A Formal Model of End Scraper Performance on Dry Bison Hide
Author(s): Joshua Boyd; Spencer Pelton
Year: 2015
Summary
End scrapers are a widely recognized tool in the archaeological record, but their performance characteristics are poorly understood. We use experimental results and adapt marginal value theorem (MVT) for use in lithic studies to devise a formal model of end scraper performance that predicts the optimal time at which one should resharpen their end scraper under several scenarios of raw material abundance. Our study is the first to apply MVT to end scarper performance through an actualistic study, and it allows us to make explicit archaeological predictions related to end scraper use, time management, raw material economy, and ultimately dry hide processing.
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Cite this Record
A Formal Model of End Scraper Performance on Dry Bison Hide. Spencer Pelton, Joshua Boyd. Presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco, California. 2015 ( tDAR id: 398109)
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Keywords
General
End Scraper
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hide processing
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marginal value theorem
Geographic Keywords
North America - Plains
Spatial Coverage
min long: -113.95; min lat: 30.751 ; max long: -97.163; max lat: 48.865 ;