Modern or Prehistoric: Experiments in Distinguishing between Culturally and Mechanically Produced Chipped Stone Artifacts

In some instances, the non-cultural fracture of stone can resemble culturally modified implements. This article presents the results of several reduction experiments that are used to separate flake debris produced by cultural means (i.e., knapping) from flakes produced by non-cultural means. In this case, the non-cultural production of flake debris was the result of chert being fractured by a rock crusher for use as road gravel. The experiments presented here allow for archaeological materials to be examined at the site and individual flake levels. These methods are demonstrated through application to materials recovered during an archaeological survey in Illinois.