Levels of theory and social practice in the Reduction Sequence and Chaîne Opératoire methods of lithic analysis

TitleLevels of theory and social practice in the Reduction Sequence and Chaîne Opératoire methods of lithic analysis
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsTostevin, G. B.
Conference Name71st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology
Conference LocationSan Juan, Puerto Rico
AbstractThere are more areas of overlap as well as distinction between the Reduction Sequence andChaîne Opératoire methods of archaeological analysis than the current debate recognizes. Whilemethodological differences have been acknowledged, high-level theory differs to a greaterdegree than is currently appreciated, partly due to the social practice of archaeology in differentcontexts. The distinction between an emic decision hierarchy and an etic production hierarchy isused to elucidate how the practitioners of both methods can more successfully integrate theirapproaches. An alternative to both methods is offered to demonstrate how commonepistemological problems can be resolved.