Question 20

Stages of Flake Removal

Answer 20

1. Primary Decortication flakes: Flakes with cortex present on surface, but no flake scars
2. Secondary Decortication flakes: Flakes with diminishing traces of cortex. Have scars of previous flake removal
3. Tertiary flakes: No cortex present

Question 21

Why is it important to be able to recognize different parts of flakes

Answer 21

They can tell you when and how stone tools were made, can also tell you about how adept the person making them was

Question 22

Dorsal

Answer 22

Outer Surface
Cortex and Flake scars visible

Question 23

Ventral

Answer 23

Inner Surface
Striking Platform, Bulb of Percussion, Compression Waves visible

Question 24

Distal end

Answer 24

Opposite side of Striking Platform

Question 25

Proximal End

Answer 25

Striking Platform and Bulb of Percussion visible

Question 26

Biface

Answer 26

If a tool has been worked on both sides
Takes a considerable amount of time to ‘knap’ and therefore tells us about the proficiency of the flintknapper and the function of the tool

Question 27

Uniface

Answer 27

A tool Has only been worked on 1 side

Question 28

Points and Projectile Points

Answer 28

This tool type can be identified by their clear, defined, shape consisting of a pointed tip
Usually thin, symmetrical, and biface
Generally though as weapons, however it is not clear they functioned this way, referred to as points since they may have also been used as knives

Question 29

The 3 main types of Points and Projectile Points

Answer 29

1. Unnotched and unstemmed
2. Stemmed
3. Notched and stemmed

Question 30

3 main forms of Points and Projectile points

Answer 30

1. Triangular
2. Lanceolate (straight near base, side taper to pointed tip)
3. Bipointed (both ends taper to a point)

Question 31

3 Parts of a Point

Answer 31

Tip, Body, Base

Question 32

Biface vs. Point

Answer 32

Point: Generally defined by specific, symmetrical shapes
Bifaces: Only need to be worked on both sides and don’t need to have a particular shape
Cultures who made points were proficient at making them and had high standards. If a lithic lacks a clear form, safe to assume its a biface and not a point

Question 33

Scrapers

Answer 33

This tool can be identified by the steep angle that has been worked along 1 edge
Characterized as endscrapers or sidescrapers, whether the working edge is on the end of the flake of on the long side
Usually unifacial
Can be used for various scraping tasks

Question 34

Drills

Answer 34

Tool type can be recognized by long narrow ‘bit’ at 1 end
Usually bifacial
Can be used in a rotary motion to function as a perforator to create holes/grooves

Question 35

Blades

Answer 35

Longer than they are wide
Usually unifacial and thin
Blades cores show amount of blades that were produced from 1 core
Functioned as cutting implements

Question 36

Bulb of Percussion

Answer 36

A swelling usually visible just below the point of impact on a flake

Question 36

Handaxe/Chopper

Answer 36

Large, thick, pear-shaped axe-like tools
Moderately steep edge angles
Usually bifacial
Assumed to be chopping/multipurpose tools
May have been hafted and not held in the hand

Question 37

Groundstone tools

Answer 37

Manufactured using a variety of techniques to wear away or abrade surface, such as grinding and pecking
Appear very different to chipped stone tools and don’t have flake scars or a bulb of percussion
Much larger, heavier and longer-lasting compared to chipped stone tools
Americas common groundstone tools include a mano and metate for the processing of corn and other foods

Question 38

Core

Answer 38

A block of stone that is struck to detach flakes

Question 39

Cortex

Answer 39

Natural, weathered surface of raw material

Question 40

Debris

Answer 40

Residue from tool production

Question 40

Decortication

Answer 40

Act of removing the cortex in reductive chipped tool manufacture

Question 41

Flake

Answer 41

Piece of stone with identifying features of removal by a human hand

Question 42

Hafting

Answer 42

Process of placing the worked stone into a handle