Classical Studies 2700B
NOTE:
On Tuesday, 12th
January, 2010, we shall begin with about 10-15 minutes on the last part of the
Greeks plus the Romans; so please bring the class print-out from last
Thursday’s lecture.
CLM
STONE
Lecture 1
Please refer initially to the first page of the
Introductory lectures file.
Note the following about the Paleolithic Age:
Lower
Paleolithic: percussion flaking > core tools (e.g., pear-shaped hand axe)
Middle
Paleolithic: pressure flaking >
flake tools (e.g., scrapers, points and perforators); use of fire begins in
this period.
Upper
Paleolithic: prismatic flaking > blade tools (e.g., knives, burins, and other items made of bone and
horn)
Definition:
a blade is flake of flint at least
twice as long as it is wide.
Human evolution during Paleolithic Age:
Lower
Paleolithic: first “people” Homo Erectus (= “upright
walking person”)
Middle
Paleolithic: Neandertalers ( not
now considered direct ancestor to Homo Sapiens, though there may have been some
interbreeding between them and wholly modern humans).
Upper
Paleolithic: modern humans (Homo Sapiens); in
Slide demonstration: flint working (called “knapping”)
using prismatic flaking and other techniques, as in Upper Paleolithic. Dr
Jacques Tixier of
Definition: a burin is for engraving and chiseling; it us a tool for making other
tools
Question of the efficiency of the varying flint-working
techniques. LP > c. 5-20cm of cutting edge for each
pound (454 gm) of flint.; MP > c. 1 metre of cutting edge…; UP > c.12 metres
of cutting edge… .
Hunting techniques of Upper
Paleolithic. Invention of “spear-thrower”
(Aztec “atlatl”; Australian aboriginal “womera”).
Its advantages.