Journal of Lithic Studies
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The hunter-gatherer site BES II (Jacaré-Guaçu River low terraces, central Sao Paulo state, Brazil): Interface with geomorphical and environmental fluctuations of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition: Interface with Geomorphic and Environmental Fluctuations of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition
Get PDFThe lithic site Boa Esperança II (BES II), in the São Paulo segment of the Brazilian Plateau, next to the boundary between the cities of Araraquara (SP) and Boa Esperança do Sul (SP), presents a collection of almost 2,000 lithic artifacts (predominantly chert and sandstone), being interpreted as a settlement of diversified functions with possibly continuous or successive occupation. In this work, we approach the site based on interface of its insertion in the regional physical-environmental context - with emphasis on the interface with relief frames, surface structure study and estimated geomorphic sequences of the alluvial plain of Jacaré-Guaçu river - and techno-typological analysis. It was verified that the BES II artifacts are distributed along vertical profiles and relief pictures lined by records that mark the transition from semi-arid conditions to others of increasing humidity, successive oscillations of base levels and modifications of fluvial regimes (ephemeral channels passing to perennial channels of different hydrological meandrings patterns), indicating that human occupation has dealt with conditions of quite distinct landscapes between the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. Local lithic industry would have taken advantage of attributes derived from these modifications in the landscape over time - in particular the exposure of gravels of large river pebbles deposited by torrential ephemeral channels. The past abundance of raw material of fluvial origin would have contributed to the location of the site in the regional geomorphological context, as well as for a lithic assemblage based on the production of large unipolar flakes. We observed in the correlations between the position of artifacts, geomorphical and pedological data, OSL and Carbone-14 dates at archaeological levels, elements that allow us to discuss considering BES II as an archaeological site to integrate the interval of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and to had interfaces with the geomorphological and environmental changes of such time. The archaeological implications of the issue and the fact that only one dating of photoluminescence has been reported from the deepest level of the site (basal gravel layer) emphasize the need for new, denser and more diversified studies
Errett H. Callahan (1937-2019): Researcher, flintknapper, and artist
Get PDFErrett Hargrove Callahan Jr. was a standout American pioneer in experimental archaeology, lithic technology, and replicative experimental studies. Errett, son of Errett Callahan, Sr. and Mary Ingraham Callahan, was born on December 17th, 1937 in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he lived until his death on May 29th, 2019. He leaves his son Tim, daughter Melody, and three grandchildren, Chris, Megan, and Ryan
Bibliography of Dr. Errett Hargrove Callahan Jr.
Get PDFThe following is a bibliography of the works of Errett H. Callahan and works about him. This is has been written to accompany the biography written by Hugo Nami (this issue)
A tanged point and two blade technologies from Rubha Port an t-Seilich, Isle of Islay, western Scotland
Get PDFWe describe a tanged point and a blade technology from Rubha Port an t-Seilich, Isle of Islay, Scotland that provides further support to a Late Pleistocene or Early Holocene presence in Scotland prior to the establishment of the narrow blade Mesolithic industry. The existing evidence for a Late Pleistocene or early Holocene presence comes from isolated finds of tanged points (Tiree, Shieldig, Brodgar), undated assemblages from disturbed contexts that are most likely Late Pleistocene in date (Howburn, Kilmefort Cave), and undated assemblages containing broad blade microliths (e.g., Glenbatrick, Morton). This article provides a summary of recent excavations and the stratigraphy at Rubha Port an t-Seilich, and a detailed analysis the lithic blade blank production at the site, which is, we believe, the first application of a chaîne opératoire based approach to a Scottish assemblage. The study includes comparisons with contemporary assemblages from north-western Europe. The significance of the Rubha Port an t-Seilich finds is threefold: (1) the relative large size of the assemblage that allows a technological analysis; (2) the finds partially derive from a stratified context below a narrow blade assemblage, associated with radiocarbon dates 9301-7750 cal. BP; and (3) further excavation can increase the sample size and potentially expose an in situ Late Pleistocene or early Holocene cultural horizon
The lithic assemblage from Lapa da Galinha (Alcanena, Portuguese Estremadura) and the “Cave Megalithism” phenomenon in the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE
