Clovis Blade Manufacture: Analytical Procedure to Infer “Technique”

Abstract

Based on an experiment in prismatic blade manufacture, coupled with lithic analysis, a new attribute— point of maximum blade curvature—is proposed for the analysis of Clovis blades. Also, a laboratory procedure for its calculation is described. Comparisons of three sets of experimental blades suggest this attribute is helpful for inferring how artisans held the core and applied force during blade manufacture. Among the findings, experimental blades made by indirect percussion with the core firmly clamped without a rest were distinguished from those made by direct percussion whereby the core was hand-cradled. Though results of the experiment are preliminary, they may provide a basis for detecting variability in “technique,” as defined by Newcomer (1975) in his study of Clovis blade technology. Archaeologists are encouraged to measure this new attribute for Clovis blades.