Sedentism, Lithic Technology, and Debitage: An Intersite Debitage Analysis

It has been suggested that debitage can be a useful tool for examining lithic technology and for dating sites. This article analyzes debitage from three Archaic period sites in the lower Illinois River valley. Debitage from a site without a clear date is compared to debitage from two sites of known temporal affiliation. Variables such as flake length, width, weight, and platform preparation are used in the analysis. The results indicate the potential use for debitage in dating sites and for further examinations of lithic technology, particularly of the relationship between sedentism and technology.