Coded culture. Studies in Neolithic flint. Part l: Constructing the descriptive system

Abstract

The present paper, which is part of a series of publications, is an attempt to revaluate the traditional study of flint material. A model is designed to describe all flint artefacts. For flint tools further information is added with one side of the tool as basic analytical unit. To integrate attributes of aiready existing typologies it was necessary to evaluate and when possibie transform these attributes in measurable ones. For the integration it was further necessary to introduce a second analytical level, which includes those tool types, which are defined by a unique combination of specific sides. Furthermore, when possible, it is attempted to integrate in each level of analysis the determinants: raw material, available techniques and function.

In subsequent papers the levels of analysis, the whole assemblage and the grouping of assemblages, will betreated.