Trees or Chains, Links or Branches: Conceptual Alternatives for Consideration of Stone Tool Production and Other Sequential Activities

Author: Bleed P.

Source: Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, Volume 8, Number 1, March 2001 , pp. 101-127(27)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Archaeologists construct sequence models to describe the operation of past activities such as production of stone tools. As developed in Japan, France, and North American, such models summarize processes, present intermediate steps, and link formally diverse materials. Some sequence models are teleological in that they present actions as predetermined patterns. Others can be considered evolutionary in that they describe results produced by selected interaction between conditions and variables. With separate strengths and different goals, both approaches to sequence modeling have archaeological utility.

Keywords: technology; chaîne opératoire; stone tools; tool production

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Anthropology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska

Publication date: 2001-03-01