The effects of exterior and lateral platform morphology and raw material on flake size and shape: results from new controlled experiments

Summary

Previous controlled experiments have illustrated that exterior platform angle and platform depth have a strong influence on the size and shape of a flake. Using specially made cores and a hydraulic knapping machine we present results from two new controlled experiments. The first of these involves altering the exterior and lateral margins of the platform and seeing the effects these changes have on flake mass in relation to platform depth. In the second controlled experiment, glass cores (which were used in all of our previous experiments) are replaced with cores made from basalt, obsidian and flint. In this experiment, the emphasis is on the amount of force required for the removal of flakes from each raw material in relation to platform depth. The results from both experiments have important implications for the prediction of flake size based on these important independent variables.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Controlled Experiments in Lithic Technology and Function

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15638