Understanding stone tools and archaeological sites /

Kooyman (Univ. of Calgary) studied flintknapping with the legendary Don Crabtree, worked with contemporary Mexican Lacondon flintknappers, and analyzed archaeological lithics from sites in Canada, New Zealand, and Ecuador. The volume begins with a succinct history of archaeological lithic tool analysis, reviews stone types and strategies and techniques of lithic reduction, and surveys worldwide lithic technologies. Old World Lower Paleolithic through Neolithic eras and analogous Paleo-Indian through Formative New World terminologies should have been introduced here. Other chapters assess production variables and tool forms and functions and present a regional-specific "Northern Plains Stone Tool Cultural History." Final chapters consider the wider application of lithic analysis, usewear patterns and residue analysis (the latter isn't comprehensive), and analytical approaches. Direct and indirect percussion and pressure flaking forming techniques are elucidated admirably; less attention is paid to pecking, grinding, and polishing. Important topics considered include fracture mechanics, heat treatment, physicochemical sourcing, the "type" concept, and replication. Excellent black-and-white images, drawings, and tables, useful glossary and references, and a ten-page conflated topical and proper noun index complement the volume. Updating Bonnichsen and Young (Understanding Stone Tools, 1984) but less comparable to Whittaker (Flintknapping, CH, Dec'94), Kooyman's book is essential to archaeological pedagogy and professional and amateur readers at all levels. C. C. Kolb; National Endowment for the Humanities