Dissertation Research: Exchange of Vanport Flint Bladelets Among Hopewell Groups

燧石（一种微晶石英岩）具有很强的抗风化和断裂能力，可以产生锋利、耐用的切削刃。它被史前人类用来制造加工植物和动物材料的工具。它的可用性与许多史前人类种群的生存直接相关，并且在史前经济系统中广泛交换。然而，人们对这种交换的模式知之甚少，主要是因为现有的燧石采购方法不可靠。在博士的指导下。Richard Yerkes和Gunter Faure，俄亥俄州立大学的研究生James Foradas先生，将从从Vanport flint提取的样品中制定采购标准，该样品暴露在俄亥俄州的一些露头中。该项目将分为四个主要阶段。福拉达斯将首先从一系列露头岩层中收集标本。然后，他将进行分析，以确定每种产品的特征。这些将包括使用x射线荧光、岩石学和扫描电镜分析的微量元素测定。在此基础上，他将研究在考古背景下从西奥托河谷霍普韦尔文化遗址中发现的燧石。最后，他将利用这些数据重建霍普韦尔交换模式。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将有助于发展一种非破坏性的分析技术来分析燧石，希望这种分析技术可以用于广泛的考古情况。这将被证明是一个有价值的工具。考古学家对复杂的社会是如何进化的很感兴趣，而霍普韦尔文化标志着北美这种大规模发展的最早表现之一。人们一直认为，对高品质燧石等贵重物品的贸易管制是一种整合机制，福拉达斯先生的工作将允许对这一假设进行检验。最后，这个项目将有助于培养一位非常有前途的年轻科学家。

Flint (a microcrystalline quartz rock) is highly resistant to weathering and fractures to produce a sharp, durable cutting edge. It was utilized by prehistoric peoples to manufacture tools for the processing of plant and animal materials. Its availability was directly linked to the survival of many prehistoric human populations, and it was widely exchanged in prehistoric economic systems. However, the patterning of this exchange is poorly understood largely because existing methods of sourcing flint are unreliable. Under the direction of Drs. Richard Yerkes and Gunter Faure, Mr. James Foradas, a graduate student at Ohio State University, will develop sourcing criteria from samples derived from Vanport flint which is exposed in a number of Ohio outcrops. The project will consist of four main stages. Mr. Foradas will first collect specimens from a series of outcrops. He will then conduct analyzes to characterize each. These will include trace element determinations using X-ray fluorescence, petrographic, and SEM analysis. On this basis he will then examine flints recovered in archaeological context from a number of Scioto River Valley Hopewell culture sites. Finally, he will use these data to reconstruct Hopewell exchange patterns. This research is important for several reasons. It will serve to develop a non-destructive analytic technique for the analysis of chert which can be used, hopefully, in a wide range of archaeological situations. This should prove a valuable tool. Archaeologists are interested in how complex societies evolve, and the Hopewell culture marks one of the earliest manifestations of such a large scale development in North America. It has been postulated that the regulation of trade in such valuable objects as high grade flint served as an integrating mechanism, and Mr. Foradas' work will allow testing of this hypothesis. Finally, this project will assist in the training of an extremely promising young scientist.