The Pre‐European Utilisation of Lithic Resources in Aotearoa New Zealand

Bornholm i ældre stenalder – Status over kulturel udvikling og kontakter

Māori discovered and used a range of obsidian sources throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Temporal patterns in the economic use of obsidian are investigated with geochemical data, a technological analysis, and use-wear analysis of obsidian artifacts. We examined 11 metrics related to geologic source, flake size, fragmentation ratio, and use-wear on assemblages of artifacts over 20 mm in size from seven North Island assemblages dating to the Early/Middle (AD 1250–1600) and Late (post-AD 1600) periods. Sites are in three locations, Ahuahu Great Mercury Island, Pouerua, and Kohikia. We begin by examining change over time from the Early/Middle to Late Period in a single location—Ahuahu Great Mercury Island—then consider Late Period geographic variation in obsidian economization across all three locations. The technical analysis results, including the size of artifacts and fragmentation ratios of assemblages, support the proposal that obsidian was used more economically later in time. Use-wear metrics generally indicate greater economization of material in the Early/Middle Period. While reuse of artifacts and post-depositional damage are compounding underdetermined factors, the analysis documents a shift in the type of economization of obsidian in Aotearoa New Zealand from conservation focused on the maximization of use (Early/Middle) to the maximization of the number of artifacts (Late). We speculate that this may be due to population increase resulting in a larger number of people to provision with obsidian, and decreased direct access to raw material.

For virtually all of the prehistoric period the lithic industry on Long bland and the mainland coast around Long Island Sound was focused primarily on the use of quartz cobbles that are ubiquitous on the region's beaches. However, recent research at the McGregor site on eastern Long Island suggests that small quarries or workshops at isolated glacial erratics also served as an important source of lithic material. Stations such as McGregor provided needed lithic material for manufacturing expedient tools when people were engaged in activities such as hunting and collecting plant foods away from the coastal areas, and thus did not have ready access to quartz cobbles. The identification of the McGregor site broadens our understanding of the range of lithic technology and raw material usage in coastal New York.

This paper presents the results of a study of the composition of lithic raw materials from the contexts of archaeological sites of hunter-gatherers of Central Chile (latitudes 33° to 34.5° S) between 5000 to 1000 years BP. This territory is characterized by a wide distribution of certain coarse and medium-grained lithic raw materials (andesite, basalt and granite), preferably used in low formatted tools, and the specific location of those of fine grain (obsidian and siliceous rocks), suitable for bifacial reduction, only in some localities. In this analysis, 22 sites have been included, each of which presents different proportions of these raw materials in their context, a set that, when analysed in terms of the diversity of each case, generated clear spatial groupings which were ratified by means of a principle component analysis. These groupings of sites are located in direct association with the lithic landscape of different localities within the region, although we propose that the simple cost-benefit explanation would not account for their formation. According to the authors, these groups would be marked by behaviours that can only result from social restrictions on access to certain sources of these raw materials, especially considering that the distances between their location and the position of the different sources in several cases is not too large to be considered a factor in itself. These restrictions could be interpreted as the existence of socially different groups within the study area, a question that is compared with ethnographic data currently available on the size of the territories of different groups of hunter-gatherers and their annual mobility ranges.

This study investigates the lithic industry at the Mesolithic shell midden site of El Mazo (Andrín, Asturias), on the Asturian coastline in Northern Iberia, focusing on resource management, production strategies, and mobility patterns of the last hunter-gatherer-fishers. El Mazo provides a unique opportunity to examine lithic resource use across the Early-Middle Holocene transition, with a particular emphasis on the dynamic of the 8.2 ka climate event. Raw material analysis reveals that most lithic resources originated locally (< 30 km), although some were transported from distances exceeding 250 km, indicating extensive mobility and exchange networks. Technological trends (bladelet production) and typological changes in microliths (backed points and geometric forms) across the extensive stratigraphy connect this sequence to broader Mesolithic developments in both Iberian and European contexts. The occurrence of trapezoids and microburins at the base of the stratigraphic sequence links this assemblage to the European Second Mesolithic and the Iberian Geometric Mesolithic. The 8.2 ka event stands out as a pivotal period marked by increased mobility and intensified long-distance contacts, influencing both raw material procurement and armature typology. However, post-8000 cal BP stratigraphic units indicate a narrowing of lithic resource acquisition ranges, alongside the introduction of new geometric forms such as triangles and a novel retouch technique (“double bevel”). This highlights diachronic changes around 8000 cal BP that align with broader Iberian trends. These findings challenge traditional conceptions of the Asturian culture as isolated; instead revealing complex adaptive strategies, dynamic territorial organization, and extensive connectivity among Mesolithic groups in northern Iberia.

