B
tTechnological Analysis of the Anv il (Bipolar) Technique
11
james Knight
E
u
~
E3
Paper orig iruU y given at the Technological An.ly.is and Au stralian Al\:hacoJogy
Univc l'$ity of New Englaoo , Armid.le, New Engl.nd 3-5 Ap ril 1988.
I:
Introduction
~ . @'
B
t=J
D
I
r:::J
~- ~~
~
~
~
"
"
~
Conr~re nce,
,
0
~@
"'"
~
.
~
;;:
,
Figure 7: Vi/now white (Grun AnI Shdur GAl 128'1 Sq 018,- S~71-480 Sq NJ6) refit pili,..
Fracture SUr/DU! devoid oJjea/uns, ilJlfHlClfultuns an/aim.
56
The' Anvi l (bipolar)' technique is of inlerest for three reasons: its long
hislOry of use (from Middle Bed 11 at Olduvai Gorge to the ethnographic
present); its, prevalence in Australian assc:mblages; and the debate whic h
has surrounded the technique and its analysis. The technique. although
commonly used on vein quartz. is nol inextricably linked 10 it. The 'anvil
(bipolar)' technique appears to have been generally used in order to make
use of small pieces of raw material. As succinctly summed up by Barham
( 1987, 49): -The bipolar technique provides a meatlS of maximising
resources: it allows the kIlapper to make foil use of small ant/(Ior)
illlracrable raw materials at the expense of reduced control over flake
morphology. - This paper first sketches the history of the recognition of he
technique, then describes the experimental debitage resulting from working
both chert and vein quartz by trus technique.
This paper is directed, not at lithic specialists, but at field archaeologists
who require detailed identification criteria. Stone working in general, and
the 'anvil (bipolar»)' technique in particular. are rarely taught to
archaeology students. Consequently the 'anvil (bipolar)' technique is well
understood only by a few lithic specialists. A working knowledge of this
technique is important for accurate analysis, and the aim of this paper is
limited to simply describing the technique in order that accurate
identifications may be made.
What is the' Anvil (Bipolar)' Technique?
The 'anvil (bipolar)' technique is technologically very simple (fig I) . One
rests the 'core' on an anvil and strikes it, so that the hammer transmits
force through the 'core' directly into the anvil. This results in relatively
uncontrolled flake removals. Ethnographic infoIllUUlts (Kosambi 1967. 106;
White 1968) state that the intention is simply to smash the 'core' and then
to choose pieces which are of use. When one is work.ing a piece of stone on
an anvil . one. must make certain that the piece is stable in the axis in wruch
it will be struck. otherwise it may sk.ip and crush one's fingers. Flying
57
fragments are sometimes a danger, but following Duna practice (White
1968, plate I) by wrapping the core in bark (or leather) can reduce this.
H o~~ver, this does not a~pear to have been considered essential by all
tradItional stone workers smce no wrapping seems 10 have been recorded
elsewhere in New Guinea (Sillitoe 1983 , 35), or in African (MacCalman
and Grob~l1 aar 1965,12), Indian (Kosambi 1967, 106, 109) and Australian
ethnographic records (photograph by Dick in McCarthy 1976, plate I; see
also Kamrninga 1978, 33). Wrapping certainly does not increase tbe length
of Ihe flakes. although pressure from fingers holding the wrapping in place
may (CottereU and Kamminga 1987, 694).
It is. often implied that anvilling is inexorably linked to vein quartz (e.g.
Breutl and Lantier 1965). This is not true. The 'anvil (bipolar)' technique
appears to bave been used as it allows the initial or continued reduction of
small pieces of raw material which coulet not otherwise be worked.
The use of the ' ~vil (bipolar' technique spans 1.5 million years , ranging
from occurrences ID Developed Oldowan B in the upper part of M iddle Bed
n at Olduvai Gorge (Leakey 1971, 258) to the ethnographic present.
