Understanding Chipped Stone Tools

Brian Hayden is an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University. He has spent the past thirty years excavating at a large housepit village in the Interior of British Columbia, and has had a longstanding interest in understanding what artifacts can tell us about the societies and cultures that left them behind in the archaeological record.

• 1 - Perspectives on LithicsPerspectives: Old, New, and From the Bottom UpWhat Do You Want To Find Out?Experiential and Experimental ArchaeologyMy BackgroundOrganization of This BookExerciseAdditional Readings 2 - Design TheorySteps in Design AnalysisDesign Theory in PracticeConstraintsThe Importance of QuantityPrestige TechnologiesExerciseAdditional Readings 3 - Design Theory as Applied to Lithic AnalysisEnd Scrapers: A Specially Designed Tool TypeThe ProblemStep 1: Dehairing and Removing the EpidermisStep 2: DefleshingStep 3: Removing the Inner MembraneStep 4: Stretching and Working the HideStep 5: Abrading the HideDesign Lessons from Making BuckskinDeconstructing End Scrapers: The Design FactorsMaterial ConstraintsTask ConstraintsSize and Kinematic ConstraintsSkill ConstraintsTechnological ConstraintsQuantitySize MattersDesigning Hide-Scraping ToolsBlades and Reduction StrategiesDiscussionExerciseAdditional Readings 4 - Tier 1: Analyzing Stone ToolsExpedient, Extemporaneous, and Opportunistic Tool Use The Nuts and Bolts of Analyzing Stone Tools: Tools and DebitageAn Artifact or Not an Artifact?Flake Tools: The Six Sides of a FlakeTypes of Edge ModificationOther Sources of Edge ModificationUnmodified ToolsSummaryExerciseAdditional Readings 5 - Tier 2: Basic Reduction Strategies and Specialized TypesSpecialized Tools: Projectile PointsSpears or Arrows?ConsequencesReduction StrategiesHard Hammer Block Core ReductionBlade ReductionBipolar ReductionBifacial ReductionLevallois ReductionPressure ReductionSummaryExerciseAdditional Readings 6 - Tier 3: Design Considerations ReliabilityMaintainabilityVersatility and MultifunctionalityFlexibilityDiversityOther Design ConsiderationsCommentaryIdentifying Tasks and StrategiesTypesTraditional TypologiesContemporary TypologiesExerciseAdditional Readings 7 - ChangesRaw MaterialsGeological Nomenclature versus Prehistoric ChoicesResharpening Strategies Over TimeThe OldawanAcheulian Handaxes and Mousterian Levallois FlakesUpper Paleolithic Blades and BifacesMesolithic MicrolithsGround Stone AxesAdditional Readings 8 - Total AssemblagesProfile of the Keatley Creek SiteThe Lithic Assemblage at Keatley CreekThe Block Core StrategyBifacial ReductionBipolar ReductionPressure ReductionGrinding Reduction 9 - Precepts and ProspectsGetting OrientedProspectsResearch ConstraintsAdditional Reading Sources for Images Glossary

“ . . . this volume brings a valuable and deep perspective which benefits everyone from the student to the experienced archaeologist. Anyone with an interest in stone tools, from field or experimental archaeologists to flintknappers and avocational archaeologists, will find something to broaden their perspectives inUnderstanding Chipped Stone Tools.”Anderson, Arthur W., Journal canadien darchéologie 46 (2022) "written in an informal and engaging style that makes the book an easy read, especially for those who may not be familiar with chipped stone tool analysis. Those starting their careers with an interest in lithic artifacts will likely find the book very useful. For those who have a background in chipped stone tool analysis, the book will likely provide a somewhat different perspective on lithic analysis. In either case, I can highly recommend Understanding Chipped Stone Tools."Bradbury, Andrew P., North American Archaeologist, 2023"Brian Hayden's book is informative and serves its purpose well. As a reader, I was offered enjoyable insights into his work on stone tools and provided with a good introduction to Design Theory and its application in lithic analysis."Högberg, Anders, Antiquity, 12 December 2022"Multiple approaches in different specific areas help the readers to comprehend the integrity of the lithic studies. Additionally, Hayden also shares his personal experiences in this field with students. . . . He avoids using complicated sentence structures. Non-native English speakers can deal with this study readily."Yesilova, Görkem Cenk, Lithic Technology, September 16, 2022