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Thesis ETD WILSON MICHAEL.pdf (589.9 KB)

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Thermoplastic versus organic-based adhesives and haft bond failure rate in experimental ballistics

Wilson, Michael Scott
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619026581478193

Abstract Details

2021, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.
The prehistoric production of composite technologies in human evolution was facilitated greatly by the use of adhesives. One such technology was projectile weaponry, which used adhesives to attach a stone point to a wooden shaft. Prehistoric projectile weaponry is often studied via experimental archaeology, which recreates ancient technologies to understand their manufacture and function. Here, I explore whether a modern thermoplastic adhesive can serve as a suitable replacement for two organic adhesives that would have been used by past peoples – pine pitch and hide glue – in modern experimental tests of prehistoric weaponry. I conducted a ballistics experiment and shot groups of stone-tipped arrows, each group hafted with one of the three adhesives, and assessed the haft bond failure rate. The thermoplastic adhesive was similar to that of the pine pitch and significantly stronger than the hide glue. I concluded that in some cases modern thermoplastic adhesive can be substituted for some organic-based adhesives in experimental archaeology. Our results also show that hafting bond failure rate was significantly different between the pine pitch and the hide glue, suggesting that prehistoric hunter-gatherers faced costs or benefits in selecting adhesives for hafting. Keywords: Experimental archaeology; prehistoric weaponry; hafting; thermoplastic; pine pitch; hide glue; ballistics
Metin Eren, PhD (Advisor)
Linda Spurlock, PhD (Committee Member)
Richard Meindl, PhD (Committee Member)
38 p.
Archaeology; Materials Science
Experimental archaeology; Adhesive; Hafting; Ballistic weaponry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wilson, M. S. (2021). Thermoplastic versus organic-based adhesives and haft bond failure rate in experimental ballistics [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619026581478193

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wilson, Michael. Thermoplastic versus organic-based adhesives and haft bond failure rate in experimental ballistics . 2021. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619026581478193.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wilson, Michael. "Thermoplastic versus organic-based adhesives and haft bond failure rate in experimental ballistics ." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619026581478193

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1619026581478193
127
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.