Lithics
The study of the human use of stone for tools.
Lithics and Lithic Analysis - The Study of Stone in Archaeology or Lit
Archaeologists use the (slightly ungrammatical) term 'lithics' to refer to artifacts made of stone.
Archaeologists use the (slightly ungrammatical) term 'lithics' to refer to artifacts made of stone.
A Theory for Flake Creation
A new paper from Tony Baker, summarizing his years of work on experimental archaeological tests on stone tool production.
A new paper from Tony Baker, summarizing his years of work on experimental archaeological tests on stone tool production.
Annotated Atlatl Bibliography (J. Whittaker)
John Whittaker's (Grinnell College) annotated bibliography is extremely useful for folks wanting to investigate more about this prehistoric hunting method.
John Whittaker's (Grinnell College) annotated bibliography is extremely useful for folks wanting to investigate more about this prehistoric hunting method.
Computer Image Analysis
From Heather Gray at Mississippi State University, a paper on computer assisted recording of lithic attributes.
From Heather Gray at Mississippi State University, a paper on computer assisted recording of lithic attributes.
Debitage
Debitage is the collective term used by archaeologists to refer to the sharp-edged waste material left over when someone creates a stone tool
Debitage is the collective term used by archaeologists to refer to the sharp-edged waste material left over when someone creates a stone tool
Digital Crabtree
Computer simulation of Folsom fluting; a paper for the 2000 SAA by Tony Baker.
Computer simulation of Folsom fluting; a paper for the 2000 SAA by Tony Baker.
Flake - Stepchild of Lithic Analysis
Tony Baker provides us with a description of the joys of flakiness, including a definition, photographs, measurements frequently taken, and why this most ubiquitous of archaeological artifact is of some importance.
Tony Baker provides us with a description of the joys of flakiness, including a definition, photographs, measurements frequently taken, and why this most ubiquitous of archaeological artifact is of some importance.
Flakes from Flat Surfaces
An article by flint-knapper Jim Winn on his experimental techniques examining flaking patterns from working with different tools on flat slabs. A recent addition to Tony Baker's terrific lithics page.
An article by flint-knapper Jim Winn on his experimental techniques examining flaking patterns from working with different tools on flat slabs. A recent addition to Tony Baker's terrific lithics page.
Get to the Point: A Lighter View of Lithics
Lithic artifacts--stone tools such as arrow heads--are very important to archaeological science. But my goodness! what a lot of myths there are concerning them.
Lithic artifacts--stone tools such as arrow heads--are very important to archaeological science. But my goodness! what a lot of myths there are concerning them.
Levallois Technique
Levallois is the name archaeologists have given to a distinctive flint knapping technique, which makes up part of the ancient Acheulean and Mousterian artifact assemblages.
Levallois is the name archaeologists have given to a distinctive flint knapping technique, which makes up part of the ancient Acheulean and Mousterian artifact assemblages.
Lithic Containers
The latest interesting article from lithic-specialist Tony Baker, Lithic Containers discusses the recognition of when a stone artifact is an exhausted core--the last leftovers from a tool manufacture.
The latest interesting article from lithic-specialist Tony Baker, Lithic Containers discusses the recognition of when a stone artifact is an exhausted core--the last leftovers from a tool manufacture.
Lithic Technology
The journal of choice for lithic types, edited by George Odell.
The journal of choice for lithic types, edited by George Odell.
Lithoacoustics
Ian Cross, lecturer in Music at Wolfson College at Cambridge, has this interesting idea about making stone tools and music--simultaneously.
Ian Cross, lecturer in Music at Wolfson College at Cambridge, has this interesting idea about making stone tools and music--simultaneously.
Obsidian Sourcing
Minnesota's Obsidian of Anatolia and the Near East (MinOAN) Collection has a large reference collection and offers free non-destructive obsidian artifact sourcing.
Minnesota's Obsidian of Anatolia and the Near East (MinOAN) Collection has a large reference collection and offers free non-destructive obsidian artifact sourcing.
Obsidian
The volcanic glass called obsidian was highly prized in prehistory where ever it was found.
The volcanic glass called obsidian was highly prized in prehistory where ever it was found.
Petroarchaeology
Ellery Frahm's page on what he has labeled petroarchaeology is on the application of petrology and petrography to archaeology.
Ellery Frahm's page on what he has labeled petroarchaeology is on the application of petrology and petrography to archaeology.
Prehistoric Flint Flakes of the Forest
Prehistoric Flint Chips is an illustrated guide to what archaeologists look at when they see a 'welter of flint chips' or, as your run of the mill archaeologist would have it, <a href="http://archaeology.about.com/od/dterms/g/debitage.htm">lithic debitage</a> the pieces of stone or flint left over from stone tool production. Nicely illustrated, clearly worded field guide, from Paul Brooker.
Prehistoric Flint Chips is an illustrated guide to what archaeologists look at when they see a 'welter of flint chips' or, as your run of the mill archaeologist would have it, <a href="http://archaeology.about.com/od/dterms/g/debitage.htm">lithic debitage</a> the pieces of stone or flint left over from stone tool production. Nicely illustrated, clearly worded field guide, from Paul Brooker.
Stone Age Research Collection
Roger Grace's terrific pages on lithic technology, raw material sourcing, and a wealth of other related information, is unparalleled on the Internet.
Roger Grace's terrific pages on lithic technology, raw material sourcing, and a wealth of other related information, is unparalleled on the Internet.
Stone in Archaeology
Another wonderful resource tool from ADS, the Stone in Archaeology database is a searchable reference for lithic source. The database includes data on over 200 stones, 300 quarry locations and 500 usage examples of lithics throughout England, and can be searched by texture, color, or any other attribute.
Another wonderful resource tool from ADS, the Stone in Archaeology database is a searchable reference for lithic source. The database includes data on over 200 stones, 300 quarry locations and 500 usage examples of lithics throughout England, and can be searched by texture, color, or any other attribute.
Stone Tools in Archaeology
A short list of stone tool types and definitions used by archaeologists
A short list of stone tool types and definitions used by archaeologists
The Clovis/Folsom Transition
A new paper by Tony Baker on what he believes is the transitional technology between the paleoindian projectile points of Clovis and Folsom.
A new paper by Tony Baker on what he believes is the transitional technology between the paleoindian projectile points of Clovis and Folsom.
Trivia Quiz: Obsidian
What do you know about obsidian? Try this quick quiz and find out.
What do you know about obsidian? Try this quick quiz and find out.
Understanding Flake Mechanics
From Tony Baker, a page describring how he has used some hard-core "Finite Element Analysis" to model flake creation for Folsom points.
From Tony Baker, a page describring how he has used some hard-core "Finite Element Analysis" to model flake creation for Folsom points.