Arizona State University SHESC

Lithics

Chipped stone artifacts comprise the oldest and most enduring record of human activities. Beyond traditional focus on function or style, lithic assemblages provide important information on human ecology, mobility strategies, and landuse practices. Lithic studies are well-developed at ASU. Michael Barton (Paleolithic through Neolithic of the Mediterranean and Europe), Geoff Clark (Paleolithic of the Mediterranean and Europe), and Margaret Nelson (agricultural societies of the American Southwest and Mexico) all have made widely recognized contributions to the development of middle range theory for lithic technology that characterizes American archaeology today. A graduate course in lithic technology is regularly taught and training in compositional analysis methods for lithic sourcing is provided by affiliated faculty member Hamdallah Bearat, in the Center for Solid State Science.

Key faculty:
Michael Barton
Geoffrey Clark
Margaret Nelson
Hamdallah Bearat (Center for Solid State Science)

 


© 2007, School of Human Evolution & Social Change, ASU (revised 9/4/2007)