A Functional Analysis of “Projectile Points” from Yellowjacket,Colorado

Abstract

A collection of 40 so-called projectile points from three Anasazi sites near Yellowjacket, Colorado was examined microscopically to determine (1) if evidence of non-projectile utilization could be detected; and (2) if patterns of such utilization wear correlated in any way with morphological attributes of the artifacts. Edge wear believed attributable to functions other than tipping projectiles was observed on 52.5 per cent; however, little association was noted between morphology and function as interpreted through wear patterns. The range of edge damage patterns resulting from use was less than that described in the literature. In particular, edge wear on specimens of quartzite (50 per cent of the collection) displayed little variety, making functional interpretation difficult.     

Plain Facts

Abstract

The identification of an early lithic horizon in Oklahoma is made and theories concerning its cultural affiliation, site locations, distribution, and artifact typology are described.

The common characteristics of 20 sites in central Oklahoma are listed; site location - on high ground and on tributaries rather than streams; lithic debris found mostly in eroded gullies, quartzite material and core tools predominant on most sites, finished tools found in a minority of sites; Plainview points found at 2 sites and points being generally very rare; and no pottery on any sites.

The culture is equated at the technological 11level11 of the Cochise culture of southern Arizona and New Mexico.     

Fire-Cracked Rock As Tools: Wear-Pattern Analysis

Abstract

Within the last ten years, lithic studies have focused intensively on chipped stone tool technology, particularly biface reduction procedures. Recent analysis of lithic materials from a multi-component Middle Missouri Village site (32ME7) in North Dakota revealed the necessity for intensively examining another artifact class, fire-cracked rock. A considerable quantity of fire-cracked granitic stones exhibited one or more wear patterns assumed to represent wear suggesting recycled procurement and utilization of a common resource. Supplemented by archaeological analogs and analysis of secondary attributes (i.e., archaeological context and systemic context), the wear pattern study resulted in the identification of five functional classes of fire-cracked rock tools.     

石料力学性能分析在旧石器考古学研究中的应用

石料是石器制作过程中的重要因素,石料本身的力学性能不仅与古人类的原料利用方式密切相关,还会影响到石器打制方法、器物组合、甚至石器工业面貌。长期以来,旧石器考古学界对于石料力学性能的判断多基于简单的岩石矿物硬度和结构特征,实际上岩石的力学性能涵盖的内容远远超过其硬度和结构的范畴。本文使用力学研究的方法,通过对石料的单轴抗压强度测试,了解不同原料的力学性能,并将其与遗址出土石制品进行比较研究,尝试探讨岩石本身力学性能与石制品面貌之间的关系。     

The use of “second rate” raw materials during Middle Palaeolithic. Technological and functional analysis of two sites in north-eastern Iberia

In recent years many issues arose regarding the technological and functional analysis of lithic assemblages dominated by “second rate raw materials” like vein quartz, metamorphic or volcanic rocks. Nevertheless, the technological study of this kind of assemblages and their consequent interpretation seems to be still based on the techno-typological criteria elaborated for flint artefacts, thus leading to the common inference that these lithic assemblages are archaic and mainly linked to opportunistic production systems. Pedra Dreta and Can Garriga, located in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, present two small lithic assemblages dominated by local raw materials (vein quartz, quartzite, porphyry, syenite, etc.) and by opportunistic reduction sequences but with the presence of Levallois and discoid châine operatoires. The technological analysis is aimed to answer two main issues that emerged during the study and that can contribute to the study of non-flint lithic assemblages: 1. Which criteria should we adopt to distinguish between discoid and recurrent centripetal Levallois products? 2. Is it possible that the Levallois products are the result rather of the opportunistic and expedient reduction sequences that are dominant in these assemblages than of a real use of the Levallois method? A use-wear analysis has also been conducted for the first time on Pedra Dreta and Can Garriga lithic assemblages. The peculiarities of the lithic raw materials employed made necessary the adoption of specific methodologies and the realization of a particular procedure for the analysis of porphyry's tools.     

