Book review: Fractures in Knapping

Abstract

The book 'Fractures in Knapping' by Are Tsirk (2014) is apropos at a time when ‘shape matching’ to typological holotypes is de rigueur. Thus, a book that outlines the fractographic and fracture mechanic principles behind chaîne opératoire and technological analysis is important because understanding fractures is essential to interpreting knapping (Tsirk, 2014: ix).  The book’s relevance is evident in the content of its three parts.  Part one briefly considers the tools and techniques of knapping (chapters 1 and 2) and raw material types (chapter 3).  Part two introduces the formation and meaning of fracture attributes (chapters 8 to 9). Part three (chapters 10 to 13) describes how fractography relates to knapping.  It concludes with a few brief remarks (chapter 14), a glossary, references and index.

For more about the author of 'Fractures in Knapping', see Are Tsirk's biography in the Journal of Lithic Studies, Vol. 2, Nr. 1.