Un exemple de gestion des géo-ressources au Paléolithique supérieur en moyenne montagne : le Badegoulien de la grotte du Rond-du-Barry (Sinzelles, Polignac, Haute-Loire)

Fil: Sario, Gisela Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Antropologia de Cordoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Filosofia y Humanidades. Museo de Antropologia; Argentina

The applicability of employing an organization of technology framework to the analysis of prehistoric lithic procurement strategies is demonstrated here. Analysis reveals that a spatial separation is present in the distribution of lithic raw materials used by Late Paleoindian populations in western Wisconsin. This raises the possibility that lithic raw material functioned as a stylistic indicator of group membership. To evaluate this suggestion microstylistic traits present on a large sample of diagnostic Late Paleoindian projectile points were examined. Significant differences in stylistic traits were observed between sample areas. Furthermore, these differences correspond to spatial differences in raw material use. The correlation between lithic raw material use and microstylistic traits is consistent with the idea that lithic raw material serves as a stylistic marker of group membership, and indicates the presence of some form of social boundary within western Wisconsin during the Late Paleo in...

The landscape of northern Malawi is defined by several river catchments that drain from the highlands in the west into Lake Malawi in the east. Many thousands of Middle Stone Age (MSA) artefacts are present on the surface, in particular, in areas where sedimentary units assigned to the Chitimwe Beds are exposed. The unique configuration of the region and its exposures makes it possible to address landscape-scale questions about MSA behaviour that augment information derived from excavated assemblages. In this study, data are derived from initial results of surveys conducted in 2012 which focussed on how lithic raw materials (in the form of cobbles) and core technology (in the form of mapped and analysed cores) are distributed across the landscape relative to different landforms, geologies and one another. These data are used to examine if differences in core reduction technology occur in different catchment areas with different raw material quantities and qualities, and to test hypotheses about lithic provisioning scenarios. This allows for examination of core reduction technologies in relation to raw material sources via surface finds, on a larger regional scale than is usually possible from excavations. Different catchments show differences in the type and quality of the raw material, with higher-quality quartzites occurring in the North Rukuru catchment and declining to the south. This is reflected in the types of materials that MSA people chose to use for the production of stone tools. However, differences in raw material selection and distance from cobbles did not influence preferred core reduction strategies, and most cores cluster together near cobble sources. This suggests that throughout the MSA in the study area, core reduction strategies were highly conserved even while raw material use remained flexible, and cores were not regularly transported as part of a provisioning strategy.

On the territory Transcarpathian Ukraine, about 100 Palaeolithic localities are known up to our days. Most of them are surface finds. In spite of the rich archaeological heritage, the elaboration of the material, especially its petroarchaeological evaluation supported by professional scientific analytical methods, is in the initial phase as yet. The aim of the present study is to supply information on the lithic raw materials of the Palaeolithic settlements in Transcarpathian Ukraine, the detailed survey and description of the primary raw materials, their identification, description and terminology, as well as the outlining of the local raw material provinces and study of the distribution of the raw materials on archaeological sites. In the archaeological literature of Transcarpathian Ukraine, lithic raw materials are still described under incorrect petrographical terms. For example, for the raw material of Korolevo Palaeolithic site is, correctly speaking, hyaline dacite, and the “flints” of Beregovo region are indeed rocks of volcanic origin which have undergone metasomatic processes. Field survey for collecting geological samples localized 19 different raw material sources all of which yielded hard rocks with conchoidal fracture that are suitable for tool making with knapping. Out of the 19 raw material types 11 were actually found in archaeological assemblages of the studied area. The most popular raw materials of Transcarpathian Ukraine are the Korolevo hyaline dacite, Rokosovo obsidian, (Carpathian 3 type) and siliceous rhyolite tuff varieties (type I and II), siliceous tuffite (type I and II), siliceous and opalised rhyolite (type I and II) from the Beregovo Hills area, as well as silicified sandstone (type II) and the siliceous argillite. Certain types of potential raw materials were found in archaeological assemblages as yet. These are the Kriva limno-chalcedonite and limnoopalite, radiolarite of Svalyava type I, II and III, the siliceous limestone of Svalyava and Priborzhavske, and the hornfels of Suskovo. The paper also points out patterns in lithic raw material circulation in the prehistoric period of Transcarpathia. In the Palaeolithic, the settlement system and location of sites was largely dependent on the lithic sources. Altogether 9 types of rocks played important role: Korolevo hyaline dacite, the Carpathian 3 type obsidian from Rokosovo, 6 types of metasomatites of Beregovo Hills, and the silicified sandstone (type II). Upper Palaeolithic communities settled close to the outcrops of primary and secondary geological positions and this phenomenon is observable at each important Palaeolithic settlement. On the basis of the principal raw material circulation of the Palaeolithic three territorial groups have been formulated. These are named after the most abundant and used rock types of the given region. Three raw material regions are recognized in Transcarpathia: volcanic, metasomatic, and sedimentary. Furthermore, sub-regions were also established in the volcanic region (Rokosovo-Maliy Rakovets and Korolevo-Veryatsa sub-regions) and in the metasomatic region (Beregovo, Muzhiyevo and Bene- Kvasovo sub-regions).

