Theme:
2. Archaeological Sciences, Humanities and the Digital era: Bridging the Gaps
Session format:
Discussion session (with formal abstracts)
Title:
Going Beyond Traditional Approaches to Lithic Research in Prehistory and Protohistory: Hypothesis, methods, validation, contrast and raw data
Content:
The study of stone raw materials and finished tools allows an understanding of the operational sequences, migration, trade, and socio-economic organisation of past human groups, particularly those belonging to Pre and Protohistory.
The determination of the origin of raw materials for tool making, and the selection of knappable materials, may give insight into the knowledge of the physical environment and settlement choices. Methods of analysis include macro and microscopic approaches, petrography, geochemistry, geoarchaeology, and mechanical properties definition. The study of reduction processes and/or manipulation through traditional techno-typological analysis coupled with specific approaches such as techno-economy, morpho-functional, production and use-wear traces, spatial analysis, statistics and archaeometry can lead to a more precise reconstruction of human behaviour. Although these different perspectives are traditionally studied independently as sub-fields of lithic studies, they are all interconnected. The availability of raw materials will determine choices and influence mobility patterns, while rock mechanical characteristics have direct implications for technological behavior and the technical and cultural adaptation of material culture.
However, methods and procedures still largely vary between research teams and the communication between scholars from different regions and chronological research periods can become a challenge to effectively share, compare, and interconnect information from all these methodologies and approaches.
In this session, we invite researchers working on the multifaceted methodologies of stone research applied to Pre and Protohistory, from the survey and sampling of reference materials to the characterisation of the rocks and tools. The aim is to discuss methodological developments and approaches in stone research, data comparability, comprehend the current state of the art in lithic research and consider prospects in the field. We also welcome the formulation of standard protocols and the creation of frames of reference for raw data availability.
Keywords:
raw data management, protocol standardization, raw material characterisation, flaked stone tools, lithic technology
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
PaM - Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Community
Main organiser:
Ana Abrunhosa (Spain) 1,2
Co-organisers:
Melissa Vilmercati (Italy) 3
Alejandro Prieto (Spain) 4
Görkem Cenk Yeşilova (Spain) 5,6
Marta Sánchez de la Torre (Spain) 7,8
Affiliations:
1. IPHES - CERCA - Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social
2. ICArEHB - Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour
3. Sapienza, University of Rome - Department of Antiquities
4. University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU - Department of Geography, Prehistory and Archaeology
5. (IPHES-CERCA) Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social
6. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Dept. d’Història i Història de l’Art
7. Seminari d’Estudis i Recerques Prehistòriques (SERP)
8. Institut d’Arqueologia de la Universitat de Barcelona
THIS SESSION CAN NOT BE SELECTED AT THIS MOMENT