Term
|
Definition
Behavioral strategies to solve mundane problems
-E.g.
-Prosthetic teeth (shaped rocks)
-External fat storage (jars)
-Mating strategies (fancy cars)
-Credit default swap (human sacrifice) |
|
|
Term
Classification of Technologies
-Unaltered Materials
-Synthetic Materials |
|
Definition
Unaltered: stone, wood, bone, antler, shell, plant and animal fibers (inc. leather)
Synthetic: ceramics, glass and fiaence, metals |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Important in development of synthetic materials
-Makes use of heat and oxidation to alter slow chemical reactions to generate new materials |
|
|
Term
Stone Raw Materials
-Brittle
-Homogenous
-Isotropic |
|
Definition
Brittle: fractures easily
-Fracture follows single crack that propagates under applied force
Homogeneous: material is composed of uniform mix of constituents
Isotropic: material is structurally similar in all directions |
|
|
Term
Appropriate Materials for Stone Tools
-Amorphous
-Crypto-crystalline
-Crystalline |
|
Definition
Amorphous: non-crystalline materials (e.g. glass)
-Nothing to impede direction, or propagation of foce through stone
Crypto-crystalline: very small crystals that do not impede
Crystalline: crystals that impeded propagation to various degrees |
|
|
Term
Percussors
(Load Applicators) |
|
Definition
Increasing accuracy and precision, decreasing flake size
-Hard hammers (e.g. hammer stones)
-Soft hammers (e.g. antler billets)
-Indirect percussion (e.g. hammer, punch & vice)
-Pressure flaker (e.g. punch) |
|
|
Term
| Elements of Stone (Lithic) Technology |
|
Definition
Core: material from which mass was removed
Flake: removed mass
Tool: objects with modified edges or form with inferred function (can be the core, can be the flake) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Designs change as reductions proceeds
Lithic Technology is reductive! |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
[image]
If want to chip off usable platform for next chipping, angle of fracture hit must be less than 90º angle.
E.g. Pez Dispenser |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Technologies where objects are modeled or molded from clay and then made durable by firing |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Clay containers formed by hand, made on a mold or thrown on a wheel; often decorated and then fired |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Sedimentary particles
-SiO2 and Al2O3
-Along with other constituents
-Clay deposit = soils with > 35% clay particles
-Layers of octahedral and tetrahedral sheets. Traps water, other minerals in between. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Fine grained, earthy material, plastic when wet.
-Flows like liquid when pressure is applied, stays put when no pressure applied.
-Smaller the mineral size, greater surface area and more plastic the clay.
-Sedimentary particle-size sorting determines the quality (sand:silt:clay ratios) of any given clay source
Made durable by firing -> Shrinkage. Removes water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Things put in the clay before firing so that it doesn't crack
-Sand
-Ground shells
-Volcanic ash
-Ground pottery shards
-Organics (e.g. grass) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Ceramic technology is additive
Constraints:
-Ability to withstand shear forces
-Gravity and applied forces
-Plasticity (when wet) and brittleness (when fired) limit size and geometry |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Firing: using high heat to convert plastic clay into non-plastic ceramic
-Loss of water: up to 600ºC
-Oxidation of C and Fe: up to 900ºC
-Vitrification (transformation of clay to glass-like material): >1000ºC
-Waterproofing
-E.g. porcelain |
|
|
Term
Electron Spin Resonance
(ESR) |
|
Definition
Can identify defects or substitutions within the structure of crystals- in this case, silica.
Can tell you if the stone has been heated up. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Putting rocks back together from being broken.
Helps archaeologists follow the stages of the Knapper's craft. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Pre-glass. Coating a core material of powdered quartz with vitreous alkaline glaze. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1. Shaping native copper
2. Annealing native copper (heating and hammering)
3. Smelting oxide and carbonate ores of copper
4. Melting and casting of copper
5. Alloying with tin (and possibly arsenic) to make bronze
6. Smelting from sulphide ores
7. Casting by lost-wax process |
|
|
Term
| Metallographic Examination |
|
Definition
Structure of material is examined microscopically
-Determine whether an artifact has been formed by cold-hammering, annealing, casting, or a combo. |
|
|
