Using Dynamic Image Analysis as a Method for Discerning Microdebitage from Natural Soils in Archaeological Soil Samples
Phyllis S. Johnson, Markus Eberl, Michael H. McBride, Rebecca Estrada Aguila · Lithic Technology · 2021
Unlike larger stone tools and debitage, the analysis of microdebitage (measuring less than 6 mm) allows for identifying likely areas where stone tools were manufactured at prehistoric archaeological sites. The tedious, time-consuming, and costly nature of microdebitage, however, has overshadowed its data potential, making most archaeologists wary of implementing this method. To alleviate these issues, this study introduces an experimental protocol using Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) as a potential method for differentiating between microdebitage and natural soils within archaeological soil samples. In this study, a particle analyzer was employed to test whether microdebitage can be quantifiably identified within archaeological soil samples without the need for flotation and manual sorting. The results of the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) test demonstrate significant differences (p < 0.001) between the lithic and soil datasets, indicating that DIA is a viable and promising method for differentiating between microdebitage and natural soils within archaeological soil samples.