'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland
The title's quote comes from Knowles' 1889 paper on his fieldwork, where he collected lithics made from various raw materials. He commented on the difficulty of identifying such lithics and the consequent biases produced in the archaeological record. However, these comments were effectivel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of York
2009-09-01
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| Series: | Internet Archaeology |
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| Online Access: | http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/driscolla_index.html |
| _version_ | 1797332510104879104 |
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| author | Killian Driscoll |
| author_facet | Killian Driscoll |
| author_sort | Killian Driscoll |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The title's quote comes from Knowles' 1889 paper on his fieldwork, where he collected lithics made from various raw materials. He commented on the difficulty of identifying such lithics and the consequent biases produced in the archaeological record. However, these comments were effectively overlooked, and flint continued until recently to be perceived as the premier lithic raw material: the Antrim flint deposits were regarded as the lynchpin of Irish prehistory, and, when noted, other materials were seen as substitutes rather than proper materials in their own right. This article outlines research on the social archaeology of the Mesolithic in the west of Ireland, and how the 'flint gaze' has shaped our understanding of prehistory. The article's main focus will be on the social implications of the variety of lithic raw materials that were used at that time – materials that included chert, siltstone, greywacke, quartz, slate, flint, tuffs, and rhyolite, as well as other types used in the manufacture of stone axes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:49:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ba42eac105244069f489f9c103430c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1363-5387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:49:57Z |
| publishDate | 2009-09-01 |
| publisher | University of York |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Archaeology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ba42eac105244069f489f9c103430c02024-02-02T14:54:25ZengUniversity of YorkInternet Archaeology1363-53872009-09-012610.11141/ia.26.11 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of IrelandKillian Driscoll0University College DublinThe title's quote comes from Knowles' 1889 paper on his fieldwork, where he collected lithics made from various raw materials. He commented on the difficulty of identifying such lithics and the consequent biases produced in the archaeological record. However, these comments were effectively overlooked, and flint continued until recently to be perceived as the premier lithic raw material: the Antrim flint deposits were regarded as the lynchpin of Irish prehistory, and, when noted, other materials were seen as substitutes rather than proper materials in their own right. This article outlines research on the social archaeology of the Mesolithic in the west of Ireland, and how the 'flint gaze' has shaped our understanding of prehistory. The article's main focus will be on the social implications of the variety of lithic raw materials that were used at that time – materials that included chert, siltstone, greywacke, quartz, slate, flint, tuffs, and rhyolite, as well as other types used in the manufacture of stone axes.http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/driscolla_index.htmlarchaeology◦Mesolithicflint alternativeslithic technologystone axesIrelandLough AllenShannon |
| spellingShingle | Killian Driscoll 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland Internet Archaeology archaeology ◦Mesolithic flint alternatives lithic technology stone axes Ireland Lough Allen Shannon |
| title | 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland |
| title_full | 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland |
| title_fullStr | 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland |
| title_full_unstemmed | 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland |
| title_short | 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic Flint Alternatives in the West of Ireland |
| title_sort | they wrought almost any material that came in their way mesolithic flint alternatives in the west of ireland |
| topic | archaeology ◦Mesolithic flint alternatives lithic technology stone axes Ireland Lough Allen Shannon |
| url | http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/driscolla_index.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT killiandriscoll theywroughtalmostanymaterialthatcameintheirwaymesolithicflintalternativesinthewestofireland |