Abstract
AbstractStone tools occur quite frequently in sediment and soil thin sections, yet their micromorphological characteristics have not been explicitly defined in the literature. The aim of this paper is to define the criteria for the identification and description of knapped lithic artifacts composed of flint and quartzite by examining and comparing thin sections from prehistoric sites and petrographic thin sections obtained from lithic artifacts. The main characteristics that allow the micromorphologist to identify a knapped lithic artifact, besides its composition, grain size, and alteration degree, are: the tabular or platy shape; the angularity; the smooth surface; the prominent and regular boundary. Some examples taken from prehistoric sites in southern Europe show the reliability of these criteria for the recognition of stone tools in thin sections. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
