The need for a taphonomic perspective in stone artefact analysis

Abstract

In Australia a number of taphonomic studies suggest that natural processes may cause stone artefacts to move vertically within a site (Stockton 1973, Hughes and Lampert 1977, Stern 1980), and to move around the landscape (Cane 1982). There seems to be a consensus amongst Australian archaeologists that, while stone artefacts may be moved vertically or horizontally, they are virtually indestructible. Consequently it is believed that interpreting artefact numbers and morphologies requires no taphonomic perspective at all.