Poster 2: Examining the lithic reduction intensity: a case study from the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya.

During the few past decades various variables have been proposed for examining the lithic reduction intensity. For example, analyses have shown that as cores are reduced further they tend to be prepared more, e.g. by trimming the striking platforms, and the number of dorsal scars on flakes increases. At the same time for example the average core size, flake size, andinstance by calculating various indices, such as Kuhn’s Geometric Index of Unifacial Retouch, which measures the relation between retouch height and flake blank thickness, and Retouch Perimeter Index, which assesses the percentage of flake perimeter retouched. In an on-going case study the correlations between attributes proposed in recent studies are examined in the archaeological assemblages collected in a British Institute in Eastern Africa research project in the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. These derive mostly from obsidian dominated open-air Pastoral Neolithic sites, but also from a few rock-shelters and Pastoral Iron Age locations. Besides providing evidence for understanding the local archaeological sequence, the current case study can also have wider significance, since the various attributes connected to lithic reduction intensity have been scarcely examined with obsidian dominated assemblages. amount of cortex decreases.

Tool reduction intensity has been examined for instance by calculating various indices, such as Kuhn’s Geometric Index of Unifacial Retouch, which measures the relation between retouch height and flake blank thickness, and Retouch Perimeter Index, which assesses the percentage of flake perimeter retouched. In an on-going case study the correlations between attributes proposed in recent studies are examined in the archaeological assemblages collected in a British Institute in Eastern Africa research project in the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. These derive mostly from obsidian dominated open-air Pastoral Neolithic sites, but also from a few rock-shelters and Pastoral Iron Age locations. Besides providing evidence for understanding the local archaeological sequence, the current case study can also have wider significance, since the various attributes connected to lithic reduction intensity have been scarcely examined with obsidian dominated assemblages.