Introduction: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most common arrhythmia causing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) and electrical defibrillation remains the mainstay of its treatment. Successful defibrillation is linked to VF morphology characteristics, and is affected by VF duration, quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency medical service (EMS) responsiveness. This study aimed at comparing VF morphology characteristics between two study periods in an Asian community. Method: Electrocardiographic recordings of VF signals from automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were obtained from OOHCA subjects in Taipei city, a metropolitan with 2.65 million residents in 272km 2 . Root-mean-squared (RMS) amplitude, mean amplitude, amplitude spectrum analysis (AMSA), frequency analysis, and fractal measurements including scaling exponent (SE) and DFA were calculated and compared between early (2000-2001) vs. late (2006-2007) periods. Results: A total of 137 OOHCA subjects with VF, 61 in early and 76 in late period, were included for analysis. For patients converted to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) at 10 seconds after the first shock, DFAα2 was significantly lower in the late period (0.29±0.17 vs. 0.44±0.27, p=0.047). Similarly, for those converted to nonVF at 30 seconds after the first shock, the DFAα2 was lower in the late period (0.37±0.21 vs. 0.50±0.27, p=0.012). Differences in late vs. early period were not observed among any other parameters studied. Conclusions: DFAα2, but not AMSA or other VF waveform characteristics, decreased over time. This might reflect changes in EMS responses and community quality of CPR in different study time periods.

The selection of raw materials for ancient pottery production was influenced by a variety of technological and cultural factors, underscoring the importance of characterising these materials to understand the technology of ancient societies. This research examines ancient ceramics from two multi-period archaeological sites: Staro Čiče-Gradišće (Neolithic, Copper Age, Copper/Early Bronze Age, Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Roman period, and Late Mediaeval period) and Kurilovec-Belinščica (Early Bronze Age and Middle/Late Bronze Age), alongside potential clayey raw materials collected near these settlements. Using a multi-analytical approach (optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, mass and emission spectrometry, and laser granulometry), the research aims to determine the characteristics of the paste recipes (raw clay and tempers) and to examine the type and provenience of the raw materials used for ancient pottery production over different periods of the past (from the Neolithic to the Late Mediaeval period). The results showed that ancient potters preferred to use moderately plastic, sandy clay, while Bronze Age potters often used highly plastic clay. Potters utilised various non-plastic tempering materials, such as sands and gravels, grog, and mollusc shells, with their choice being influenced by the need to enhance technological properties as well as by regional and culturally determined pottery traditions. Most of the ceramics are of local origin, made from easily available raw materials that represent flood sediments of the nearby Sava River. However, non-local materials were detected in Neolithic samples, indicating the presence of exchange networks among those communities.

ABSTRACTRaw materials are used to characterise the early settlement of Aotearoa Te Wai Pounamu New Zealand by Māori. Current models suggest change in raw material use over time occurred in response to changing social organisation and reduced resource availability. However, few studies have examined spatial variation in raw material use. Here we examine four basalt artefact assemblages from Ahuahu Great Mercury Island to examine potential spatial variation and test the assumption of a lack of material economising in the earliest occupation. We explore this through the concept of adze recycling. Results suggest conservative use of basalt from the earliest occupation on Ahuahu through the recycling of adzes, with differences in resource use among adjacent locations. We suggest basalt use may have involved the bulk procurement of stone resources, provisioning of place and the recycling of material.

Archaeological investigations at the site of Marco Gonzalez on Ambergris Caye, Belize have revealed a long continuous occupation sequence extendingfrom at least the Late Preclassic into the Late Postclassic periods. This location, so rich in many marine-based resources and well placed to serve as a trading seaport, was completely lacking in suitable lithic raw material for chipped stone tool manufacture. Consequently, the Marco Gonzalez Maya developed complex strategies for the curation ofthe limited chert and chalcedony tools importedfrom the mainland. The inhabitants ofthis site focused on maintaining reusing and recycling the formal stone tools to reduce the rate oflithic raw material consumption and extend tool use-lives. They relied on the informal component ofthe assemblage for the further completion oftasks on the caye. To reconstruct the specific patterns of stone tool procurement and use at Marco Gonzalez, the lithic assemblage was examined in terms of tool typology, raw material types, reduction strategies, and tool functions based on microwear analysis.

Lithic resource management in mountain environments: The Andean sector of Tierra Del Fuego