Lithics 15

Work by Derek Roe in the 1960s established the presence of two major Lower Palaeolithic biface groups in Britain, subdivided into six variants, interpreted as evidence for separate knapping traditions. Recent research has begun to move away from such interpretations, with one aspect of this trend illustrated by the work of Ashton and McNabb who argue that the shape of many bifaces is guided or restricted by the nature of the raw material from which they were made. This paper presents the preliminary results of ongoing research into the hypothesis that if it is raw material that has the major effect on biface morphology, then tool shape should covary with flint shape, size and quality. During the study, the most probable source of flint for nineteen British Lower Palaeolithic sites has been reconstructed, and seven assemblages have so far been fully analysed. The results suggest that the contentions of Ashton and McNabb are supported; hominids appear to have adapted technology to suit the material available. Although they are certainly valid, it is suggested that Roe's groups do not represent separate knapping traditions, but rather degrees of raw material constraint. LD

Edge-ground stone axeheads of the Mesolithic are common in Ireland and Wales, but no unequivocal examples have yet been found in Scotland (possible exceptions from Fair Isle and Morton are considered in an end-note). This article concerns an artefact in the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh, best described as a pebble axehead or chisel with bifacially ground edge. Information on its provenance is limited to the inscription, 'found at Cambwell', an inland location. The particular morphology of the implement has few direct analogies from Ireland, although comparison can be made with some examples from Wales. However, its general character suggests a Mesolithic ascription. LD

Reports on an informal day meeting on lithic use-wear analysis. The usefulness of such analysis when applied alongside other analytic techniques is discussed in a short introduction. The morning lectures included papers on research into plant working in the Danish Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic, and the current air of scepticism surrounding use-wear analysis in Britain. A flint and obsidian knapping demonstration and a computer software demonstration were later given, followed by a paper on bottle-glass razors from the Andaman Islands, a presentation on experimental butchery using replica Boxgrove handaxes, and an informal discussion on the state of use-wear analysis. LD