The 'anvil (bipolar)' technique discussed in this paper describes the stone
working technique recorded by Dick (McCarthy 1976 , plate I), Kosambi
(1 967, 106) and White (1968). Crabtree (1972, 40) and Hiscock (1982, 38)
appear to use the same definition while Flenniken and White (195 8,
134,150) include it with backing and anvil-supported work in their more
general category of techniques which employ anvils. This technique is
unrelated to that described by Crabtree as 'anvil' (1972, 34-35) and 'block
on block' (ibid. 47-48). The point was made at the conference that certain
types of debitage described in this paper can be produced by other flaking
techniques. The approach taken in this research has been to analyse the
debi~ge resulting from the 'anvil (bipOlar)' technique. rather than to
descnbe shapes and forms and to list all those techniques which could
produce them.
The tenn 'bipolar technique' implies that most flakes are bipolar, which
they are not , and it does not clearly explain the use of the anvil. I have
previously (l986) suggested 'anvil ' as a more accurate name of the
techniq~e, despite the fact that this term was used by Crabtree (ibid. 34-35)
to descnbe the 'block on block technique' (ibid. 47-48). I now prefer the
term 'anvil (bipolar)' technique, as this describes the technique of working
allow for the inclusion of non-bipolar pieces and retains the widely used
and accepted term 'bipolar' .
The History or Recognition or the Technique
The '':flvil (b.ipolar), technique has a long history of partial recognition, but
tbat history IS marred by many non-experimental assumptions, as well as
58
long continued ignorance of previous work, whether intentional or simply
accidental. Evans (1 872. 369) discussed 'chisels ' which appear from his
description to be anviUed pieces. Bardon et at. (1906) described 'pieces
esquil/ees' and 'pieces ecailfes' (splintered or scaled pieces) made on flint
fl akes. Holmes (1919, 3(0) described South American anvilled pebbles. not
giving them a specific name. Garrod and Bate (1937, 52-3, 72-3) recorded
flint 'squamous ' (scale-like) flakes at Mount Carmel without making
comparisons. Breuil (1932, 8) described the vein quartz material from
Choukoutien and identified. 'outils ecailles' (scaled tools), while Pei (1937;
1939), who was working with Breuil , described the same material as
'bipolar'. Van Reit Lowe (1946) described 'bipolar' pebbles identical to
Holmes (1919), but referred to Pei's ( 1939) work . Binford and Quimby
(1963) named and described 'bipolar' chert pebbles, but referred to no-<lne.
Honea (1 965) and Crabtree (1972, 10-11, 40-42) both used the teon
'bipolar', also without reference. In East Africa, Leakey (1971 , 7) adopted
the term 'OUlUS ecailles '. In Southern Africa, Barham (1987 , 49)
experimented and independent ly presented conclusions gratifyingly similar
to those presented in this paper.
A red herring was introduced into the debate by Patterson and Sollberger
(1976; 1977) and PaUerson (1979) , who altered the accepted definition .
Most North American archaeologists appear to assume that ' bipolars' are
only made on pebbles (e.g. Cresson 1977; Stafford 1977; Hardaker 1979;
Leaf 1979; Hayden 1980), the notable exceptions being Crabtree (1972,
402) and Flenniken and White (\985 ; 140, 150). A more detailed
discussion of this point is presented in Knight (1986, 92-110) .
'Pieces esqui/les' and 'pieces ecailles' have long been regarded as fonnal
tools by French Archaeologists. Chauchat et al. (1985, 35) note that they
were reclassified as debris in 1972, although this decision has been
questioned by Maziere (1984), Dewel. (1985) and Chauchat et al. (ibid. ).
The earliest references to 'bipolars' in Australia appear to be Thorpe
(1931, 286, fig 10) and Towle (1935 , 120, plate Ic) who both used a
descriptive classification, calling them 'button flakes'. The functional term
' fabri cator' became popular following its adoptation by McCarthy (l94 1,
263 ; 1943a, 132, 145, fi gs 23-4; 1943b. 207, figs 29-30; McCarthy and
Davidson 1943, 212, 221 . fig 37; McCarthy el al. 1946,34, fi g 101-2).
