An Evaluation of Lithic Debitage Sampling at an Archaic Site in Southern Arizona

Bibliographic Data

ID11380637
AuthorsB J Roth (0000-0002-8729-3744, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume34
Issue1
Pages11-26
Publication date2009-03-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLithic Technology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0197-7261 • E-ISSN: 2051-6185
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01977261.2009.11721071
OpenAlexW189036952
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

Large samples of lithic debitage are often collected during field projects, especially at Archaic sites. Because of the sheer size of these debitage assemblages, a variety of sampling strategies is used to reduce the database to a manageable size. Rarely, however, is it possible to assess the validity of a sampling strategy after it has been imple mented. This paper reports on a project where it was possible to examine the efficacy of the sampling strategy used to analyze debitage from an Archaic site in the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains in the Tucson Basin of southern Arizona. When the initial analysis was done after surface collections and excavations were completed at the site, a sample of debitage from proveniences associated with the Archaic-period occupation was analyzed. This was a pooled sample of material from surface collections and excavation units, and was coupled with more detailed analyses of the tool assemblage. Several years later, it was possible to analyze all of the debitage recovered from the site

Archaeology · Cartography · Debitage · Excavation · Foothills · Geography · Sampling (signal processing · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Engineering · Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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