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The Flote-Tech Flotation Machine: Messiah or Mixed Blessing?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jack Rossen
Jack Rossen*
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Archaeological Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, and Department of Anthropology, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850
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Abstract

In their review of the Flote-Tech machine-assisted flotation system, Hunter and Gassner (1998) depict the machine as nearly perfect and present it as a technical marvel. I attempt to present a more balanced view of the Flote-Tech machine, based on four years of direct experience. Rather than being a perfected machine for flotation recovery of archaeological plant remains, the Flote-Tech is a prototype with important design and use problems. It can only be recommended with major caveats and system modifications.

Résumé

Résumé

En su revisión del sistema de flotación mecanizadoo Flote-Tech, Hunter y Gassner (1998) lo describen como sifuera casi perfecto y lopresentan como una maravilla técnica. Es mi intención presentar una visión más equilibrada de la máquina Flote-Tech, basada en cuatro años de experiencia directa. Más que ser una máquina perfeccionada de flotación y recuperación de restos de plantas arqueológicas, Flote-Tech es un prototipo con graves problemas de diseño y uso. Se puede recomendar solamente con serias advertencias y modificaciones del diseño.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 64 , Issue 2 , April 1999 , pp. 370 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1999

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References

References Cited

Hunter, A. A., and Gassner, B. R. 1998 Evaluation of the Flote-Tech Machine-Assisted Flotation System. American Antiquity 63: 143–156.Google Scholar
Pearsall, D. M. 1989 Paleoethnobotany: A Handbook of Procedures. Academic Press, San Diego.Google Scholar
Wagner, G. E. 1982 Testing Flotation Recovery Rates. American Antiquity 47: 127–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, P. J. 1997 The Shaping of Modern Paleoethnobotany. In People, Plants, and Landscapes: Studies in Paleoethnobotany, edited by Gremillion, K. J., pp. 13–22. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.Google Scholar