Finals Study Guide Guest Lecture

Question 1

What are lithics

Answer 1

Archaeology definition of lithium:
Raw stone (e.g., chert, obsidian, flint, etc.) modified or manipulated by humans (Homo sapiens)... 

Paleoanthropology definition of lithics
Stone objects modified by pre-Homo sapien species (i.e., australopithecines and earlier Homo species)…

Question 2

Earliest stone tool industry…

Answer 2

2.6 – 3.3 mya

 Oldowan Industry

Question 3

Earliest known ceramics

Answer 3

26000 years ago

Venus figurines

Question 4

First bronze tools

Answer 4

Copper and tin alloy
In near east 
4000 years ago
Arrowheads, axe heads....
Middle Bronze Age ( ca 2000 BCE)

Question 5

WHY STUDY LITHICS?

Answer 5

Fossils (Paleoanthropology)
 Stature…
 Morphology…
 Dentition…
 Sex…
 Age…
Lithics provide a glimpse into behavior, tradition, culture…

Question 6

HOW ARE LITHICS STUDIED?

Answer 6

HOW ARE LITHICS STUDIED?
Typology
 Classificatory system/tool to organize for analysis
 Organization of lithics via:
Shape…
Tool type…
Geographic distribution…
Manufacture technology (i.e., “industries”)…

Question 7

MODE I: THE OLDOWAN INDUSTRY

Answer 7

Lower Paleolithic 
2.6 – 1.7 mya (3.3 mya via isolated site) 
Characterized by:
 Pebble tools (e.g., scrapers)
 Core tools (e.g., choppers) 
Used by:
 A. garhi
 Genus Homo (first associated industry)

Question 8

MODE II: THE ACHEULEAN INDUSTRY

Answer 8

Lower Paleolithic 
1.7 mya – 100 kya 
Characterized by:
 Pear-shaped hand-axe 
Used by:
 H. erectus
 H. habilis

Question 9

MODE III: THE MOUSTERIAN INDUSTRY

Answer 9

Middle Paleolithic 
160 kya – 40 kya 
Characterized by:
 Core reduction strategies
 Levallois technique
 Scrapers
 Flakes
 Multi-functional tools 
Used by:
 H. heidelbergensis
 H. neanderthalensis

Question 10

MODE IV: THE AURIGNACIAN INDUSTRY

Answer 10

MODE IV:  THE AURIGNACIAN INDUSTRY
Upper Paleolithic 
50 kya – 10 kya 
Characterized by:
 Core reduction strategies
 Blades 
Used by:
 H. sapiens

Question 11

MODE V: THE MICROLITHIC INDUSTRY

Answer 11

Upper Paleolithic/Epipaleolithic 
35 kya – 3 kya 
Characterized by:
 Core reduction strategies
 Blades 
Used by:
 H. sapiens

Question 12

FLINTKNAPPING (LITHIC MANUFACTURING) KIT

Answer 12

FLINTKNAPPING (LITHIC MANUFACTURING) KIT
Hammerstone
 Used to strike lithic nodule via “hard-hammer” percussion
Leather hide
 For protection of leg and hand
Billet
 Used to strike lithic core via “soft-hammer” percussion
Antler Tine
 Used to push off flakes from a core via “pressure flaking”

Question 13

FLINTKNAPPING PROCESS

Answer 13

Nodule
 Raw lithic with cortex (external mineral layer)
Core
 Raw lithic without cortex (in process)
Flake
 Section/portion extracted from a core
Tool
 E.g., hand-axe, blade, projectile point