Time, Energy and Stone ToolsRobin Torrence Time, Energy and Stone Tools aims to refocus archaeological and anthropological interest in technology by demonstrating that theory-building is possible if tool manufacture and use are conceived as products of both environmental factors and social needs. Drawing particularly on optimisation theory in ecology, the eleven contributors examine within a broad spatial and temporal framework a wide range of variable including time, energy, raw materials, risk management and information flow and its place in social relationships. Most concentrate on hunter-gatherer adaptation but key papers examining the impact of agriculture and growing social complexity are also included. A challenging overview by Michael Jochim stresses at once the key role of theory in aiding our understanding of early technology and the embeddedness of tool use in the wider behavioural setting. |
Contents
towards a behavioral theory of stone | 7 |
The occupational history of sites and | 17 |
Economies in raw material use by prehistoric | 34 |
A costbenefit study of functionally similar tools | 67 |
Reliable and maintainable technological strategies | 78 |
problems | 106 |
| 112 | |
| 121 | |
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Common terms and phrases
activities addition amount analysis appear archaeological Archaic areas artifact assemblages associated behavior biface Binford Black blade camps changes chipped stone complex components considerable contrast core correlation costs cultural cutting debitage developed discarded distribution Early Earth economic edge effective efficient energy evidence example expected expensive factors flake tools frequency function greater ground stone hafted hunter-gatherers hunting important increased indicate involved later less limited lithic locations maintainable major manufacture means measure Mesolithic Middle mobility non-local chert obtained occupations occur pattern period points positive potential present procurement production range raw material reducing relationship relatively represent requirements resharpening residential result risk role seasonal social sources specific stage stone tools strategies structure studies subsistence suggest tasks techniques tion types variability