Iron Age flint utilisation in central and southern Britain : the last 'Stone Age'? : an integrated theoretical and empirical study
The shed light on past social and economic processes it is crucial to analyze the ways in which past societies absorb and develop new technologies. It is generally thought that technological development is a linear process, particularly in prehistory and the British Iron Age is a very useful period in which to address and challenge this accepted notion. It has previously been argued that flint tools and technology ceased at the end of the Bronze Age, being replaced by metals. Close scrutiny of excavation records in fact reveals the fallacy of such arguments and this thesis seeks to challenge these assumptions by establishing that flint definitely was used in the Iron Age. Most archaeologists are unaware of the existence of contemporary lithics as a significant component of Iron Age artefact repertories. As such, there is no Iron Age lithic typology which might facilitate the study and identification of this very late lithic material. This study provides fresh insights into Iron Age studies that have previously been neglected and sets out to establish a fluid typology where Iron Age flint assemblages can be recognised and recorded, to explore who was producing and using the flint artefacts and what they were
Humphrey, Jodie
Iron Age flint utilisation in central and southern Britain : the last 'Stone Age'? : an integrated theoretical and empirical study. The shed light on past social and economic processes it is crucial to analyze the ways in which past societies absorb and develop new technologies. It is generally thought that technological development is a linear process, particularly in prehistory and the British Iron Age is a very useful period in which to address and challenge this accepted notion. It has previously been argued that flint tools and technology ceased at the end of the Bronze Age, being replaced by metals. Close scrutiny of excavation records in fact reveals the fallacy of such arguments and this thesis seeks to challenge these assumptions by establishing that flint definitely was used in the Iron Age. Most archaeologists are unaware of the existence of contemporary lithics as a significant component of Iron Age artefact repertories. As such, there is no Iron Age lithic typology which might facilitate the study and identification of this very late lithic material. This study provides fresh insights into Iron Age studies that have previously been neglected and sets out to establish a fluid typology where Iron Age flint assemblages can be recognised and recorded, to explore who was producing and using the flint artefacts and what they were
iron_age flint utilisation central_southern britain last stone_age integrate theoretical_empirical study shed_light past social_economic process crucial analyze_way past_society absorb develop_new technology generally think technological_development linear process particularly prehistory british_iron_age useful period address_challenge accept notion previously argue flint tool technology cease end bronze_age replace metal close_scrutiny excavation_record fact reveals fallacy argument_seek challenge_assumption establish flint use iron_age archaeologist unaware existence contemporary lithics significant_component iron_age artefact repertory iron_age lithic typology might facilitate study identification late lithic_material study provide_fresh insight iron_age study previously_neglect set establish fluid typology iron_age flint assemblage recognise record explore produce use flint artefact