Macro Analysis: In the Field Versus In the Lab Use Wear

Presenter Information

Erin Chenvert
Desirae Probasco

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC Ballroom B/C/D

Start Date

21-5-2015

End Date

21-5-2015

Keywords

Archaeology, Debitage, Use-Wear

Abstract

Recent efforts on the Yakima Training Center established research questions that stone tool data can address. For instance, are springs the location of diverse past human activities or do they represent a more limited activity location? The Bishop Hollow site (45KT1975) is located on the Yakima Training Center. Initial lithic analyses were performed on the material excavated at the site in the field and laboratory without the aid of magnification. An additional sample from this site was analyzed using magnification. The two samples are compared and the similarities and differences were used to assess the effects on the data that could be used to test hypotheses about past land use at springs. Results show that, in the initial analysis, two percent of objects were identified with wear while, in the subsequent analysis, five percent were identified with use wear. We have taken these results and explored the implications of such analytical biases imposed by doing lithic analysis with and without magnification. These results are relevant to those Cultural Resource Management and research settings where analysts are considering whether they should use magnification in stone tool analysis.

Poster Number

44

Faculty Mentor(s)

Patrick McCutcheon

Department/Program

Anthropology & Museum Studies

Additional Mentoring Department

Anthropology & Museum Studies

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
May 21st, 11:30 AM May 21st, 2:00 PM

Macro Analysis: In the Field Versus In the Lab Use Wear

SURC Ballroom B/C/D

Recent efforts on the Yakima Training Center established research questions that stone tool data can address. For instance, are springs the location of diverse past human activities or do they represent a more limited activity location? The Bishop Hollow site (45KT1975) is located on the Yakima Training Center. Initial lithic analyses were performed on the material excavated at the site in the field and laboratory without the aid of magnification. An additional sample from this site was analyzed using magnification. The two samples are compared and the similarities and differences were used to assess the effects on the data that could be used to test hypotheses about past land use at springs. Results show that, in the initial analysis, two percent of objects were identified with wear while, in the subsequent analysis, five percent were identified with use wear. We have taken these results and explored the implications of such analytical biases imposed by doing lithic analysis with and without magnification. These results are relevant to those Cultural Resource Management and research settings where analysts are considering whether they should use magnification in stone tool analysis.