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What lies in between: Levallois, discoid and intermediate methods

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9321778
    Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9321778
    Authors:
    Bustos-Perez, GBaena, JVaquero, M
    Abstract:
    Lithic artefacts are usually associated with the different knapping methods used in their production. Flakes exhibit metric and technological features representative of the flaking method used to detach them. However, lithic production is a dynamic process in which discrete methods can be blurred, and in which features can vary throughout the process. An intermediate knapping method between the discoid and Levallois is commonly referred to under an umbrella of terms (the present research uses the term hierarchical discoid), and is associated with a broad geographical and chronological distribution throughout the Early and Middle Palaeolithic. This intermediate knapping strategy exhibits features of both the discoid and Levallois knapping methods, raising the question of the extent to which flakes from the three knapping methods can be differentiated and, when one is mistaken for another, the direction of confusion. An experimental assemblage of flakes detached by means of the three methods was used along with an attribute analysis and machine learning models in an effort to identify the knapping methods employed. In general, our results were able to very effectively differentiate between the three knapping methods when a support vector machine with polynomial kernel was used. Our results also underscored the singularity of flakes detached by means of Levallois reduction sequences, which yielded outstanding identification values, and were rarely erroneously attributed to either of the other two knapping methods studied. Mistaking the products of the discoid and hierarchical discoid methods was the most common direction of confusion, although a good identification value was achieved for discoid flakes and an acceptable value for hierarchical discoid flakes. This shows the

  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Bustos-Perez, G; Baena, J; Vaquero, M
    Department: Història i Història de l'Art
    URV's Author/s: Vaquero Rodríguez, Manuel
    Keywords: Technocomplexes Stone Roc curve Pleistocene Middle palaeolithic Middle Mass Machine learning Lithic technology Levallois Experimental archaeology Discoid Classification Attributes Area Archaeology
    Abstract: Lithic artefacts are usually associated with the different knapping methods used in their production. Flakes exhibit metric and technological features representative of the flaking method used to detach them. However, lithic production is a dynamic process in which discrete methods can be blurred, and in which features can vary throughout the process. An intermediate knapping method between the discoid and Levallois is commonly referred to under an umbrella of terms (the present research uses the term hierarchical discoid), and is associated with a broad geographical and chronological distribution throughout the Early and Middle Palaeolithic. This intermediate knapping strategy exhibits features of both the discoid and Levallois knapping methods, raising the question of the extent to which flakes from the three knapping methods can be differentiated and, when one is mistaken for another, the direction of confusion. An experimental assemblage of flakes detached by means of the three methods was used along with an attribute analysis and machine learning models in an effort to identify the knapping methods employed. In general, our results were able to very effectively differentiate between the three knapping methods when a support vector machine with polynomial kernel was used. Our results also underscored the singularity of flakes detached by means of Levallois reduction sequences, which yielded outstanding identification values, and were rarely erroneously attributed to either of the other two knapping methods studied. Mistaking the products of the discoid and hierarchical discoid methods was the most common direction of confusion, although a good identification value was achieved for discoid flakes and an acceptable value for hierarchical discoid flakes. This shows the potential applicability of machine learning models in combination with attribute analysis for the identification of these knapping methods among flakes.
    Thematic Areas: Historia Ciências ambientais Archaeology Antropologia / arqueologia
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: manuel.vaquero@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0001-6572-8543
    Record's date: 2024-08-03
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://journals.ed.ac.uk/lithicstudies/article/view/7132
    Papper original source: Journal Of Lithic Studies. 10 (2):
    APA: Bustos-Perez, G; Baena, J; Vaquero, M (2023). What lies in between: Levallois, discoid and intermediate methods. Journal Of Lithic Studies, 10(2), -. DOI: 10.2218/jls.7132
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Article's DOI: 10.2218/jls.7132
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2023
    Publication Type: Journal Publications

  • Keywords:

    Archaeology
    Technocomplexes
    Stone
    Roc curve
    Pleistocene
    Middle palaeolithic
    Middle
    Mass
    Machine learning
    Lithic technology
    Levallois
    Experimental archaeology
    Discoid
    Classification
    Attributes
    Area
    Archaeology
    Historia
    Ciências ambientais
    Archaeology
    Antropologia / arqueologia

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