Stone tools have been used from 3 million years up to the Bronze Age. They are by far the most abundant prehistoric findings. Hence, they are pivotal in the narration of early human history.
Lithic technology is the discipline that helps in uncovering the story behind the thousands of stone artefacts that are retrieved from a site. The technological approach complements the typological approach, which considers only the shape (i.e. type) of retouched tools. Instead, in a technological study, any artefact from the smallest chip to the carefully shaped point is important: each witness a certain stage of the production, which is vital for the reconstruction of what happened at the site and how people lived there.
The stone artefact is considered a “living” object that results not only from function and needs but also from traditions: stone artefacts are social products.
Any technological study starts by displaying all the finds on a table and sorting them in cores (raw material pieces from where the artefacts had been knapped) and blanks (pieces resulting from knapping). Then it is possible to assess what is present and what is not: this is the first clue about site function. Siliceous rocks are a charming material because they preserve negatives of removed pieces, thus it is possible to investigate the sequence of the prehistoric knapper gestures. Sometimes artefacts that belong to the same knapping event can be refitted in a sort of 3D puzzle. In some lucky cases even, artefacts from different sites can be refitted together, thus verifying the movement of stones (and people).
Hence, lithic technology sheds a light on events happened thousands of years ago, helping to build a human connection with past societies and people.
Text: Jacopo Gennai
Jacopo Gennai is PhD candidate in the B1 project and is currently analysing the stone artefacts from the site Ansab.
Lithic artefacts sorted in cores (left bottom) and blanks Photo: Jacopo Gennai |
Core refitted with two blanks. Note the negatives left on the outer surfaces by previous removals |