Confined Pressure Compression Scratches: A New Observation in Lithic Analysis

ABSTRACT

During the Late Neolithic in southern Scandinavia and northern Germany, flint daggers reached an exceptionally high quality of craftsmanship. The blades of these daggers were pattern flaked using a pressure technique, which has been replicated by several archaeologists and flint knappers. Observations of scratches caused by the pressure flaking technique can be pointed out on the archaeological finds, and explained as a consequence of the holding position. This grants archaeology a new insight into the techniques of the ancient craftsmen and the interaction between the material and the individual. The “confined pressure compression scratches” suggests that a consistent pressure flaking technique was used throughout the late Neolithic in the region, regardless of the dagger morphology. The observations presented in this article can be extended to other pressure flaked lithics of the world.

KEYWORDS:

• Confined pressure compression scratches
• flint knapping
• flint daggers
• late neolithic
• pressure flaking
• lithic analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, S. Stenak. The data are not publicly available due to [restrictions e.g. their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants].

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Sofus Stenak

Sofus Stenak is a Master’s student of prehistoric archaeology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. His research focusses mainly on lithic technology of southern Scandinavia during the Neolithic. Since 2012, he has been dealing with experimental archaeology and lithic analysis both in communication and research.