McCarthy (1943a, 145) recognised their resemblance to the 'Qutil ecaille '
of Europe and claimed that they were used for trimming or retouching
stone (ibid. 130). Ethnographic observations in New Guinea by White
(1968) drastically altered the Australian perception of these objects. White
reported that fabricators were the debris resulting from anvilling cores. and
proposed the name 'scaled core' (a more accurate translation of ecailfe).
The term 'bipolar' has become popular in Australia and, although it is
difficult to prove, it seems that its adoption by both Crabtree (1972, 10-1,
40-2) and Kanuninga (1978 , 25-33) influenced its general acceptance.
59
Table 1: Occurrence of 'Bipolars' in seleaed Australian Assemblages.
'8ipolars' Quartz
Referern:u
present
'b ipoJal'$'
only _
Cape York Peninsula
,
I
F
,i
I,
'I
Early Man Shelter
Mushroom Rock.
Green Ani Shelter
Echidna Shelter
Northern Rainfo.rut (Qld) Jjyer Cave
Mulg ... ve River 1&.2
New England (NSW)
Seelands
Jack.y·' Creel;
Chambigne
Whiteman Creek
\\\::Imb.h 1
Bendemecf 1 &. 2
Graman
South CO.,! (NSW)
BurriU Late
Currarong I
CUITllrQng 2 &. J
Victoria
Manga,
Green Gully
Kangaroo Isla nd (SA)
KlSB, KISC &. KJC
Pigs W,uerhoJe
Seton
SW ~stem Aust ... lia
DeVil', Lair
Quininup Brook
Amhcm Land
Undn .. r
y"
1
No
y"
y"
y"
yu
V"
y"
y"
V"
Vu
Vu
y"
1
1
1
No
1
1
?
y"
V"
Vu
1
y"
No
Vu
No
V"
V"
V"
V"
y"
McBrydc 1974
1
1
1
MOlt
MOil
y"
Rosenfe ld 1984
Wrighl 1971
Unpublished
Unpublished
Honfa U 198Th
Lampcn 1971
No
SulIivln 1973
Wrighl 1970
Larnpert 1981
M ~'
1
No
No
1
Dortch 1984
Fcrguson 1981
Mulvaney 1975
I!
I
That the objects commonly recognised in Australia as fabri cators were
exhaUSled cores was confirmed by many workers (Wright 1970; Lampert
197 1, 43; Sullivan 1973; Vanderval 1977; Dickson 1977; Kanuninga 1978,
25-33). This gained comparalively wide acceptance within Australia by the
mid- 1970s (e.g. McCarthy 1976, 39). The technique has been extensively
studied since, notably by Hiscock (1979, 52-54; 1982; 1983), Flood (1980,
308-316), Winter (1984; 1986a; 1986b), Perham (1985, 48-83), Knight
(1986, 92- 11 0), Barham (1987) , Goulding (1987) and Cotterell and
Kamminga (1987, 683-689, 698).
Kamminga (1978, 3 1·32) concluded that 'bipolars' were not wedges.
However, stone wedges of some sort do indeed exist. Flenniken (1981, 5156) experimented with this problem and Slated that 'bipolars' and wedges
were not the same objects. Keeley ( 1980, 40-4 1) and Fullager (1982, 67)
have identified wedges as a separate class of 'opposed-impact damage
pieces', having a lesser degree of impact damage than 'bipolars·.
60
The Anvil/ Freehand Percussion Threshold
Dickson ( 1977, 99) stated that freehand percussion cores and other pieces
of stone were anvilled if or when they were too small , or had lost too much
inertia, to be reduced by any other technique. This has been accepted and
supported by Hiscock (1979, 53-4), Flenniken and White (1985, 140, 150),
Perham (1985, 7 1-83), Wilier (l986a, 3), Knight ( 1986, 71, Barham
( 1987, 49) and Kamminga and Cotlerell (1987, 685).
