Inferring Behavior from Damage Patterns: Bipolar Knapping and Nutcracking

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Little is known about behaviors associated with the percussive technology of the Early Stone Age (ESA). Primatology provides a rare opportunity to observe how percussive behaviors produce damage patterns on stone tools. Although primate behavior provides a framework for inferring behaviors associated with ESA percussive tools, the distinction between damage associated with flaking behaviors and food processing behaviors remains unclear. Additionally, how percussive behaviors produce differing damage patterns on a range of raw materials used by hominins is not well understood. We present experimental research examining damage patterns produced by bipolar knapping and nutcracking. Five different rock types believed to be used by hominins from the Koobi Fora Formation, Kenya, were used. Each produced distinct damage patterns between percussive behaviors. The accrual of damage was documented by 3D scanning each anvil at different points of use. R and QGIS were used to quantify roughness. Our results show that damage accrues slowly, suggesting that anvils in the archaeological record that display significant damage and pitting experienced repeated or extensive use. Furthermore, damage accrual is material and percussive behavior dependent. This work forms a basis that can be used to infer a variety of behaviors associated with percussive tool use.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36868.0