Get PDFThe present work proposes to present the analysis results of the flaked stone artefacts from Lapa da Galinha, a cave necropolis, located in the Estremadura Limestone Massif, that is a classic example of the funerary practices of the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE. The excavation dates back to 1908, and it was performed by members of the current National Museum of Archaeology, resulting in an extensive votive ensemble, associated with a minimum number of 70 burials. The evident collective nature of the burials, the votive ensemble and the rituals there identified emphasise its “Cave Megalithism” character, an expression that invokes only one of the many facets of the complex phenomenon that is Megalithism. Since the Megalithic funerary structures, such as natural caves, are utilized over a long period of time, it’s not easy- but not impossible- to reclaim in full, the events that took place. Focusing on the flaked stone artefacts, the main goal of this text is to contribute to the reconstruction of the belief system that characterizes the Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities from this region. Hence, the morpho-technological criteria, that followed previously established standards, and raw material analysis of the artefactual categories, even on a macroscopic level, were absolutely essential for us to suggest an extensive diachrony of the funerary use of the natural cave With that in mind, we reflected on the importance of the transformations that occur within the material culture exposed throughout the text and their chronological meaning, but also on the true potential of this artefactual category as a tool to build a solid perspective regarding the symbolism inherent to these funeral practices
Siliceous raw material consumption during the late Upper Palaeolithic in “El Pirulejo”, South of Iberia (Priego, Córdoba)
Get PDFThis work presents the first results about the use of siliceous raw materials by the hunter-gatherer societies during the Late Glacial in the level 5 of El Pirulejo. El Pirulejo is located within the municipality of Priego de Córdoba (Córdoba, Spain).The archaeological level P/5 is classified as a Solutrean, according to the technological analysis of the lithic assemblage. The methodology used about the raw material is divided into four phases. During this first phase, we carried out a sampling analysis of local primary and secondary outcrops in the proximity of the site, over an area of 20 km from the site. We also performed a macroscopic and petrographic analysis of selected samples. In these phase, we describe the Veleta Formation, wich represents the main siliceous outcrop closest to the site. Once the local flint was characterized, it was compared to the lithic industry assemblage of level P/5, with the intention of observing the management and exploitation of local flint associated to knapping activities. As a result of the assemblage analysed so far, we have ruled out local operations on these chert samples and propose an area of exploitation of lithic resources that will exceed 20 kilometres around the site. We ruled out that the Veleta Formation provided a source of lithic supply for the hunter-gatherer societies.
Chalcolithic and Middle Bronze Age obsidian industries at Karmir Sar: A mountain view on the lithic economies of the Southern Caucasus
Get PDFThe high-altitude site of Karmir Sar is located around 2850 m a.s.l. on the southern slopes of Mt. Aragats (Armenia). Numerous stone structures (including vishaps, cromlechs, stone enclosures) are found all over the 40 ha-sized meadow, out of which three vishaps, four cromlechs and one circular stone structure have been investigated since 2012. According to 14C-dates, pottery and diagnostic lithic artefacts, human presence at Karmir Sar started as early as the Chalcolithic Period and continued (with gaps) until modern times; whereby the Middle Bronze Age (MBA) and the Medieval era represent the most intensive periods of occupation.
This contribution presents primary data on the typology and technology of 1129 chipped lithic artefacts that have been excavated in four trenches at Karmir Sar (operations KS A, KS C, KS D, and KS E). This study of the lithic industries of Karmir Sar will be embedded within the framework of lithic economy, which considers lithic artefacts as part of a comprehensive interaction between lithic production and consumption. The lithic economy includes strategies of raw material procurement, blanks production and its transformation into tools, tool use, as well as the circulation of raw materials or products. Due to multiple use episodes and a general lack of clear stratigraphical horizons, the assemblages of Karmir Sar are not suitable to define the lithic industry for specific periods (such as the Chalcolithic or MBA periods). However, the data allows for general conclusions on lithic production and consumption at Karmir Sar, which appears to be quite similar during both periods.
