Journal of Lithic Studies

Time, memory and alterity in prehistoric lithic technology: Synthesis and perspectives of the French technogenetic approach

2022-05-26T13:18:11+01:00

The technogenetic approach in the field of prehistoric lithic technology studies originated in the late 1980s. Traditional approaches, such as typology and production technology, have tended to approach prehistoric lithic objects through their socio-cultural and economic dimensions, without really considering the existence of a technogenesis prior to these contingencies. The apprehension of this technogenetic dimension in prehistory will call upon both the philosophy and the anthropology of techniques to lead to a double approach of the artefacts: a technogenetic approach of the lithic object according to the technical criteria of its genesis; and a psychosocial approach of the object according to the criteria proper to its artisanal production within a major technical system. The objective of this article is to identify two fundamental existences constituting the technical object, one internal (technogenetic) with technical lineages and the other external (psychosocial) with technical trajectories. The spatio-temporal distribution of prehistoric technical otherness on different continents has logically led to new questions, findings and new criteria of analysis. On this basis, our approach will aim to revisit the main conceptual axes of the foundations of the technological approach, to clarify old questions while developing new expertise. Through the application of key concepts such as time, memory and otherness, an overall methodology will also be discussed and will help proposing its epistemological line.

Temps, mémoire et altérité en technologie lithique: synthèse et perspectives de l’approche technogénétique française

2022-05-26T13:18:11+01:00

L'approche technogénétique dans le domaine des études en technologie lithique préhistorique trouve son origine à la fin des années 1980. Les approches traditionnelles comme de la typologie à la technologie productionnelle ont eu tendance à aborder les objets de la préhistoire à travers leurs dimensions socioculturelle et économique, sans vraiment considérer l’existence d’une technogenèse antérieure à ces contingences. L’appréhension de cette dimension technogénétique en préhistoire convoquera à la fois la philosophie et l’anthropologie des techniques pour amener à une double approche des artefacts: une approche technogénétique de l’objet lithique selon les critères techniques de sa genèse; et une approche psychosociale de l’objet selon les critères propres à sa production artisanale au sein d’un système technique majeur. L’objectif de cet article est d’identifier deux existences fondamentales constituantes de l’objet technique, l’une interne (technogénétique) avec des lignées techniques et l’autre externe (psychosociale) avec des trajectoires techniques. La distribution spatio-temporelle de l’altérité technique préhistorique sur différents continents a logiquement amené à de nouvelles questions, constats et de nouveaux critères d’analyse. Sur cette base, notre démarche visera à revisiter les principaux axes conceptuels des fondements de l’approche technologique, à préciser les anciennes questions tout en développant de nouvelles expertises. À travers l’application de concepts clés comme celui de temps, de mémoire et d’altérité, une méthodologie d’ensemble sera également rediscutée et proposera une ligne de fuite épistémologique.

Tiempo, memoria y alteridad en tecnología lítica: síntesis y perspectivas del enfoque tecnogenético francés

2022-05-26T13:18:11+01:00

En el campo de los estudios en tecnología lítica prehistórica, el enfoque tecnogenético tiene su origen a fines de los años 1980. Los enfoques tradicionales, de la tipología a la tecnología de producción, tienden a abordar los objetos líticos de la prehistoria a través de sus dimensiones sociocultural y económica, sin realmente considerar la existencia de una tecnogénesis anterior a estas contingencias. La aprehensión de esta dimensión tecnogenética en prehistoria requerirá tanto de la filosofía como de la antropología de las técnicas para conducir a un enfoque dual de los artefactos: un enfoque tecnogenético del objeto lítico según los criterios técnicos relativos a su génesis; y un enfoque psicosocial del objeto según los criterios propios de su producción artesanal, en el seno de un sistema técnico mayor. El objetivo de este artículo es identificar dos existencias fundamentales constituyentes del objeto técnico, una interna (tecnogenética) con linajes técnicos y otra externa (psicosocial) con trayectorias técnicas. La distribución espacio-temporal de la alteridad técnica prehistórica en diferentes continentes ha conducido lógicamente a nuevas preguntas, constataciones y nuevos criterios de análisis. Sobre esta base, nuestro trabajo tendrá como objetivo revisar los principales ejes conceptuales de los fundamentos del enfoque tecnológico, así como aclarar viejas preguntas y desarrollar nuevos criterios de estudio. Mediante la aplicación de conceptos clave como tiempo, memoria y alteridad, se volverá también a discutir una metodología global que propondrá una línea de fuga epistemológica.

Ran-thok and Ling-chhom: indigenous grinding stones of Shertukpen tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India

2022-05-26T13:18:11+01:00

The Shertukpens are an Indigenous tribal group inhabiting the western and southern parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. They are accomplished carvers of carving wood and stone. This paper reports on the use of traditional grinding stone implements, ran-thok (grinding stone) and ling-chhom (nutting stone) for the grinding and nutting of grains, fruits, rhizomes, and other food products. These grinding implements are examples of endangered material culture, the use of which may produce better quality flour from both nutritional and gustatory perspectives.

Report: Rock mortars of Sar Pol-e Zahab in their archaeological contexts: Evidence of third and second millennium BCE nomad camp sites in western foothills of Zagros Mountain, Iran

2022-06-06T21:18:38+01:00

During the 2016 archaeological survey in the Sar Pol-e Zahab region, in the border zone between Mesopotamia lowland and Iranian highland, a number of rock mortars were discovered on the edges of seven ancient sites. Owing to its climate and topography and its winter pastures, this region has long been favoured by nomads, and numerous remains of nomadic activities survive. The sites in question are small settlements that have been attributed to nomadic occupation owing to their small area, thin occupational deposits and extremely limited finds. Most of these sites are located near water sources such as springs and rivers. Furthermore, the associated cultural materials are not of high quality. This is in stark contrast to the settlements of farmers and sedentary settlers in the central range and western foothills of the Zagros, the remains of which formed relatively large mounds with complex stratigraphy representing extended occupations accompanied by cultural materials showing a higher degree of workmanship and artistry. In many cases, these characteristics are enough to distinguish the settlements of sedentary farmers from those of herdsmen and nomads. It appears that the nomads of the region, particularly in the third-second millennium BCE and in the Parthian period, used these permanently located rock mortars to grind grains and cereals during their seasonal occupation of these sites. These mortars are not out of context, they are related to the ancient settlements on whose periphery they are found.