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A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN THE BALLISTIC PROPERTIES OF MACHINE MADE AND HAND KNAPPED PROJECTILE POINTS

Lowe, Corey
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542892198237583

Abstract Details

2018, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.
The goal of this thesis is to ascertain whether projectile points mass produced on modern lapidary machinery are a viable substitute in experimental archaeological studies for points produced by hand using traditional flint knapping techniques. The hypothesis is that a population of machine ground points, made to predetermined specifications, will exhibit less variability in length, width, mass, etc., from one specimen to the next than an otherwise identical population made by hand. Such a population of points will also break in like manner to a hand knapped group of points when impacting a target. If this hypothesis proves true then it will have not only validated a better method of conducting prehistoric ballistics studies, but potentially one that is applicable to experimental studies with other tools as well. If it can be demonstrated that modern machinery can produce artifacts with a high degree of precision without sacrificing authentic performance then this technique can be used to eliminate a significant source of extraneous error that is currently unavoidable with handmade tools used in experimental studies. The paper will describe the methods used to produce, fire and evaluate 120 darts hafted with stone points. The data show that mass produced machine made points are potentially viable experimental substitutes for traditionally knapped projectile points.
Metin Eren, PhD (Advisor)
Linda Spurlock, PhD (Committee Member)
Richard Meindl, PhD (Committee Member)
39 p.
Archaeology
Projectile Points, Experimental Archaeology, Ballistics,

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lowe, C. (2018). A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN THE BALLISTIC PROPERTIES OF MACHINE MADE AND HAND KNAPPED PROJECTILE POINTS [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542892198237583

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lowe, Corey. A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN THE BALLISTIC PROPERTIES OF MACHINE MADE AND HAND KNAPPED PROJECTILE POINTS. 2018. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542892198237583.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lowe, Corey. "A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN THE BALLISTIC PROPERTIES OF MACHINE MADE AND HAND KNAPPED PROJECTILE POINTS." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542892198237583

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1542892198237583
366
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.