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Lithic Raw Material Economy in the Mesolithic: Experimental Test of Edged Tool Efficiency and Durability in Bone Tool Production
Stockholm University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Osteoarchaeological Research Laboratory.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4453-7403
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2017 (English)In: Lithic Technology, ISSN 0197-7261, Vol. 42, no 4, p. 140-154Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The foundation of this paper is lithic economy with a focus on the actual use of different lithic raw materials for tasks at hand. Our specific focus is on the production of bone tools during the Mesolithic. The lithic and osseous assemblages from Strandvägen, Motala, in east-central Sweden provide the archaeological background for the study. Based on a series of experiments we evaluate the efficiency and durability of different tool edges of five lithic raw materials: Cambrian flint, Cretaceous flint, mylonitic quartz, quartz, and porphyry, each used to whittle bone. The results show that flint is the most efficient of the raw materials assessed. Thus, a non-local raw material offers complements of functional characteristics for bone working compared to locally available quartz and mylonitic quartz. This finding provides a new insight into lithic raw material distribution in the region, specifically for bone tool production on site. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2017. Vol. 42, no 4, p. 140-154
Keywords [en]
Lithic raw material, experimental archeology, efficiency, durability, Mesolithic
National Category
Archaeology
Research subject
Archaeology; Osteoarchaeology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-149450DOI: 10.1080/01977261.2017.1374584ISI: 000418332000001OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-149450DiVA, id: diva2:1161698
Available from: 2017-11-30 Created: 2017-11-30 Last updated: 2022-01-24Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Points on Production: Taphonomic research on Mesolithic osseous assemblages in Sweden
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Points on Production: Taphonomic research on Mesolithic osseous assemblages in Sweden
2018 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Osteoarchaeological materials are influenced by many consecutive factors, from human hunting strategies, consumption patterns and waste disposal to mechanical and chemical changes in bone structure and shape. Here Mesolithic osteoarchaeological patterns have been examined in relation to the production of bone and antler artefacts. The osseous production in Sweden of the period c. 7000–4500 cal BC shows both similarities and differences between six investigated sites, representing two different geographical regions. These may be seen in both manufacturing techniques and raw material use and may be linked to different traditions, but also to different utilization of different taskscapes. The production is also linked to lithic craft and the theme of e.g. raw material acquisition is also relevant in relation to the production of osseous artefacts. Spatial studies clearly show how different taphonomic processes affect the accumulation of bone material on site, but also how practitioners’ choices associated with the osseous craft affect these patterns. On several of the investigated sites, deposits of raw material have been found in the waters outside the settlements. In the settlement debitage from the production and forming of the artefacts, bone knapping floors have been identified. These are located centrally, in relation to other archaeological structures such as lithic knapping floors and dwellings. The osteoarchaeological record is biased in part due to debitage from osseous production but also from active human selection, transport and deposition of raw materials. These activities and the human choices of production affect the patterns, and through careful taphonomic analyses various accumulative processes may be highlighted.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, 2018. p. 133
Series
Theses and papers in osteoarchaeology, ISSN 1652-4098 ; 09
Keywords
Osteoarchaeological patterns, Taphonomic analysis, Osseous craft, Mesolithic, Spatial studies
National Category
Archaeology
Research subject
Archaeology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-149658 (URN)978-91-7797-114-6 (ISBN)978-91-7797-115-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2018-02-23, De Geersalen, Geovetenskapens hus, Svante Arrhenius väg 14, Stockholm, Stockholm, 10:00 (English)
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Supervisors
Note

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.

Available from: 2018-01-31 Created: 2017-12-07 Last updated: 2022-02-28Bibliographically approved

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Gummesson, SaraSundberg, Rolf

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