Archaeological considerations of mobility have primarily focused on the differences in and among the kinds or degrees of mobility itself, rather than addressing the underlying issue of why human settlement patterns were or are mobile. The focus of this study is to address such questions within Darwinian evolutionary theory. Using the concepts of bet-hedging, as used in biology, and waste, as used in archaeology, it is argued that mobility was selectively favored for its population limiting properties. Relative changes in the numbers of projectile points in each assigned class, ordered chronologically by seriation, were taken to indicate relative population change over time. The results of this study suggest, primarily, that rapid, drastic population growth did not occur until the abandonment of mobility in the Gulf Formational period. This result supports the expectations of the hypothesis that was tested and indicates that in this instance mobility is a bet-hedging behavior.

This thesis undertakes detailed analysis of a sample of 229 small chert tools from a single locus at the Maya site of Caracol, Belize. Emphasis is placed on determining the function of these tools and on the nature of their use in the broader Caracol economic system. Analysis sought to determine whether they were used for day-to-day household tasks or for specialized craft activity within the specified household locus and/or if they were prepared for broader distribution at Caracol. By focusing detailed analysis on artifacts from a single locus, greater insight is provided into the impact of household production on the overall Caracol economy. The thesis draws on traditional techniques of lithic analysis, while assessing tool morphology and chert reduction techniques; however, it is different from previous analyses in the Maya area in that it develops and applies specific quantifiable statistical methods (e.g., Chi-square and Coefficient of Variable) for particular tool type(s) used in the production and modification of crafts. Application of quantifiable methods and a detailed level of analysis helps to differentiate and determine chert tool variation or standardization, thus establishing ideal tool types within a craft production locus. The determination of the presence of standardization and ideal tool types elucidates that craft production was indeed taking place just outside the epicenter at Caracol and therefore suggests that not only were elites controlling the distribution of crafts via markets located at and along causeway and termini, but may have controlled the production of crafts as well. Future research aims to reanalyze tools from previously excavated craft production areas and also plans to test for the presence of additional crafting areas at or near the site's epicenter. A detailed analysis of a craft production locus and small chert flake tools reveals insight into the nature of the ancient Maya economy and into models of control over resources.

Yes / Blind-testing is an important tool that should be used by all analytical fields as an approach for validating method. Several fields do this well outside of archaeological science. It is unfortunate that many applied methods do not have a strong underpinning built on, what should be considered necessary, blind-testing. Historically lithic microwear analysis has been subjected to such testing, the results of which stirred considerable debate. However, putting this aside, it is argued here that the tests have not been adequately exploited. Too much attention has been focused on basic results and the implications of those rather than using the tests as a powerful tool to improve the method. Here the tests are revisited and reviewed in a new light. This approach is used to highlight specific areas of methodological weakness that can be targeted by developmental research. It illustrates the value in having a large dataset of consistently designed blind-tests in method evaluation and suggests that fields such as lithic microwear analysis would greatly benefit from such testing. Opportunity is also taken to discuss recent developments in quantitative methods within lithic functional studies and how such techniques might integrate with current practices.

Yes / This paper introduces a special issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science that considers the current state and future directions in lithic microwear analysis. There is considerable potential for lithic microwear analysis to reconstruct past human behaviour as it can provide direct insight into past activities. Consequently, it is a technique worthy of significant additional investment and continued development. To further the cause of methodological maturation within microwear analysis and to promote standardization, calibration, and innovation, the following collection of papers present various approaches and perspectives on how greater methodological refinement and increased reliability of results can and should be achieved. Many of these papers were part of a session held at the 2011 Society for American Archaeology Meeting (SAA) in Sacramento, California, while others were selected from the 2012 International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis in Faro, Portugal. The purpose of the SAA session and this special themed issue is essentially two-fold. The first is to promote awareness of the need for methodological standardization, calibration, and continuing innovation. The second is to open a serious dialogue about how these aims could be pursued and achieved. / AAE was supported by the AHRC (AH/J007935/1). HJL was supported by L’Équipe Archéometrie at the Laboratoires d’ Archéologie, a part of the Centre Interuniversitaire d’Études sur les Lettres, les Arts et les Traditions (CELAT) at Université Laval. DAM was supported by Fondation Fyssen and the University of Toronto. WJS was supported by Faculty Development Grant from Keene State College.

Poverty Point is a monumental earthwork center dating to the Late Archaic Period (ca. 3700-3100 Cal BP). The site is well known for its diverse collection of foreign lithic materials indicative of a wide-ranging acquisition network. Among the extra-local items recovered from the site are lithic raw materials that were used for bifaces in the form of projectile points and/or knives (PP/Ks). Here, I determined the atomic and molecular composition of 847 bifaces from the Alexander Collection using Visible/Near-Infrared Reflectance (VNIR) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Reflectance (FTIR) spectroscopy. The combined wavelength spectra datasets were compared to a raw material database to determine the location of the parent formations from which the raw materials were obtained. The PP/K raw materials analyzed were sourced to outcrops stretching across the Southeast, Mid-South and Mid-West.

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Négligées ces vingt dernières années, les séries attribuées aux phases récentes de l’Aurignacien ont trop rarement bénéficié d’études modernes, tournées inexorablement vers la recherche du plus ancien Aurignacien et de ses éventuels points de contact avec les dernières sociétés néandertaliennes. De plus, les dernières synthèses et propositions de classification de l’Aurignacien sont fondées sur des données typologiques issues de séries dont l’homogénéité n’a pas toujours été critiquée. La révision taphonomique et techno-économique de séries classiques du Sud-Ouest de la France (Caminade-Est, l’abri Pataud, Roc-de-Combe, Le Flageolet I, La Ferrassie et Combemenue) nous a permis d’entrevoir et d’identifier des variations diachroniques au sein de ce techno-complexe. Sur la base notamment des productions lamellaires, sept phases ont pu être reconnues, renouvelant ainsi notre perception des premières sociétés du Paléolithique supérieur portées par l’Homme moderne. / Neglected past twenty years, the series attributed to recent phases of the Aurignacian have rarely received modern studies, touring relentlessly researching the earliest Aurignacian and its possible contact points with the last Neanderthal societies. In addition, recent proposals for classification and synthesis of the Aurignacian are based on data from typological series whose homogeneity has not always been criticized. Taphonomic and techno-economic revision of classic series from Southwestern France (Caminade-Est, l’abri Pataud, Roc-de-Combe, Le Flageolet I, La Ferrassie et Combemenue) allowed us to foresee and identify diachronic variations in this techno-complex. Based on such bladelets productions, seven phases have been recognized, renewing our perception of the first society of Upper Paleolithic made by modern humans.

This diploma thesis deals with the distribution of lithic raw materials in the Neolithic, whereas the main interest was focused on the area of Germany. The dispersion of chipped and polished stone artefacts in time and space was studied on the basis of available literature. The first part of this work presents existing knowledge about spreading specific types of lithic raw materials. The second part introduces sites from different federal states with finds of chipped and polished stone industry from which was it possible to determine the composition of lithic raw materials collections. The database is part of this work and includes catalogue of sites.