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Immunological and Microwear Analysis of Chipped-Stone Artifacts from Piedmont Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael Petraglia ,
Dennis Knepper ,
Petar Glumac ,
Margaret Newman  and
Carole Sussman
Michael Petraglia
Affiliation:
Cultural Resources Department, Parsons Engineering Science, 10521 Rosehaven Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Dennis Knepper
Affiliation:
Cultural Resources Department, Parsons Engineering Science, 10521 Rosehaven Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Petar Glumac
Affiliation:
Cultural Resources Department, Parsons Engineering Science, 10521 Rosehaven Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
Margaret Newman
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
Carole Sussman
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093–0101
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Abstract

Immunological and microwear analysis was performed on 100 chipped-stone artifacts from four prehistoric sites located in the Virginia Piedmont. A total of 20 artifacts returned positive results for immunological analysis and 16 artifacts returned microwear results. The findings indicate the negative effects of postdepositional processes and the potential utility of the techniques for deciphering prehistoric activities, otherwise unavailable by conventional studies in piedmont contexts. The study further illustrates the value and problems associated with immunological and microwear analyses on chipped-stone assemblages.

Resumen

Resumen

Cien artefactos liticos procedentes de cuatro sitios ubicados en el piedemonte de Virginia fueron sometidos a los análisis inmunológicos y de micro-desgaste. Del análisis inmunológico se obtuvieron resultados positivos con 20 artefactos y del análisis de micro-desgaste 16 artefactos demostraron indicios de desgaste. Los resultados de los análisis muestran los efectos negativos de los procesos después de la depositión. Ademds indican la utilidad potential de estas técnicas, la cual no existe con métodos convencionales para revelar las actividades prehistóricas en contextos similares. El estudio muestra el valor y los problemas asociados con análisis inmunológicos y de micro-desgaste en conjuntos líticos.

Information

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 61 , Issue 1 , January 1996 , pp. 127 - 135
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1996

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