The Fractal Dimensions of Lithic Reduction |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Austin Community College, 11928 Stonehollow Drive, Austin, TX 78758, USA;2. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, 3 de febrero 1378, C1426BJN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina;1. CNRS, UMR 7209 Archéozoologie, Archéobotanique: sociétés, pratiques et environnements, Museum National d''Histoire Naturelle, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France;2. CNRS, UMR 7041 Equipe d''Ethnologie préhistorique, Maison René Ginouvès, 21 allée de l''Université, 91023 Nanterre cedex, France;3. UMR 5608 TRACES, Maison de la recherche, Campus de l''Université du Mirail-Jean Jaurès, 5 allées A. Machado, 31058 Toulouse, France;1. Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, United States;2. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Illinois State University, United States;3. Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, United States |
| |
| Abstract: | The fractal distribution is the best statistical model for the size-frequency distributions that result from some lithic reduction processes. Fractals are a large class of complex, self-similar sets that can be described using power-law relations. Fractal statistical distributions are characterized by an exponent, D, called the fractal dimension. I show how to determine whether the size-frequency distribution of a sample of debitage is fractal by plotting the power-law relation on a log-log graph. I also show how to estimate the fractal dimension for any particular distribution. Using debitage size data from experimental replications of lithic tools, I demonstrate a fundamental relationship between the fractal dimension and stage of reduction. I also present archaeological case studies that illustrate the simplicity and utility of the method. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