生物磁谱分析技术在OA患者关节液磨屑颗粒评估中的初步应用

目的:随着人群的老龄化,骨关节炎(osteoarthritis,OA)已成为老年人最常见的疾病之一,严重影响老年人生活质量。而OA传统的诊断方法敏感性差,往往在确诊时,疾病已经发展到了晚期。本研究拟运用生物磁谱分析技术(bio-ferrography)来初步分析研究OA患者关节液中磨屑颗粒的参数,进而为OA的早期诊断提供依据。方法:选取符合纳入标准的2017年9月至2017年12月我科住院收治的OA患者。采集患者关节液后,运用bio-ferrography技术分离、收集关节液中的软骨磨屑颗粒和骨性磨屑颗粒,进一步通过扫描电镜(scanning electron microscope,SEM)观测磨屑颗粒的外形、数量和大小等参数。结果:随着患者OA等级的进展,软骨颗粒和骨性颗粒的数量均在增加,磨屑颗粒外形变得越来越锐利和不规则。在Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L)1级OA患者的关节液中,无骨性颗粒的存在,在K-L 1～3级OA患者的关节液中,软骨颗粒数量显著多于骨性颗粒。结论:我们初步探讨了通过bio-ferrography技术观测OA患者关节液中的磨屑颗粒,并评估了不同K-L分级OA患者关节液中磨屑颗粒的统计学特点,为今后建立以bio-ferrography技术为基础的OA早期诊断标准奠定了基础。     

The TD6 level lithic industry from Gran Dolina, Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain): production and use.

Technological analysis of lithic artefacts recovered at the Aurora stratum of Atapuerca-TD6 shows that this Lower Pleistocene assemblage is similar to Mode I Technology (=Oldowan tradition) documented at many African sites. Diachronic comparison of the different levels of Gran Dolina allows us to conclude that this particular form of early European technology lacks the production of big flakes to manufacture large tools such as bifaces and cleavers. Rather, it is characterized by the presence of small artefacts, including flakes, denticulates, notches, and side-scrapers, many of which bear use-wear traces of butchery and woodworking. The dominant production technique is orthogonal, which is also reflected in the core recovered at the slightly older level of TD4. The raw materials also found in the Middle Pleistocene occupations at Atapuerca, though with significant proportion differences, have a local origin and include varieties of flint, quartzite and sandstone as well as limestone and quartz. TD6 small artefacts were made from most of these, although the retouched pieces seem to have been preferentially made of the best quality flint, i.e., Cretaceous flint, pointing to the existence of differential use of lithic material, and therefore, some degree of planned knapping behaviour. Most of the "cha?nes opératoires" or reduction sequences took place inside the cave, although some artefacts, elaborated on Cretaceous flint, seem to have been retouched off site, possibly near the supply sources.     

Specialized wear facets and late ontogeny in mammalian dentitions

Abstract

Many types of wear facets can be found in mammalian teeth. Some are related to the initial surface, others use the cross-section of the enamel as the main tool. In primary occlusal surfaces facets mark the gradual wear, that are related to a relatively late ontogeny. Facets in teeth with secondary occlusal surfaces, however, represent specific arrangements of crests of enamel and dentine. Such facets require some initial wear to become fully functional. The tooth morphology guarantees such facets to be effective for a long period of time. Therefore they can be discriminated as specialized facets. From the different types of facets three specialized ones were selected, blade facets, rasp-facets, and nipper-facets, because they ate widely distributed, function differently, and are comparable with mechanical tools. They are long lasting and differ in the amount of exposed dentine. The amount of dentine is used to differentiate phases during late ontogeny, the part of the life history, when teeth are exposed to wear. Consequently the various types of facets can be related to different ontogenetic phases. The relevant phases are prolonged at the cost of other ontogenetic phases. Therefore, the various specialized wear facets represent heterochronies within the ontogeny of teeth.     

Bone “Awls” and Utilized Antler Tines From Arnold Research Cave, 23Cy64, Missouri

Abstract

Bone awls and utilized antler tines from Arnold Research Cave in central Missouri were microscopically examined to determine the type, location, and orientation of wear on them. It is assumed that similar wear patterns indicate similar use and, conversely, dissimilar wear patterns indicate divergent use. The awls were first divided into morphological types as proposed by Kidder (1932). The wear patterns on the awls were then compared both on members within a single morphological type and on members in different morphological types. It is concluded: (1) awls within a single morphological type may exhibit evidence of divergent use, and (2) members of different morphological types may exhibit evidence of similar use. Since the antler tines are morphologically similar, they are classified on the basis of wear patterns. Four different patterns of striations and the presence of abrasion on the distal end indicates there are five classes of antler tine tools in the sample     

An Analysis of Waste Flakes from Sites in the Upper Knife-Heart Region,North Dakota

Abstract

An analysis of lithic debitage from seven archaeological sites was undertaken with the assumption that itcould provide insights into the technological and behavioral background of the craftsman. The analysis describes lithic debitage in terms of six categories. The sites are grouped into two phases: the Heart River phase (about A.D. 1675-1780) and the Knife River phase (about A.D. 1780-1845). The use of Chi-Square and Difference of Means statistics indicates that the present categorization of archaeological units (phases), based on ceramic analysis, is substantiated by an analysis of lithic debitage. Differences between the phases are related to the increasing loss of native material culture after White contact.     

