Bipolar technology and pebble stone artifacts : experimentation in stone tool manufacture

• Main Author: Low, Bruce David
• Other Authors: Meyer, David
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: University of Saskatchewan 2009
• Online Access: http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-09242009-095012/

There is a general lack of research concerning the technological aspect of pebble stone artifacts throughout the Northern Plains. As a result, little is known about the manufacture of these materials except that it is generally accepted that bipolar technology was the predominant manufacturing technique used because of the small size of the pebbles. However, research regarding bipolar technology has also been limited. Furthermore, many researchers have indicated that this technique is crude, poorly controlled, and that it only supplies a marginal product.<p> The research outlined within this thesis examines the manufacture and archaeological significance of pebble stone materials. The ultimate aim of this is to provide some clarification regarding the use of the bipolar method in relation to pebble stone materials. Therefore, the mode of manufacture of pebble stone artifacts will be, in part, accomplished by an examination of experimentally replicated split pebbles using the bipolar technique. <p> As a final point, considering the obvious wide geographic distribution and frequency of use of bipolar technology and pebble stone materials it is unlikely that this technique was thought of so unfavorably by pre-contact groups or that pebble materials were considered marginal or used only when superior quality raw material was not available.