Comparing and Synthesizing Unifacial Stone Tool Reduction Indices

Abstract

Intensity of stone tool reduction has important implications for understanding hominid behavior, tool use and modification, mobility, and cognitive ability. There are a variety of reduction indices available to the lithic analyst. While each has strengths and weaknesses, different index values obtained on the same stone tools do not necessarily correlate with each other. Significantly different interpretations of an assemblage may be made depending on the analyst's choice of reduction index. In this paper we demonstrate this point by presenting different reduction indices calculated for both an experimental assemblage and a sample from the La Colombière Perigordian assemblage. Additionally, this paper presents models for combining different indices in order to better understand retouch and resharpening on unifacial stone tools. INTRODUCTION Archaeological quantification allows comparison between groups or attributes of artifacts that may otherwise be difficult to understand. Additionally, it can organize and simplify data, as well as reveal hidden patterns in the archaeological record. Although quantification of unifacial stone tool retouching and resharpening has received considerable attention over the past twenty years (e.g., Andrefsky 2006; Clarkson 2002; Davis and Shea 1998; Dibble 1995, 1998; Dibble and Pelcin 1995; Eren et al. 2005; Hiscock and Clarkson 2005; Kuhn 1990, 1992; Pelcin 1998; Shott 2005; Shott et al. 2000; see also Clarkson, Hiscock and Clarkson, Quinn et al., all this volume), there remain several unresolved issues.

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