Hunting with talc? Experiments into the functionality of certain Late Neolithic ground projectile points from the site of Liangchengzhen, Peoples Republic of China
Author(s): Geoffrey Cunnar; William Schindler; Anne Underhill; Fengshi Luan; Hui Fang
Year: 2009
Summary
Collaborative excavations by the Shandong University and Field Museum at the Longshan Period site of Liangchengzhen in eastern Shandong Province, China have uncovered over 200 projectile points constructed from several prevalent material types of varying hardness. The majority of the points were finished by grinding. The smaller percentage were finished by pressure flaking. Raw materials utilized in projectile point manufacture included chlorite schist, chert and talc schist. To better understand their efficiency as projectile weapons, several of the points were replicated and tested in well controlled penetration experiments. While it is argued that talc schist projectile points could have functioned as weapons, they were also likely highly symbolic tools constructed and used for ceremonial or other non-utilitarian purposes.
Cite this Record
Hunting with talc? Experiments into the functionality of certain Late Neolithic ground projectile points from the site of Liangchengzhen, Peoples Republic of China. Geoffrey Cunnar, William Schindler, Anne Underhill, Fengshi Luan, Hui Fang. Ethnoarchaeology. Journal of Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Experimental Studies. 1 (2): 185-212. 2009 ( tDAR id: 423188)
URL: http://lcoastpress.metapress.com/content/m24247q8h326331p/
Keywords
General
bow & arrow
•
Hunting
•
Spear
Geographic Keywords
China
Temporal Keywords
Chalcolithic
•
Mesolithic
•
Neolithic
•
Palaeolithic
Spatial Coverage
min long: 73.62; min lat: 18.198 ; max long: 134.761; max lat: 53.544 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): EXARC Experimental Archaeology Collection Manager
Record Identifiers
ExArc Id(s): 9978
Notes
Rights & Attribution: The information in this record was originally compiled by Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, EXARC Director.