Premium
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF STONE ARTEFACT MATERIALS AND THE EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT *
Author(s) -
DOMANSKI M.,
WEBB J. A.,
BOLAND J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1994.tb00963.x
Subject(s) - materials science , fracture toughness , toughness , fracture (geology) , composite material , metallurgy
Mechanical testing of lithologies used for stone tool manufacture has shown that fracture toughness is the most objective measure of the quality of raw materials shaped by either flaking or pecking/grinding. Materials amenable to pressure flaking and blade manufacture have low values of fracture toughness, whereas those shaped by pecking/grinding have high values. The fracture toughness test is also the most definitive for quantifying the improvement in flaking properties of materials subjected to intentional heat treatment. Cryptocrystalline and macrocrystalline siliceous lithologies demonstrate a well‐defined, gradual reduction in fracture toughness with increased temperature. When heated to optimum temperatures, their fracture toughness approaches that of obsidian, the lithology generally regarded as having the best flaking properties.