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Tools and technology : Lithic technological analysis of Neolithic axe morphology

Olausson, Deborah LU orcid (1983)
Abstract
Through practical experiments, edge-wear analysis, and the study of archaeological collections, the dissertation explores the complex relationship between style and function in a specific class of artifacts: the Neolithic axe. The results of the three-part approach described above, when applied for instance to thin-butted axes from the Funnel Beaker Culture, indicated that there was no clear-cut cass of unusable prestige axes, but rather that axe length more likely reflected practical rather than stylistic considerations. The methods were also applied to discovering the possible reasons behind the choice of flint or greenstone for the manufacture of certain types of otherwise morphologically similar Neolithic axes. The results of practical... (More)
Through practical experiments, edge-wear analysis, and the study of archaeological collections, the dissertation explores the complex relationship between style and function in a specific class of artifacts: the Neolithic axe. The results of the three-part approach described above, when applied for instance to thin-butted axes from the Funnel Beaker Culture, indicated that there was no clear-cut cass of unusable prestige axes, but rather that axe length more likely reflected practical rather than stylistic considerations. The methods were also applied to discovering the possible reasons behind the choice of flint or greenstone for the manufacture of certain types of otherwise morphologically similar Neolithic axes. The results of practical trials with axe manufacture and use, as well as a study of raw material availability, suggested that groundstone axes were tools in their own right, suited for primarily coarser tasks where there was a danger of bending stress.An approach combining controlled experiments, edge-wear analysis, and examination of archaeological collections can profitably be employed on other classes of artifacts in order to study functional utility and social status in the past. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Broadbent, Noel, Department of Archaeology, University of Uppsala
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Lithic technology, Neolithic, flint axes, stone axes, practical trials, style
pages
13 pages
publisher
Lund University
defense location
Carolinasalen, Kungshuset, Lund University
defense date
1983-05-11 10:15:00
ISBN
91-7222-591-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a1f55e71-ba5a-47f5-b3fe-61dba7fbdfbb (old id 8033554)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:09:11
date last changed
2020-12-04 11:10:46
@phdthesis{a1f55e71-ba5a-47f5-b3fe-61dba7fbdfbb,
  abstract     = {{Through practical experiments, edge-wear analysis, and the study of archaeological collections, the dissertation explores the complex relationship between style and function in a specific class of artifacts: the Neolithic axe. The results of the three-part approach described above, when applied for instance to thin-butted axes from the Funnel Beaker Culture, indicated that there was no clear-cut cass of unusable prestige axes, but rather that axe length more likely reflected practical rather than stylistic considerations. The methods were also applied to discovering the possible reasons behind the choice of flint or greenstone for the manufacture of certain types of otherwise morphologically similar Neolithic axes. The results of practical trials with axe manufacture and use, as well as a study of raw material availability, suggested that groundstone axes were tools in their own right, suited for primarily coarser tasks where there was a danger of bending stress.An approach combining controlled experiments, edge-wear analysis, and examination of archaeological collections can profitably be employed on other classes of artifacts in order to study functional utility and social status in the past.}},
  author       = {{Olausson, Deborah}},
  isbn         = {{91-7222-591-2}},
  keywords     = {{Lithic technology; Neolithic; flint axes; stone axes; practical trials; style}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Tools and technology : Lithic technological analysis of Neolithic axe morphology}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/7466272/Tools_and_Technology.pdf}},
  year         = {{1983}},
}