The study of core reduction, or how little raw material was transformed into flakes which could be used for tools, is fundamental to the interpretation of most archaeological lithic assemblages. A distinction can be made in this regard between the "manner" of core reduction, or the mechanics of flake removal, and the "method" of its reduction, which focuses upon the sequence of core preparation and tool blank production. The emphasis in current lithic studies has been upon the former aspect of the core reduction process. Evidence for the method of flaking cores in prehistory has not been as widely or thoughtfully addressed and, consequently, a comprehensive theory and methodology for its study is lacking. This dissertation addresses itself to the problems of reconstructing core reduction sequences from archaeological assemblages of chipped stone. It introduces the theoretical background and associated methodology that is necessary to approach the study of the method of core reduction, without the aid of backfitting or the assumptions involved in replicative studies. This approach is based not only on the cores discarded after reduction but also on an interpretation of those features of the flakes that can inform upon their role and place in the core reduction sequence. The potential of the method is assessed through an analysis of blank production at several Middle Paleolithic sites in Northern Bosnia, Yugoslavia. Of these, the sites of Zobiste and Visoko Brdo form the basis of an interpretation of the core reduction strategies practiced in this area during the early Upper Pleistocene. This strategy is shown to be a result of the varying interaction between the nature of the raw material source, the intent of the knapper, and the principles of the lithic reduction process itself. The new data presented and the perspective achieved from the study of the core reduction sequence will be useful for future studies of the Middle Paleolithic in this area and in the comparison of these industries with other regions of the Old World.

No description available.

The prehistory of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is poorly understood and the region today is home to the Yupiit, whose traditional lifeways revolve around animals. However, the fur trade and Christianity limit the use of ethnographic data to fully understand pre-contact human-animal relationships and subsistence in particular. The discovery of the prehistoric site of Nunalleq (15th-17th c. AD), therefore provides a unique opportunity to address this issue and opens a window to explore human responses to the Little Ice Age. In this research, a zooarchaeological analysis was undertaken to investigate animal exploitation at Nunallleq, potential changes in subsistence strategies and the nature of the faunal assemblage. Results suggest that people at Nunalleq focused primarily on salmon, marine mammals and caribou with migratory waterfowl possibly playing an important role at specific times of the year. This tripartite subsistence strategy appears to have provided the inhabitants of the site with the flexibility and necessary coping mechanisms to face potential environmental-related stress during the Little Ice Age by relying more on other resources, such as seals and caribou, when experiencing a reduced availability of salmon. The choice to settle at Nunalleq may have been strategic in order to have good access to multiple key resources simultaneously and it is suggested that perhaps the possible decline in salmon may be related to prehistoric warfare in the region. It is also highlighted that bone working and dog gnawing contributed to the formation the Nunalleq faunal assemblage. This raises further questions as to the nature and meaning of arctic and subarctic archaeofaunas and highlights the importance of multiple lines of evidence to document past human-animal relationships. This study better informs our understanding of Nunalleq forming a baseline for further subsistence studies in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the scale of human migration in three prehistoric settlements in the Upper Mun River Valley (UMRV) Northeast Thailand, from c. 1700BC - AD500. Archaeological data implies migration may have had a central role in the development of agriculture and later metal technology in the region, which is suggested to show increased social complexity over this important stage in the development of states in mainland Southeast Asia. The scale of these migrations, however, are not known and based on archaeological evidence it is unclear whether there were large numbers of individuals migrating into the region in order to bring about the changes seen in the archaeological record. Two potentially complementary-methods are used to identify the extent of migration in the UMRV in this thesis. The first method, the study of dental morphological traits, is used as an indication of genotype of 78 prehistoric individuals. The second method is isotope analysis of the dental enamel of 74 individuals, used as indicators of childhood residence and diet. Strontium (Sr), Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O) isotopes are analysed. The first method reflects an individual�s genetic heritage through inherited traits, while the second method is an indication of an individual�s migration during their lifetime. Together, these methods may provide a powerful means to assess the scale of migration over an extended period of time in this region. As it has been posited that the introduction of agriculture is related to migration of people into the region, the current study hypothesises that while immigrants would be identified from outside the UMRV during all phases of occupation at the sites, this would be particularly so during the earlier phases. It is also hypothesised through analysis of the morphological traits that genetic relationships at each site could be suggested. Finally, it is also hypothesised that individuals with evidence for infectious diseases, which are otherwise rare in the region, would be immigrants. The frequencies of the dental morphological traits at each site are calculated, and a local pattern for each site developed. The results from the morphological traits suggest low levels of migration into the UMRV, and overall group homogeneity. Despite this homogeneity, it is suggested that several individuals may have been from a different genetic pool to others at the sites, reflected in a different combination of dental traits. There is also some evidence for genetic relationships between individuals, and over time, possibly indicating familial relationships at the sites. Stability in the Sr isotopes over time suggest a local signature for the UMRV. Sr isotopes did not support a hypothesis of large-scale immigration into the UMRV, as there were few isotopic outliers identified. Those individuals with clear outlier Sr results, and therefore probable immigrants, were predominately female. All phases of occupation of the UMRV attracted some long-range inward movement of people, although the data suggests long-range migration diminished over time. [delta]��C values show no significant change over time, possibly supporting the Sr data of limited migration into the region. While the interpretation of this isotope is primarily from a perspective of migration it is recognised that this may be limited to understanding variation in diet in the individuals. [delta]�⁸O values show significant change over time (p = 0.00, ANOVA), perhaps consistent with previous research which suggested increased aridity in the UMRV. An alternative explanation of the [delta]�⁸O data is that migration increased with time, with people who were differentiated by their O isotopes but not their Sr, however the increased aridity hypothesis is favoured here. The hypothesis that individuals with evidence for infectious disease would be long-range immigrants into the region is rejected. None of the individuals who had physical evidence for infectious disease had chemical data to support their being immigrants. The putative migrants to the UMRV are presented as case studies, assessing the complementarity of the methods used. It is argued that given the changes in the environment over time in the UMRV the area may have become less attractive to immigrants and as a result the communities may have become more insular. The data yielded from the two methods have demonstrated the value of using inherited dental traits together with isotopic data of individual migration for investigating human mobility in the past. Using these methods, this study shows that there were low levels of migration into the UMRV and that long-range migration was more frequent in the earliest phases of occupation in the region.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Arizona State University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Arizona State University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Southern Methodist University, 2004. / Advisers: Fred Wendorf, Lewis Binford. Includes bibliographical references.

