Period: Paleolithic (c. 800.000-40.000 BC)

Project title: To Determine if Soft and Hard Hammer Knapping Techniques Produce a Different Spatial Pattern of Debitage

Researcher: Richard Hoyle, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK

E-mail: rwhoyle(at)hotmail.com

Year: 2006

Abstract:

When investigating Paleolithic sites, archaeologists often take spreads of stone debitage (stone flakes and debris) to indicate tool production points as against general flaking and roughing out. There has been no discussion of whether the debris produced by different types of hammers (soft and hard) travels the same distance, or even in the same way, and therefore can be interpreted so unambiguous.

To try to solve this question, an experiment was performed. Paleolithic knapping was replicated using purely hard-hammers (stone), purely soft-hammers (antler and wood), and a mixture of both by an experienced knapper. The resulting debitage was recorded two dimensionally and by stage of removal, divided between roughing-out, primary thinning and secondary thinning, which tend to produce different sized and shaped flakes.

A computerised geographic information system (GIS) was used to compare the debitage. At the resolution used, and incorporating error margins of 10%, processing indicates no difference in the patterns produced. There appears to be no difference in the average distance travelled from the knapping point. These patterns, while slightly different for earlier and later stages of removals, are not statistically significant between hard and soft hammer production.

However, personal experimental knapping in preparation for the experiment, and discussions while at Lejre did indicate that the resulting debris is much more related to the individual blow, for example secondary thinning. Also, the tiniest chips, <2cm, do seem to indicate where knapping events took place, contrary to general wisdom.

Reference number: HAF 04/06