Flake size from platform attributes: Predictive and empirical approaches

TitleFlake size from platform attributes: Predictive and empirical approaches
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2000
AuthorsShott, M. J., Bradbury A. P., Carr P. J., & Odell G. H.
JournalJournal of Archaeological Science
Volume27
Issue10
Pagination877-894
AbstractDifferences between tools’ original and discarded sizes bear on classification, curation and other interpretive issues inPalaeolithic archaeology. Recent experiments demonstrated significant relationships between platform size and originalflake size but also generated controversy about the relative importance of empirical and theoretical platform variablesin determining flake size. Depending on the nature and strength of the relationships, original size might be calculatedfrom platform variables, often retained in discarded tools. We examine the platform–flake relationship in Pelcin’scontrolled data and two replicated assemblages. As Pelcin suggested, theoretical platform variables predict flake sizeonly with stringent assumptions. Empirically, log-size regresses consistently upon log-platform size in hard-hammer butnot in soft-hammer flakes. A universal relationship between variables exists in the assemblages, but only inhard-hammer flakes which, in any case, were more likely to be used as tools.
URLAccess restricted. http://www.idealibrary.com/links/citation/0305-4403/27/877Access restricted. http://www.idealibrary.com/links/toc/jasc/
Alternate JournalJ Archaeol Sci