Workshop "Current Approaches and New Directions in Lithic Analysis: Defining, Identifying and Interpreting Variability"

In recent years, multidisciplinary approaches have been applied to the study of stone tools, which besides “traditional approaches” have borrowed tools and methods from social or computing sciences (typo-technological approach, attribute analysis, controlled experiments to better understand the mechanism of fractures of the stone, 3D scanning of artefacts, geometric morphometrics, use of multivariate statistical tests, etc.). However, the use of these very different methods has sometimes contributed to impede communication between researchers as well as comparisons between stone tool assemblages. It has therefore become critical to increase communication between stone tool analysts. The main objective of this workshop is therefore to bring together researchers applying different methods and to provide a platform for them to present their methods and exchange ideas on how to best characterise and interprete variability in lithic assemblages.

Around 30 participants are expected. The workshop is divided into 4 sessions which will examine lithic variability on different scales: intra-assemblage variability (session 1), intra-regional variability (session 2) and inter-regional variability (session 3). Session 4 will be a general discussion.

I look forward to it!