Stone Tools, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1996
Theoretical Insights into Human Prehistory
Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology Series

Lithic analysts have been criticized for being atheoretical in their approach, or at least for not contributing to building archaeological theory. This volume redresses that balance. In Stone Tools, renowned lithic analysts employ explicitly theoretical constructs to explore the archaeological record and use the lithic database to establish its points. Chapters discuss curation, design theory, replacement of stone with metal, piece refitting, and projectile point style.

I. Research Design.- 1. • Evaluating Lithic Strategies and Design Criteria.- II. Curation.- 2. • Economizing Behavior and the Concept of “Curation”.- 3. • Is Curation a Useful Heuristic?.- 4. • Hunter-Gatherer Lithic Economy and Settlement Systems: Understanding Regional Assemblage Variability in the Upper Paleolithic of Portuguese Estremadura.- III. Stone Tools and Complex Societies.- 5. • The Decline and Fall of Flint.- 6. • Lithic Analysis and Questions of Cultural Complexity: The Maya.- 7. • The Role of Chipped Stone in the Political Economy of Social Ranking.- IV. Innovation and Style in Projectile Points.- 8. • When Is an Elko?.- 9. • Projectile Points, Style, and Social Process in the Preceramic of Central Peru.- 10. • Innovation and Selection in Prehistory: A Case Study from the American Bottom.- V. Technique and Methodology.- 11. • Microwear Analysis of Some Clovis and Experimental Chipped Stone Tools.- 12. • Lithic Refitting and Archaeological Site Formation Processes: A Case Study from the Twin Ditch Site, Greene County, Illinois.- VI. Conclusion.- 13. • Some Comments on a Continuing Debate.