An Index of Invasiveness for the Measurement of Unifacial and Bifacial Retouch: A Theoretical,Experimental and Archaeological Verification |
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| Institution: | 1. Grupo de Estudos de Arqueoloxía, Antigüidade e Territorio (GEAAT), University of Vigo, Campus As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain;2. IDEA (Instituto de Evolución en África), University of Alcalá de Henares, Covarrubias 36, 28010 Madrid, Spain;3. School of Physical Sciences, Environment Institute, Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), University of Adelaide, North Terrace Campus, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;4. Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia;5. Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH). Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca, 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain;1. Stoneslab, Säves väg 40, 75263 Uppsala, Sweden;2. Department of Archaeology and Ancient history, Uppsala University, Box 256, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden;3. Service de Préhistoire, University of Liège, Quai Roosevelt 1B, Bât. A4, 4000 Liège, Belgium;4. Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 59, FI-00014, Finland;5. Ålands landskapsregering. Självstyrelsegården, PB 1060, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland |
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| Abstract: | Archaeologists are increasingly in need of quantitative measures of stone artefact retouch. Existing techniques fail to provide a generic measure of retouching for all chipped stone artefacts. A fast and reliable index is proposed which measures retouch in terms of the invasiveness of flake scars on the surfaces of complete stone artefacts. Unlike other measures, the index of invasiveness is well suited to the analysis of bifacially worked artefacts such as bifacial points and bifaces. Experimental tests demonstrate a strong correlation between the index and measures of reduction based on diminishing flake weight and numbers of retouch blows. Inter-observer reliability is also demonstrated through the use of a blind test. Limitations of the method are discussed, although potential techniques for surmounting problems are identified. An archaeological application of the index demonstrates the utility of the method in the context of regional assemblage variability in northern Australia. |
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