Quantifying Oldowan Stone Tool Production at Olduvai Gorge,Tanzania

Recent research suggests that variation exists among and between Oldowan stone tool assemblages. Oldowan variation might represent differential constraints on raw materials used to produce these stone implements. Alternatively, variation among Oldowan assemblages could represent different methods that Oldowan producing hominins utilized to produce these lithic implements. Identifying differential patterns of stone tool production within the Oldowan has implications for assessing how stone tool technology evolved, how traditions of lithic production might have been culturally transmitted, and for defining the timing and scope of these evolutionary events. At present there is no null model to predict what morphological variation in the Oldowan should look like. Without such a model, quantifying whether Oldowan assemblages vary due to raw material constraints or whether they vary due to differences in production technique is not possible. This research establishes a null model for Oldowan lithic artifact morphological variation. To establish these expectations this research 1) models the expected range of variation through large scale reduction experiments, 2) develops an algorithm to categorize archaeological flakes based on how they are produced, and 3) statistically assesses the methods of production behavior used by Oldowan producing hominins at the site of DK from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania via the experimental model. Results indicate that a subset of quartzite flakes deviate from the null expectations in a manner that demonstrates efficiency in flake manufacture, while some basalt flakes deviate from null expectations in a manner that demonstrates inefficiency in flake manufacture. The simultaneous presence of efficiency in stone tool production for one raw material (quartzite) and inefficiency in stone tool production for another raw material (basalt) suggests that Oldowan producing hominins at DK were able to mediate the economic costs associated with stone tool procurement by utilizing high-cost materials more efficiently than is expected and low-cost materials in an inefficient manner.     

Les silex et autres matières premières comme preuves de contacts entre les groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs pendant le Paléolithique supérieur de la région cantabrique (nord de l’Espagne) : synthèse de l’information disponible

Flint was the most widely used lithic raw material in Europe in Prehistory and, more specifically, was a fundamental resource in the economic and social networks of hunter-gatherer groups in the Cantabrian Spain during the Upper Palaeolithic. The undeniable preference for it compared with other resources was due to a series of factors, such as its easy availability because of its abundance and wide distribution of outcrops, and its excellent qualities for knapping. This summary of the available information about flint and other raw materials used by hunter-gatherers is framed in the context of Upper Palaeolithic occupations in Cantabrian Spain. First, it presents the studies focusing on the provenance of the different types of flint that are found in those occupations; their quantitative representation at each of the sites; their preference, if that is the case, over other raw materials; and the model of their diffusion across the territory. Then other resources are considered, such as quartzite, ochre and different metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks, as well as some materials of biological origin, such as amber, jet/lignite and fossils of animal origin. However, the information available about the use of the latter raw materials in Cantabrian Spain during the Upper Palaeolithic is quite limited and studies of their characterisation are very recent.     

宁夏青铜峡鸽子山第15地点发掘报告

宁夏鸽子山遗址位于贺兰山西南余脉东侧的山前洪冲积扇前缘。2015年对第15地点的发掘面积约16m²。在约3m深的地层中共揭露3个原生文化层位。光释光测年数据显示第2层至第4层的时代跨度为0.12-12.3 ka,出土石制品共155件。其中第3层石制品最为丰富,共142件,石制品原料以石英岩和灰岩为主,类型主要有石片、石核和断块。石制品的基本信息显示该地区人类活动频度可能与环境变化与沙漠进退有紧密联系。     

An Analaysis Of Obsidian Debit Age And Protohistoric Exchange Systems In The Southern Plains As Viewed From The Edwards I Site (34BK2)

Abstract

Obsidian is the third most abundant lithic material in the protohistoric assemblage from the Edwards I (34Bk2)site in southwest Oklahoma. Chemical analysis of this material has identified the Jemez Mountains in northern New Mexico and the San Francisco Mountains in northern Arizona as the primary and secondary sources, respectivel.

These materials as well as various pottery types and other goods were probably obtained through the pueblos o Pecos and Picuris. Because more specific information concerning this protohistoric exchange system may be linke with specific obsidian source localities in the Jemez Mountains, some of the more important elements for charac erizing this source system are presented. Iron (Fe), cerium (Ce), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), yttrium (Y). an possibly rubidium (Rb) may be the most useful for defining specific source localities in this system. Rather the using absolute concentrations to define these localities, we advocate the use of ratios. In addition, future studies of the Jemez Mountains obsidian sources must utilize a regional approach to better characterize the different localities.     

