A Preliminary Study of the Anvil-Chipping Technique: Experiments and Evaluations

Abstract

This paper presentí an experimental study of the anvil-chipping technique, a long-ignored core reduction mode, while it seems that in North America it is deemed a minor and unpractical method, French and Chinese archaeologists have worked for more than a half Century on this particular technique. After reviewing previous studies and presenting results of our replication experiments and data analysis, we suggest that, for its efßciency and effectiveness in using large-sized core nodules to produce both small and large blanks, our skillful ancestors must have mastered and employed the technique. Some suggestions for evaluating the technique with archaeological assemblages are also made.