Abstract
A central problem for maritime archaeology has been to find survey methods that facilitate efficient and precise mapping of Stone Age sites on the seabed down to the lowest sea level (approximately 140 m) during glacial periods, as well as sites embedded in sea-floor sediments. As predictive landscape modelling has proved to be inadequate for this task, a different approach based on direct detection is required. The observation of an acoustic phenomenon associated with man-made flint debitage but not naturally cracked pieces of flint has opened a window for development of an alternative and efficient direct mapping method. This paper discusses the development of the idea, as well as experimental documentation of the principle on which it is based. It includes a preliminary analysis of how far away on each side of the transducer flint debitage emits an acoustic response, and consequently the required distance between sailing lines for a comprehensive survey to be undertaken at a specific depth.
Highlights
Introduction to flint debitage resonanceFlint knapping is a popular activity among Stone Age archaeologists, and is a good basis for a better understanding of the lithic tools they excavate, describe and analyse in their work
The promising preliminary conclusions of these laboratory analyses were that: – flint debitage knapped by humans responds acoustically when excited with an appropriate acoustic signal within the interval 3–20 kHz; – flint debitage should respond in a similar way to appropriate acoustic signals even though it is embedded in a damping sediment, and it should be possible to detect this response
The Skovshoved experiment confirmed that flint debitage responds to specific acoustic signals
Summary
Introduction to flint debitage resonanceFlint knapping is a popular activity among Stone Age archaeologists, and is a good basis for a better understanding of the lithic tools they excavate, describe and analyse in their work. HOW TO MAP SUBMERGED STONE AGE SITES USING ACOUSTICS (SOME EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS) Grøn O., Boldreel L.O., Hermand J.-P., Rasmussen H., dell’Anno A., et al How to map submerged Stone Age sites using acoustics...
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