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Using Porcelain Replicas for Precision Control in Flintknapping Experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2017

Charles A. Speer
Charles A. Speer*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83209–8005, USA (speechar@isu.edu)
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Abstract

The experimental replication of lithic artifacts occasionally encounters issues of standardization and control. Two major issues are how to accurately create a large sample population and how to sample from specific stages over the flaking process. Knappable stone is unpredictable due to inclusions, cracks, and differences in size, texture, and fracture toughness. While this aspect of stone is critical to understanding some aspects of human behavior, decision-making, and skill assessment, in some experimental studies it may hinder other areas. Research for a large study assessing the failure of Folsom preforms during the fluting stage required many knappable facsimiles. The process outlined here uses porcelain as a medium for tackling these requirements. The new method presented here illustrates how a 3-D scanner and printer can be used to record and produce a copy of the artifact form. It then describes how to create a plaster mold of the printed artifact form and, finally, how to cast and fire the artifact replica in porcelain.

La replicación experimental de artefactos líticos ocasionalmente encuentra problemas de estandarización y control. Dos cuestiones importantes son cómo crear con precisión una gran población de muestra y cómo muestrear de etapas específicas sobre el proceso de descamación. Knappable piedra es impredecible debido a inclusiones, grietas y diferencias en tamaño, textura y tenacidad a la fractura. Si bien este aspecto de la piedra es fundamental para comprender algunos aspectos del comportamiento humano, la toma de decisiones y la evaluación de habilidades en algunos estudios experimentales, puede obstaculizar otras áreas. La investigación para un gran estudio que evaluó el fracaso de las preformas de Folsom durante la etapa de estría requirió muchos facsímiles knappable. El proceso descrito aquí utiliza la porcelana como medio para abordar estos requisitos. El nuevo método presentado aquí ilustra cómo se puede utilizar un escáner 3D e impresora para grabar y producir una copia del formulario del artefacto. A continuación, se describe cómo crear un molde de yeso de la forma de artefacto impreso, y luego, por último, cómo arrojar y disparar la réplica de artefacto en porcelana.

Type
How to Series
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , February 2018 , pp. 72 - 81
Copyright
Copyright 2017 © Society for American Archaeology 

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References

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