陕西汉中洋县金水河口旧石器遗址出土石制品研究

位于汉水左岸一级支流金水河第四级阶地的金水河口遗址是汉水流域发现较早的一处旧石器遗址。2014年6月~2015年2月,为了配合国家重点建设工程——南水北调西线“引汉济渭”项目的实施,我们对金水流域金水镇附近的3个旧石器遗址进行了正式发掘,金水河口遗址即为其中之一。该遗址发掘面积370m²,出土不同类型石制品1210件。研究显示在金水河口遗址生活的古人类主要选取附近河滩砾石为原料进行剥片及工具加工。石制品的岩性以石英和石英岩为主,硅质灰岩次之,并少量使用了石英砂岩和花岗岩原料。古人类主要使用锤击法剥片。遗址中石核的利用效率较低,近半数石片有直接使用的痕迹。加工工具的毛坯以石片为主。工具类型除了刮削器、凹缺器、石锥等小型工具之外,还有砍砸器、手镐、重型刮削器等重型工具。遗址中碎屑数量很少。石制品组合以刮削器等小型工具为主,也包含少量重型工具。相较于汉中盆地已发现的遗址,金水河口遗址的文化面貌与洛南盆地中更新世的龙牙洞遗址更相似,但是重型工具的比例更高。由于遗址堆积物已超出了钾长石红外后释光测年法（post-IR IRSL）的测年范畴,目前只能给出遗址的埋藏时间下限,即埋藏石制品地层的年代不晚于150 ka。作为汉中盆地有明确测年的中更新世晚期遗址,金水河口遗址为我们系统了解汉江支流金水河流域和秦岭地区的石器工业特点、遗址地层堆积及年代等提供了新的、丰富的材料。     

Integrated sedimentological,ichnological and sequence stratigraphical studies of the Koti Dhaman Formation (Tal Group), Nigali Dhar Syncline,Lesser Himalaya,India: paleoenvironmental,paleoecological, paleogeographic significance

Abstract

Integrated ichnology, sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Quartzite Member to the Arkosic Sandstone Member of the Koti Dhaman Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4), Tal Group, Nigali Dhar Syncline, Lesser Himalayan lithotectonic zone are presented. Trilobite traces of Gondwanan affinity i.e., Cruziana salomonis, Cruziana fasciculata, Rusophycus dispar and Rusophycus burjensis are recorded along with Arenicolites isp. and Skolithos isp. from the Lower Quartzite Member. A rich and diverse ichnoassemblage attributed to the Cruziana ichnofacies is described for the first time from the Arkosic Sandstone Member of the same formation. Seven ichnofossil assemblages, i.e., Cruziana-Rusophycus, Planolites-Palaeophycus, Cruziana problematica, Diplichnites, Cochlichnus anguineus, Bergaueria perata and Psammichnites gigas have been recognized in the Lower Quartzite to Arkosic Sandstone members of the Koti Dhaman Formation. Seven sedimentary facies i.e., sandstone–shale facies (FT1), cross-bedded (trough and planar) sandstone (FT2), bedded sandstone facies (FT3), shale facies (FT4), shale–sandstone facies (FT5), shale-rippled sandstone facies (FT6) and planar and trough cross-laminated sandstone (FT7) and four facies associations FA1-FA4 are identified in the Koti Dhaman Formation. The formation contains shallowing upward parasequences of a tidal flat complex. Overall, two major events are recognized: i) the break in sedimentation between the Lower Quartzite Member and the overlying Shale Member probably related to forced-regressive event and ii) the facies shift from FT6 to FT7 of the Arkosic Sandstone Member represents an erosive transgressive event; the surface is interpreted as wave ravinement surface, which also serves as a sequence boundary. Integrated ichnology, sedimentology and sequence stratigraphic studies indicate that the Lower Quartzite Member was deposited in a shallow subtidal sand sheet complex and tidal flat complex; the Shale Member was deposited in a mud flat setting of a tidal flat complex, and the Arkosic Sandstone Member in a mixed-flat (tidal flat complex) to sand sheet complex front and margin (subtidal sand sheet complex). Overall, the lower to middle part of the Koti Dhaman Formation represents a tide-dominated shallow subtidal–intertidal to mud-flat subenvironments of the tidal flat complex. A palaeogeographic reconstruction of lower Cambrian (516–514?Ma) is presented based on the distribution of trilobite traces from the Lesser Himalaya and the Bikaner–Nagaur area of Peninsular India (eastern Gondwana), Egypt, Jordan, Turkey (western Gondwana) and Canada (Avalonia).     