Estudi de diferents aprofitament antròpics de la fauna del Plistocè del Nord-Est de Catalunya des d’una perspectiva tafonòmica, de determinació faunística, de processos de formació dels dipòsits òssis (ja sigui per acció d’un carnívor, processos de desarticulació natural o per acció de l’home). L’acumulació antròpica s’estudia des de l’òptica de l’anàlisi de les modificacions òssies i es determinen els següents processos: esquarterament, desarticulació, descarnació, obtenció de medul•la i grasses i fabricació d’eines (indústria òssia). La metodologia de treball s’ha elaborat a partir de l’experimentació, la comparació bibliogràfica, tant de jaciments arqueològics com etnològics. La fitxa resultant de la metodologia aplicada és analítica i estructural. L’estudi es limita als jaciments de L’Arbreda, Mollet i Cova 120 que donen una completa visió evolutiva de les tècniques de carnisseria i fabricació d’eines òssies que van des del Paleolític mitjà a finals del superior. Com a contrapunt s’han estudiat també les modificacions òssies del jaciment vil•lafranquià. D’un antiguitat de 900.000 anys d’Incarcal V. D’aquesta manera es poden contrastar els resultats dels jaciments arqueològics. Evidentment aquest jaciment paleontològic no conserva cap vestigi d’acció humana. Tot això ha portat a poder determinar els diferents processos que han contribuït a la formació dels dipòsits òssis esmentats, els diferents mètodes de carnisseria aplicats i els processos de fabricació d’eines òssies. A partir d’aquesta informació s’han pogut establir diferents tècniques i de mètode que han pogut comparar-se amb diferents períodes culturals, establint-se una clar correlació entre canvi tècnic i canvi cultural. / Estudio de los distintos aprovechamientos antrópicos de la fauna pleistocénica de la Ccatalunya N.O., desde una perspectiva tafonómica, de determinación faunística, de procesos de formación de los depósitos óseos (ya sea por acción de carnívoro, procesos de desarticulación natural o por acción del hombre). La acumulación antrópica se estudia desde la óptica del análisis de las modificaciones óseas, determinándose los siguientes procesos: despellejamiento, descuatización primaria y secundaria, desarticulación, descarnación, obtención de médula y grasas y fabricación de útiles (industria ósea). La metodología de trabajo se ha elaborado a partir de la experimentación, la comparación bibliográfica, tanto de yacimientos arqueológicos, como etnológicos. El tipo de ficha resultante de la metodología aplicada es una exhaustiva ficha analítica y estructural. El estudio se limita a los yacimientos de L’Arbreda, Mollet i i Cova 120, que nos dan una completa visión evolutiva de las técnicas de carniceria y fabricación de utillaje óseo que abarcan desde el Paleolítico Medio a finales del Superior. Como contrapunto se han estudiado tambien las modificaciones óseas del yacimiento vilafranquiense, de una antiguedad de 900.000 años de Incarcal V. De esta manera se pueden contrastar los resultados de los yacimientos arqueológicos. Evidentemente este yacimiento paleontológico no conserva, ni por asomo, ningun vestigio de acción humana. Todo ello nos ha llevado a poder determinar los distintos procesos que han contribuido a la formación de los depósitos óseos mencionados, los distintos métodos de carnicería aplicados y los procesos de fabricación de utillaje óseo. A partir de esta información hemos podido establecer diferencias técnicas y de método que han podido ser comparadas con los distintos períodos culturales, estableciéndose una clara correlación entre cambio técnico y cambio cultural.

Thesis (M.A.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Restricted until June 2001. Bibliography: leaves 154-169.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.