Dolores Archaeological Program Technical Reports, DAP-060: Reductive Technologies Group Midlevel Research design

Summary

The Reductive Technology Group of the Dolores Archaeological Program has developed a series of integrated analysis systems for interpreting stone and bone tools at several analytic scales, or intensities, and within several broad technological categories. All stone and bone tools are subjected to a preliminary inventory analysis which is focused on identifying variability in production technology. Separate, more intensive analytic systems are used to examine other kinds or levels of variability in samples or subsets of artifacts. All analysis systems have attributes of items, rather than complete items, as the basic units of observation and interpretation.

Development of this analytic structure has been guided by, and has primary articulation with, three major program documents; the general research design, the Program modeling process, and the 1978 lithics research design. The four preliminary and six intensive analytic systems developed in response to, or as a part of these project documents are structured as independent but readily-linkable computer files. This structure permits efficient data manipulation and recall in response to a wide range of general or specific research questions.

Data from these analytic systems is used in two major reporting categories; first is individual site reports and those Reductive Technology Group reports which respond directly to a great many of the Program general research design questions, particularly those associated with Problem Domains 1 (economy and adaptation), 3 (social organization), and 4 (extraregional relationships). Second is the set of studies associated with the program modeling structure, particularly those associated with the Tools/Containers modeling committee. This research design briefly outlines both general interpretive frameworks and specific research studies for both these reporting categories. All of the analytic systems have been thoroughly examined, revised, and used sufficiently to confirm their adequacy and efficiency in meeting Program research needs.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Principal Investigator(s): David A. Breternitz

Sponsor(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office

Prepared By(s): University of Colorado, Dolores Archaeological Program

Submitted To(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office

Record Identifiers

Bureau of Reclamation Contract No.(s): 8-07-40-S0562

Notes

General Note: As of April 2015, this and additional reports are hosted on the US Bureau of Land Management, Dolores Archaeological Program website; http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ahc/dolores_archaeological/dap_technical_reports.html

File Information