Wear of cross-linked polyethylene against itself: a material suitable for surface replacement of the finger joint

Cross-linking of polyethylene (XLPE) has dramatically improved its properties in industrial applications, and it may also have some application in the field of human joint replacement. Additionally it has the advantage of permitting a lower molecular weight base material to be used, so that components may be injection moulded rather than machined. This study therefore investigates the wear resistance of medical grade cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), cross-linked by a silane-grafting process, with a molecular weight between cross links of 5430 g mol⁻¹. This first report investigates the wear resistance of XLPE against itself, because for certain joints, such as the metacarpo-phalangeal joint, the material may have a high enough wear resistance to allow both bearing surfaces to be made from it. Tests were carried out both on a reciprocating pin and plate machine with pins loaded at 10 and 40 N and also on a new finger joint simulator, which simulates the loads applied to, and the movements of, the metacarpo-phalangeal joint. An average wear rate of 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ was found (range 0.9–2.75 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹). This is about six times greater than the wear rate of non-cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) against stainless steel, but for applications with low loading, such as the metacarpo-phalangeal joint, this material is shown to have adequate wear resistance. The coefficient of friction was 0.1, which is similar to that of UHMWPE on stainless steel.     

La gestion du quartz au Pléistocène moyen et supérieur. Trois exemples d’Europe Méridionale

Quartz is one of the main lithic resources employed along the Pleistocene for the manufacturing of tools. The abundance in all kind of environments leads to its frequent presence in archaeological sites. In spite of its suitability for knapping, the scarcity of specific researches on quartz industries has led to a view of this raw material as a second-rate resource, only used when flint was not available in the surroundings. Quite in opposition to this prejudice, the familiarity with the petrological and mechanical properties of the different varieties of quartz has led the Middle/Upper Pleistocene groups to a rational and differential exploitation of the available resources. There is a distinct selection of the varieties attending to the purposes of the exploitation and configuration. The patterns of exploitation of the cores are very standardized, based on longitudinal extractions and documenting the bipolar flaking technique. Moreover, when the raw material is of good quality, more sophisticated reduction methods such as the discoidal or the Levallois may be employed. On the other hand, for the purposes of configuration a clearly differential management of the raw material is attested: thus quartz is used for the small products (denticulates, side-scrapers, notches), while other stones (quartzite, porphyry and others) are devoted to the manufacturing of those tools demanding a more complex control of the elaboration (bifaces, cleavers, etc.). Either acting as the main lithic resource or as a complement to other raw materials, we can observe through the technological analysis of these lithic collections the great conceptual complexity depending on the needs to be fulfilled. Raw material quality allowing, the state-of-the-art technology of knapping can be applied to the quartz and, therefore, we should not understand its use as a consequence of environmental constrictions but rather as a result of the variability of the procurement strategies and management of lithic resources among the prehistoric communities.     

Les premiers comportements funéraires auraient-ils pris place à Atapuerca, il y a 350 000 ans ?

A lithic tool has appeared for the first time at Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca, Spain). It is a finely flaked quartzite handaxe, which is associated with the hominid assemblage of a MNI of 27 Homo heidelbergensis, dated more than 350,000 years ago. The particular nature of the deposit involving its taphonomy, paleontology, and technology points to a symbolic meaning both of the tool and the human accumulation.     

Lithic Resource Utilization Patterns in the Middle Missouri Subarea

Abstract

Some years ago Donald Lehmer (1954) suggested, on the basis of data from sites near the Oahe Dam, that Middle Missouri Tradition and Coalescent Tradition populations practiced distinctly different lithic resource exploitation patterns. This study attempts to evaluate and expand upon Lehmer’s observations using data from four archaeological sites near Mobridge, South Dakota. An underlying premise is that studies of lithic resource exploitation must be grounded in a firm understanding of the geologic and geographic parameters of the natural resource base. Toward this end, field reconnaissanceand geologic information are used to define 12 stone types which occur in high frequency in the chipped stone artifact assemblages and which have reasonably well defined natural source locations and conditions. Comparisons of the four site assemblages according to the frequency of occurrence of these stone types supports Lehmer’s observations, and illustratescontrastive patterns of resource exploitation associated with the two cultural traditions. Coalescent populations relied heavily on several stone types occurring naturally in the Big Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, while Middle Missouri populations generally ignored these sources and relied heavily on Knife River Flint as a major lithic resource. These contrastive exploitation patterns appear to have remained relatively constant through time and across considerable space.