Matthew Douglass

AN ASSESSMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL APPLICATION OF CORTEX MEASUREMENT IN LITHIC ASSEMBLAGES

We describe an experimental test and archaeological application of the solid geometry method for the interpretation of cortical surface area in lithic assemblages proposed by Dibble et al. (2005). Experimental results support the methods accuracy while archaeological application to assemblages from western New South Wales, Australia suggests a repeated pattern of the selective removal of artifacts away from their location of manufacture. These findings shed light on the role curation and mobility play in the use and eventual discard of those artifact classes for which conventional measures of curation are not applicable. The results raise new questions about Aboriginal technological organization and land use, while simultaneously highlighting the complex relationship between past human behavior and archaeological assemblage content.

Assemblage formation as a result of raw material acquisition in Western New South Wales, Australia

Abstract Quarries are often defined as locations where people in the post gained access to raw material. Here we consider the definition of quarries in a raw material-rich environment. Stone artifacts found adjacent to two silcrete outcrops that might be labeled as “quarries” are compared with those found at a creek-side “occupation “location in western New South Wales, Australia. We investigate these attributions by considering the technology of raw material procurement in relation to the chronology implied by the age of the surfaces on which the artifacts rest. We assess assemblage patterning in relation to the time period over which assemblages were deposited at each of the locations. Time provides a more useful means than function for understanding differences in assemblage composition.

The application of 3D photogrammetry for in-field documentation of archaeological features

Abstract The logistics of time-efficient yet accurate documentation of archaeological features are a challenge within the context of pedestrian survey. Here we present results of two case studies documenting the use of photogrammetry under field conditions within the Great Plains. Results demonstrate the ease with which high quality models can be obtained with minimal training and by using standard field cameras and computers. Different models of pit hearth and architectural features are presented to demonstrate the versatility of model output formats in terms of their accessibility to broad audiences and the variety of display options available. Comparison with more traditional field measurements indicates the suitability and superiority of this approach in terms of time investment and mapping detail and accuracy. Combined, these efforts demonstrate the potential of this technique to be incorporated into the standard practices of academic and professional field projects with minimal interruption.

USE BEYOND MANUFACTURE: NON-FLINT STONE ARTIFACTS FROM FOWLERS GAP, AUSTRALIA

Abstract Stone artifacts from Fowlers Gap western New South Wales, Australia, were manufactured from silcrete, quartz, and quartzite. Conchoidal flaking was used to manufacture artifacts from all three materials. However, it is the use of these artifacts rather than simply their manufacture that explains the composition of the archaeological assemblages. Artifacts made from the three materials were used in a range of ways, for a range of purposes. The loss of flakes through selection and transport together with the presence of expended tools suggests mobility rather than prolonged occupation, an inference made possible by considering what was abandoned rather than what was intended through manufacture.

Community outreach, digital heritage and private collections: a case study from the North American Great Plains

ABSTRACT Artifact collectors are commonplace the world over. They range from individuals with personal collections, to organized looting ventures which supply artifacts to market. In the United States, a strong tradition of artifact collecting exists in the North American Great Plains. In this region, artifact collections obtained from private lands are a common and potentially important source of information about the past. Here, we report on ‘Artifact Roadshows’ which are held to document lithic projectile points held in private collections. Through these events – which include the three-dimensional digitization and general artifact recording – we have expanded our understandings of collector motivations, created a platform to educate on best practices, and begun to appreciate the types of analyses which can be run on data accumulated in such contexts. These efforts seek to encourage collaboration between professional archaeologists and the public in documenting the heritage of the Great Plains.

Closing the Seams: Resolving Frequently Encountered Issues in Photogrammetric Modelling

Abstract Photogrammetry provides an accessible, cost-effective means of creating a high-resolution, digital 3D record of archaeological artefacts. The methodology has been widely adopted, but a number of issues remain, especially in relation to model variability, and to misalignments that result in gaps in the models generated. Two new approaches are presented here that have been shown to increase standardisation during data capture and processing routines. This ensures that models are seamless and quantitatively accurate.

Fragmentation Resistant Measures of Chipped Stone Abundance and Size: Results of an Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Cattle Trampling on Surface Chipped Stone Scatters

Abstract This study reports on the execution of a controlled experiment designed to address the impacts of cattle trampling on surface scatters of chipped stone found in Great Plains contexts. A key focus of the experiment’s design is an evaluation of the relationship between trampling duration and substrate compaction on the severity of artifact breakage. Results indicate that post-depositional artifact fragmentation can significantly distort common analytical approaches found within the archaeological literature. Namely, measures of artifact abundance, raw material proportions, and average artifact dimensions are all affected by the impacts of trampling fragmentation. Beyond a consideration of key variables in the process of trampling fragmentation and its effects on analysis, this study outlines analytical means to identify and control for this bias. Tell-tale indicators of trampling damage are described and prescriptive measures designed to mitigate against the effects of trampling are evaluated. Results indicate that if dealt with appropriately, fragmented assemblages should not to be dismissed as distorted beyond usefulness, but instead can be utilized to reveal latent information about past human behavior.

Photogrammetrical Assessment of Procedural Patterns and Sequential Structure in “Handaxe” Manufacture: A Case Study along the Doring River of South Africa

ABSTRACT When initially discovered in 2014, 21 Early Stone Age (ESA) pointed stone bifaces from the Uitspankraal 1 (UPK1) in western South Africa were left in the field but recorded for photogrammetry analysis. Digital models developed with these data made it possible to recognize that UPK1 handaxes were routinely produced with a process that emphasized outline rather than volumetric adjustment and usually involved only a single flip. The procedural uniformity of the assemblage is clear and rather easily accessible with the field-based photogrammetic technique.

Investigating the human response to the medieval climate anomaly in the Nebraska Sand Hills: A preliminary study in building occupation histories with OSL dating

Multiple periods of dune activation triggered by drought have occurred within the Nebraska Sand Hills, the most recent period occurred during the medieval climate anomaly (MCA; A.D. 900–1350). We present a pilot study where we have successfully adapted a standard chronology-building tool, optically stimulated luminescence dating, to investigate the effects of dune reactivation on human occupation history at two sites conventionally dated to the peri-MCA: Kelso (25HO23), a Plains Woodland site, and McIntosh (25BW15) a Central Plains tradition site. At both sites the maximum optical age of the cultural layer is congruent with radiocarbon ages of materials recovered. The optical ages yielded by samples collected near the Kelso and McIntosh sites, together with radiocarbon dated site materials, suggest that these sites were respectively occupied before and during the MCA sand dune migration. Both the Kelso and McIntosh sites are located near prominent water resources that may have acted as refuges during drought and dune migration.

Three-Dimensional Models of Experimentally-Produced Lithic Artifacts Created using Expedient and Refined Photogrammetry Protocols

The data are divided into four ZIP files based on whether they contain core or flake models, and whether the models were created using an expedient or refined photogrammetric setup and protocol. Each of these .ZIP files contains the relevant 3D models in OBJ format. There are three files associated with each model (OBJ, MTL, and JPG texture). The files are named based on object ID, and the setup used to create them (i.e. expedient or refined). All models were processed and scaled in Agisoft PhotoScan Professional Edition. Geomagic Design X was used to center and align models around the origin.