The examination of lithic artifacts from an early archaic assemblage : Strengthening inferences through multiple lines of evidence

Several recent papers dealing with flake debris analysis have suggested modeling lithic reduction as a continuum. In this paper, the application of a continuum-based method is demonstrated using data from an Early Archaic component at site 15CU31, in south central Kentucky. Additional information concerning the flake debris is derived from mass and individual-flake analyses. Technological and microwear analyses were con ducted on the recovered modified implements and indicate that most were broken during manufacture and not used on site. The analysis of the recovered materials suggests that the site functioned as a location where the main activity was the production of bifaces for transport and use elsewhere. The analysis of flake debris and modified implements also suggests that biface production at this location was a staged process.