Thermally Altered Siliceous Stone from Prehistoric Contexts: Intentional versus Unintentional Alteration

Abstract

AbstractRecent studies have demonstrated that the flaking characteristics of certain siliceous stone materials are enhanced by carefully controlled annealing and that intentional annealing was indeed practiced by prehistoric Native Americans. A note of caution is extended here to investigators who might extend evidence for thermally altered siliceous stone from a site to interpretations that intentional annealing was practiced at the site. The use of fire in quarrying has a long history throughout the world, and much heat-treated material from sites may have been thermally altered unintentionally, the result of quarrying practices.