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Bigger is Better: Comments on Kuhn's Formal Approach to Mobile Tool Kits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Toby A. Morrow
Toby A. Morrow*
Affiliation:
Office of the State Archaeologist, 310 Eastlawn Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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Abstract

Kuhn (1994) argues that small lithic tools provide an optimal means of reducing the weight of mobile tool kits while maximizing potential utility. This assertion contradicts much of the current thinking about mobility and the organization of lithic technology and is at odds with the archaeological record. A flaw in Kuhn's equation for calculating the utility/mass ratio of retouched tools leads him to this erroneous conclusion. Problems with Kuhn's utility/mass ratio equation are described and an alternative formula is offered. The corrected formula indicates that larger stone tools maximize utility at a lower transport cost. Experimental evidence for additional advantages of larger stone tools is also provided.

Kuhn (1994) arguye que los artefactos liticos pequeños son un medio optimo para reducir el peso de los conjuntos liticos de grupos moviles, al mismo tiempo que maximizan la utilidad potencial. Esta afirmación contradice mucho de lo que conocemos actualmente sobre movilidady organización de tecnologia litica, y no esta de acuerdo con el registro arqueológico. Una falla en la ecuación que Kuhn utiliza para calcular la proporción utilidad/masa en artefactos retocados lo ha conducido a esas conclusiones equivocadas. En este articulo se describen los problemas de la ecuación utilidad/masa de Kuhn y se ofrece una formula alternativa. La ecuación correcta indica que los artefactos de piedra grandes, con una alta capacidad de reavivamiento, maximizan la utilidad con bajos costos de transporte. Tambien se ofrece evidencia experimental sobre ventajas adicionales de los artefactos de piedra grandes.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 61 , Issue 3 , July 1996 , pp. 581 - 590
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1996

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References

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