The Chalcolithic and MBA lithic economies at Karmir Sar are characterized by an ad hoc tool production environment, which well matches the needs of semi-mobile herder societies. The majority of raw materials appear to be procured from secondary source areas (such as riverbeds) which is indicated by a high ratio of battered and rolled surfaces. Tools are predominantly produced on-site, and according to daily demands by simple flake core technology. This allowed for a flexible, spontaneous blank and tool production without being dependent on specialized blade producers
Book review: Techno-logique & technologie: Une paléo-histoire des objets lithiques tranchants
Get PDFEl origen técnico de los objetos líticos, éste es el tema del libro de Eric Boëda: ¿de dónde vienen y hacia dónde van? (p. 224). Un cuchillo ya no es ni su función ni el gesto que lo pone en acción; un cuchillo es justamente eso que no se ve: estructura. Vale decir, eso que no se observa a simple vista. Un cuchillo es la lasca-soporte formatizada y retocada por el artesano, y más particularmente, es la lasca-soporte extraída de un núcleo, y más particularmente, el volumen específico del cual se sirvió el artesano a través de un concepto y método(s) determinado(s). Pero, también, un cuchillo, por ejemplo, es un filo cortante opuesto a un dorso; es decir, posee ciertos elementos que definen una determinada configuración volumétrica y funcional, instalada por recurrencia. De acuerdo al autor, el útil, entonces, está definido por los elementos estructurales que dan cuenta de su origen (i.e. génesis) y, esencialmente, por el lugar que ocupa en una determinada línea (lignée, p. 40) de elementos que comparten la misma lógica estructural (i.e. tecno-lógica). Esta lógica estructural está referida tanto a los modos de producción de soportes como a los modos de confección de útiles. Al interior de estas líneas técnicas, y entre ellas, tienen lugar ciertas transformaciones históricas que permiten explicar el estado estructural del objeto tal y como se nos presenta. En este sentido, anclado en el estudio de la estructura, el enfoque ontológico (p. 179) de Boëda permite aprehender al objeto en su devenir, y no por su forma actual. Al interior de cada línea, el objeto interactúa con sus pares, y es definido por ellos: un cuchillo no es tal, sino el que le ha precedido (ancestro) y el que viene después (derivado); el útil es fruto de una evolución
Middle Palaeolithic lithic tools: Techno-functional and use-wear analysis of target objects from SU 13 at the Oscurusciuto rock shelter, Southern Italy
Get PDFThe Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Puglia, southern Italy) is a Middle Palaeolithic site characterized by a significant stratigraphy made up by several anthropic levels. The stratigraphic unit 13, consisting of a sandy compact deposit mixed with pyroclastic sediment, is a short palimpsest situated on a layer of tephra, identified as Mt. Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar ~ 55 ka BP).
From a technological point of view, the aims of the production were backed flakes, convergent flakes, and other flakes obtained by means of a Levallois debitage, plus (less represented) bladelets produced by an additional volumetric reduction system.
Our aim in this research was to examine a selection of the above-mentioned target objects produced by debitage in order to understand the manufacture and life-cycle of each single tool from a dynamic perspective.
We integrated techno-functional and use-wear analyses: the first was implemented to globally comprehend each tool, identifying each single techno-functional unity (prehensile and transformative portions), whereas the second revealed the way in which these tools had been used, proceeding to identify the activity involved (e.g., piercing, cutting and/or scraping), and the type of material (vegetable/animal, soft/hard) on which these activities had been carried out.
The combined use of these two approaches allows us to ascertain the intention of the prehistoric craftsmen, the gestures and procedures involved in making the tools, and the way they had been used. From one single object we are thus able to reconstruct a series of complex behaviours, encompassing the creation, the life-cycle and finally the ‘death’ or repurposing of the tool in question
New record of lithic blades in Brazil: The Picão site, São Paulo state
Get PDFLithic blades are long and narrow flakes produced from prepared cores which form part of different technological complexes all around the world. In South America, the production and use of blades has been reported in different settings which include early hunter-gatherer occupations of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, as well as Middle and Late Holocene occupations. Until now, the only reference to blade technology in Brazil comes from the south and corresponds to Early Holocene hunter-gatherer assemblages. This paper presents a second record of lithic blades in Brazil, which includes one fragment and three refitted artifacts manufactured from fine-grained silicified sandstone recovered from a surface site (Picão), which is located in the Dourado Municipality, central São Paulo state. Analysis undertaken on the blades involved the collection of metric data, including longitudinal curvature, and the elaboration of diacritic schemes which consider the direction and order of the observed remnant scars for interpreting the chronological sequence of removals. Results indicate the production of ³70.5 mm-long, softly curved blades, with evidence of preparation of the point of impact prior to extraction from the core, as well as the presence of unidirectional, parallel scars related to blade production from a single striking platform. These reduction characteristics resemble those encountered in the nearest contexts of southern Brazil and northern Uruguay, although differences also exist. In spite of the lack of chronological data, this new record of blades in central São Paulo state calls for more research into the origins and dispersion of this technology in southeastern South America