A New Controlled Experiment to Isolate the Processes of Flake Formation and its Applica-tion to Lithic Assemblage Technological Variability

来自美国国家科学基金会的资助将使哈罗德·迪布尔博士和他的学生能够进行一系列与理解石器（石制品）是如何制造直接相关的实验。 虽然现代的flinknappers（复制石器的人）能够复制考古记录中发现的形式，但大多数涉及的基本过程并不清楚。 这些实验将测试三组独立变量平台形态、芯表面形态和力的施加之间的关系，以确定由直接冲击破碎技术产生的薄片的形状。 实验设计克服了许多固有的局限性，在早期的控制研究，使核心和薄片，是类似于考古作品，但这是高度控制和量化。 由于玻璃芯片的方式与过去使用的材料相同，因此将从模具中铸造一系列玻璃芯。 通过这种方式，可以设计和大量生产与史前时期使用的岩芯形状相似的极其逼真的岩芯形状，同时以高度可控的方式改变待研究的具体变量。 此外，将构建一种装置，以更准确地模拟对这些玻璃芯施加的力;它将具有改变所施加的力的大小、力相对于芯表面的方向以及使用不同材料的阻尼器的能力。 实验结果的两个应用也将进行。 这些设计不仅是为了验证实验结果与参考实际的石器组合，但也解决问题之间和工业内的技术可变性。这个实验，这将允许完全控制几个变量，同时改变其他人，将建立在以前的研究在两个方面显着。 首先，它将利用更真实的核心，将产生更类似于那些在考古记录中发现的薄片产品。 第二，它的范围将更加全面。 这里提出的研究目标比理解特定的史前技术或确定特定石器类型生产中的特定过程要广泛得多。 更确切地说，目的是测试所有knapper（无论是史前的还是现代的）用来控制薄片大小和形状的独立变量之间的特定关系。 因此，它直接谈到了knapping过程的基本过程，旨在让石器考古学家更好地了解这些独立变量如何影响薄片的形态。 通过这种方式，实验的结果将适用于几乎所有产生岩屑组合的地理区域和时间段。 这个实验也将成为宾夕法尼亚大学实验考古学本科课程的重点，作为课程的一部分，学生将参加实验。 这将提供实验设计和方法的第一手经验。 此外，将通过专门为此目的设计的网站（www.oldstoneage.com）向广大公众提供实验操作和结果。

Funding from the National Science Foundation will allow Dr. Harold Dibble and his students to perform a series of experiments directly relevant to the understanding of how stone tools (lithics) are made. While modern flinknappers (those who replicate stone tools) are able to reproduce forms found in the archaeological record, most of the fundamental processes involved are not well understood. These experiments will test the relationship among three sets of independent variables'platform morphology, core surface morphology, and the application of force'in determining the shape of flakes produced by direct percussion knapping technology. The experimental design overcomes many of the limitations inherent in earlier controlled studies by making cores and flakes that are similar to archaeological pieces, but which are highly controlled and quantifiable. Since glass chips in ways that are identical to materials used in the past, a series of glass cores will be cast from molds. In this way, extremely realistic core shapes similar to those used in prehistory can be designed and produced in quantity while at the same time changing, in a highly controlled fashion, the specific variables to be investigated. In addition, a device will be built to simulate more accurately the application of force to these glass cores; it will incorporate the ability to vary the amount of force applied, the direction of that force relative to the core surface, and the use of different materials for the percussor. Two applications of the experimental results will also be carried out. These are designed not only to verify the experimental results with reference to actual lithic assemblages, but also to address questions both inter- and intra-industrial technological variability.This experiment, which will allow for complete control of several variables while changing others, will build significantly on previous research in two ways. First, it will utilize more realistic cores that will yield flakes products that are much more analogous to those found in the archaeological record. Second, it will be more comprehensive in its scope. The research proposed here has a goal that is much broader than understanding a particular prehistoric technology or identifying specific processes in the production of particular stone tool types. Rather, the goal is to test specific relationships among the independent variables used by all knappers'prehistoric and modern alike'to control the sizes and shapes of flakes. As such, it speaks directly to the fundamental processes underlying the knapping process and is intended to give lithic archaeologists a much better understanding of how these independent variables affect the morphology of flakes. In this way the results of this experiment will be relevant to virtually all geographic areas and temporal periods that yield lithic assemblages. This experiment will also form the focus of an undergraduate course at the University of Pennsylvania in experimental archaeology and as part of their curriculum the students will take part in the experiment. This will provide first-hand experience in experimental design and methodology. In addition, the experimental operation and results will be made accessible to the larger public through a website designed specifically for this purpose (www.oldstoneage.com).