The mathematics of chaînes opératoires

Abstract

The decision-making processes underlying core reduction are often framed in terms of the execution of different complex, integrated technological designs. This chapter adopts an alternative approach of specifying simple, independent technological decisions deployed during reduction. These are used to develop three mathematical models of core reduction of increasing complexity. The modeled technologies are labeled as Bernoulli, Markov, and Price cores after their fundamental mathematical properties. Expectations concerning core reduction intensity are derived and tested using data from Paleolithic sites in Africa and Asia. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.