Searching for Macrofractures Caused by Modifying Flakes into Mousterian Points
Nikola Gavrilović · Arheologija i prirodne nauke · 2023
This article investigates impact fractures, fractures commonly referred to as DIFs (diagnostic impact fractures), that occur during the knapping process of Mousterian points in order to better understand and distinguish fractures caused by use versus those formed during knapping.A knapping experiment was conducted with an inexperienced and an experienced knapper, using decorticated cores of similar sizes and chert as the raw material.The study aimed to identify the types and causes of fractures caused by impact, compare fracture typology between knappers, explore the influence of knapper experience on fracture formation, and investigate to what extent macrofractures occur during the knapping process.The results show that the inexperienced knapper produced a higher percentage of fractures compared to the experienced knapper, with step-terminating fractures being the most common type in the inexperienced knapper's assemblage.Fractures on the proximal dorsal side were mainly caused by a bad striking angle, while fractures on the lateral side were attributed to flakes hitting the ground.On the experienced knapper's assemblage, the most common fractures were the impact notch and burin-like fractures.The experiment also identified diagnostic impact fractures and assessed their presence.The results proved that various fractures could be formed by the same causation, which further leads to the problem of equifinality.Overall, the research provides insights into fracture formation during knapping and highlights the importance of accurately interpreting lithic assemblages based on fracture characteristics.