Two-Day Workshop Dates: TBD
Course Description
Flake tools are simple in form and manufacture, yet can be extremely efficient tools as they are easily made and extremely sharp. Identification and analysis of flake tools offers insight into site activities that might otherwise be overlooked. In this two-day workshop participants will develop skills in recognizing different percussion reduction methods for producing expedient flake tools, as well as specialized flake tool technologies: radial breaks, burins, and scrapers. Participants will observe the production of flakes, examine flake tools and debitage, and engage in hands on experiments using various flake tool technologies. Attendees will produce their own study collection of diagnostic flake tools and debitage and learn how to set up their own experimental lithic studies.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the two-day Flake Tool Technologies Workshop, attendees will be able to:
- Identify common percussion core reduction strategies and diagnostic debitage;
- Recognize multiple specialized flake tool technologies and diagnostic debitage;
- Distinguish use-wear patterns from non-cultural damage;
- Develop research questions and outline an experimental research design for future analyses;
- Produce a reference collection of diagnostic tools and debitage.