A Consideration of Blade and Flake Curvature

Abstract

A method for characterizing blade and flake curvature is introduced and discussed in the context of broader prehistoric behavioral interpretation. The curvature value begins with interval measurements: angle length, angle depth, and thickness at midpoint. Each of these terms are described and techniques for obtaining each are discussed. From these, simple Euclidean geometry is used to derive an overall curvature value. Brief examples of how curvature is used for descriptive and problem oriented studies are introduced, and an example of the curvature measurement is then demonstrated on a population of flakes recovered from the production of triangular projectile points. The paper concludes with a discussion of fracture mechanics focusing on how and why curvature occurs on flakes and blades.