10 - Conclusion

Summary

It should be obvious to the reader that prehistoric lithic artifacts were made, used, modified, and discarded in cultural contexts unlike any that exists today. Things that were intimately linked to prehistoric activities and tool uses, such as making the tool or searching for the lithic raw material, were probably common chores conducted before an activity was undertaken. Integrating the production of a tool into the process of its use, and then task completion, are all parts of a whole, and differ significantly from modern task accomplishment. The differences in the ideological perspectives of modern and prehistoric tool users is one of the most challenging areas for the interpreters of lithic artifacts and archaeologists in general.

Related to this concept of ideological differences is the fact that dynamic processes are associated with stone tool production and use. One of the most important considerations I have tried to stress in this book is the concept that stone tools change forms and shapes – as well as functions – during the period of time they are being used. That stone tool artifacts are the product of a dynamic process is, in some instances, incompatible with classification systems invented by archaeologists. This is further complicated by the common archaeological presumption that artifact shape reflects artifact function. Although stone tool shape often does indicate a function, I have tried to show that this is not always true and some stone tool shapes may be associated with more than one function.