Editing Lithic analysis (section)

{{Short description|Scientific analysis of chipped stone artifacts}}
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In [[archaeology]], '''lithic analysis''' is the analysis of [[stone tool]]s and other [[chipped stone]] [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] using basic scientific techniques. At its most basic level, lithic analyses involve an analysis of the artifact's [[morphology (archaeology)|morphology]], the measurement of various physical attributes, and examining other visible features (such as noting the presence or absence of [[cortex (archaeology)|cortex]], for example).

The term 'lithic analysis' can technically refer to the study of any [[Human impact on the environment|anthropogenic]] (human-created) stone, but in its usual sense it is applied to [[archaeology|archaeological]] material that was produced through [[lithic reduction]] (knapping) or [[ground stone]]. A thorough understanding of the lithic reduction and ground stone processes, in combination with the use of statistics, can allow the analyst to draw conclusions concerning the type of lithic manufacturing techniques used at a [[prehistoric]] [[archaeological site]]. For example, they can make certain equation between each the factors of flake to predict original shape.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1006/jasc.1997.0253| title=The Threshold Effect of Platform Width: A Reply to Davis and Shea| journal=Journal of Archaeological Science| volume=25| issue=7| pages=615–620| year=1998| last1=Pelcin| first1=Andrew W.| bibcode=1998JArSc..25..615P}}</ref> These data can then be used to draw an understanding of socioeconomic and cultural organization.

The term ''knapped'' is synonymous with "chipped" or "struck", but is preferred by some analysts because it signifies intentionality and process. Ground stone generally refers to any tool made by a combination of flaking, pecking, pounding, grinding, drilling, and incising, and includes things such as [[Mortar (bowl)|mortar]]s&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[metate]]s, [[pestle]]s (or [[mano (stone)|manos]]), [[grinding slab]]s, [[hammerstone]]s, grooved and perforated stones, [[axe]]s, etc., which appear in all human cultures in some form. Among the tool types analyzed are [[projectile point]]s, [[biface]]s, [[uniface]]s, ground stone artifacts, and lithic reduction by-products ([[debitage]]) such as [[lithic flake|flake]]s and [[lithic core|core]]s.