Lecture 12 - Intro To Arcaheology

Question 1

What are the most common types of artifacts found in ancient sites?

Answer 1

Stone tools are the most common type of artifacts found in sites around the world.

Question 2

When did the use of stone tools begin?

Answer 2

The use of stone tools begins 3.3 - 3 million years ago in Eastern Africa.

Question 3

Why is raw material important in stone tool technology?

Answer 3

The type of stone dictates what you can do to it. For example basalt is good for flaking but slate is.

Question 4

What is the flake/core distinction?

Answer 4

A flake is a piece of material that comes off, while a core is the whole material you are shaping.

Question 5

What tools are needed to shape stone?

Answer 5

You need a hammer stone, which can be a hard hammer (generally a rock) or a soft hammer (usually made of antler).

Question 6

What features are found on the ventral surface of a typical flake?

Answer 6

Points of impact, striking platform, cone of percussion, bulb of percussion, and ripple marks.

Question 7

What features are found on the dorsal surface of a typical flake?

Answer 7

Flake scars and cortex.

Question 8

What is retouch in stone tool technology?

Answer 8

Retouch is further edge flaking to shape tool form or re-sharpen the edge.

Question 9

Where and when were the oldest stone stools recorded?

Answer 9

Oldowan technology was found in Tanzania and dates back to 3.3 million years ago.

Question 10

What is Acheulean bifacial technology?

Answer 10

Acheulean bifacial technology started taking flakes off of both sides of the tool and dates from 1.6 million years ago to 100,000 years ago.

Question 11

What is the Levallois flaking technique?

Answer 11

It involves preparing a core for the removal of a finished tool and is associated with Neanderthals, dating back to 200,000 years ago.

Question 12

What is blade technology?

Answer 12

Begins 100,000 BP. Blades are flakes that are very long and thin with a 2:1 ratio, maximizing the cutting edge from a piece of stone.

Question 13

What are Soultrean points?

Answer 13

Soultrean points are made using pressure flaking, pushing material off with an antler instead of hitting, dating back to 17,000 years ago.

Question 14

What is an Atl Atl?

Answer 14

An Atl Atl is a spear thrower that first shows up in the Upper Paleolithic era (25,000 to 40,000 years ago) and allows for more force and accuracy in hunting larger animals.

Question 15

When did the bow and arrow first appear?

Answer 15

The bow and arrow appeared about 12,000 years ago, possibly much earlier in Africa (70,000 years ago).

Question 16

What is the significance of wood and plant-based technology?

Answer 16

It likely dates back to very early human history.

Question 17

What is obsidian and its properties?

Answer 17

Obsidian is very valued, elastic, a bit brittle, and must be very pure to be sharp.

Question 18

What is the process of flintknapping?

Answer 18

You must hit an edge instead of right in the middle, with an angle of 90 degrees or less affecting the size of the flake.

Question 19

How can flakes be used in tool-making?

Answer 19

Flakes can be used as tools themselves.

Question 20

What is the role of antler in stone tool technology?

Answer 20

Antler is used as a soft hammer to re-sharpen the edge.