Amy Tabrett: An exploration of the usefulness of the term 'backed blade'
Channel: MSK PRODUCTIONS
Date: 2017-05-20

Defining and identifying ‘microliths’
Sunday June 26th, a day ahead of the 2016 SAfA meetings in Toulouse.

Amy Tabrett: An exploration of the usefulness of the term 'backed blade' based on a study of Howiesons Poort backed artefact blank morphologies.

Workshop organizers:
Justin Pargeter (Stony Brook University / University of Johannesburg) Clément Ménard (University of Florida / TRACES)
Marina Redondo (University of Toulouse / TRACES)

Workshop abstract:
Toolkit miniaturization remains one of the most economically consequential changes in lithic technology. Microliths are widely considered to be the clearest archaeological manifestations of these processes. However, microliths are currently defined in a number of ways including small retouched (backed) tools, backed tools irrespective of size, small flakes and bladelets. This wide range of definitions has led to a loss of accuracy in studies of toolkit miniaturization and in a general breakdown of inter-analyst communication. The proposed workshop will provide a platform for as wide a range of researchers to present definitions and identification criteria for microliths in their respective regions/time periods. Ultimately it is hoped that
the workshop will lead to increased communication between researchers studying microliths and toolkit miniaturization more broadly.


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