Several researchers have allempted to define the core weight below which
anvilling or discard became the only possible options: Their figures are 6090g (D ickson 1977, 99). 70-75g (Perham 1985, 74), 60-75g (Barham 1987,
48) and 5- lOg (Hiscock 1982,39-40). I have previously suggested that each
decision on whether to anvil or to cease was influenced by a number of
factors, including the needs and abilities of the stone worker (Knight 1986,
69-70). These variables may explain the wide range of discard weights.
The influence of these variables is illustrated by an assemblage from the
Carron River near Nonnanton (Northwestern Queensland). The stone
workers in this stone-poor environment appear to have preferred not 10
anvil, as only 2 out of approximately 50 worked pieces seen were anvilled.
These cores are made on pebbles of unflawed milky and clear/milky vein
quartz which were between 3·5cm in their largest dimension, a size which
is very difficult to freehand percuss experimentally (HorsfaU 1987a, 11).
I have previously claimed (Knight 1986, 81-2) that the milky/white vein
quartz piece from Mulgrave River 2 (fig 2a) proves the contention that
freehand percussion cores were subsequently anviUed. This was based on
the presence of both freehand percussion step-fracturing and anvil impact
damage. I have since located an identical piece in my chert experiment
number FIe 55. This experiment was carried out on a cubic piece of n int
which was anviJled but never freehand percussed, The kind of step
fracturing previously claimed to be the result of freehand percussion
actually resulted from anvilling.
'Bipolars' or 'Bipolar Cores'
The term 'bipolar core' is not useful as 'bipolars' do not fun ction as cores
in the accepted sense of the term. A core has flakes struck off it , and one is
usually left with debitage and a core. The 'anvil (bipolar) ' technique. on
the other hand, usually produces more than one 'bipolar piece' (tables 2
and 3). Wilier (1986a, 4) attempted to define a 'bipolar core' as being a
core only until it splits. This concept is flawed as it is usual for more than
one 'bipolar piece' to be produced from each 'core' and, the 'bipolars'
produced from a core-split often appear as if they bave never split. The use
of the term 'core' is misleading, since it implies that only one 'bipolar' is
produced by each anvilling event. This is recognised by those who use the
61
il·
Table 2: Numbers of 'Bipolars' produced in experiments
Bipolar,
QZ 87
QZ 88
QZ89
QZ90
QZ9 1
QZ92
Bipolar
frags
Bipolan;
,
2
QZ46
QZ48
QZ49
4
2
2
QZ5Q
QZ51
QZ 97
4
3
QZ52
QZ ID ]
QZ 102
J
3
1
2
T""I
28
4
Bipolar
frags
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
Tota l
7
4
BipoJars
Bipolar
F/C52
,
frags
F/eS]
FfCS 4
F/CSS
1
2
1
2
1
FfC56
F/eS7
4
FfC5S
F/C59
F/C60
FfC61
F/C63
,"
term 'bipolar' or 'bipolar piece' rather than 'bipolar core' (Kamminga
1978.26; Flood 1980, 308-3 16; Fullagar 1982. 67; 1986,245).
F/e7]
F/C73
F/C 74
F/C7S
F/C79
Total
1
3
1
3
3
1
1
3
,
"
Features of 'Bipola.-s!
'Bipolars' can be defined as having two opposed areas of impacts (Binford
and Quimby 1963.294-6; Kamminga 1978, 26). ' Bipolars' can have three
or four impact damaged edges, but pieces with impacts on one end only
should be called flakes or fragments (fig 2efi). The flake scars on a
'bipolar' are usually opposed, and can be in four directions if the piece has
been turned 90" .
2
,
Binford and Quimby (1963, 289) named and described features on chert
pebble 'bipolars'. Kamminga adopted their terms and explained the
features mechanically (1978, 26-8). These features are percussion ridges
(figs 2, 3d), percussion stubs (fig 3b) and percussion platforms (fig 2a).
These three types are not distinct forms but are from a range of possible
percussion damage. This can be illustrated by my experiment 'Quartz 66'
(figs 3,4). This was a large freehand percussed vein quartz flake which was
subsequentl y anvilled creating four 'bipolar pieces' in addition to a flake.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 also illustrdte this point.
2
1
2
J
23
Percussion platforms and stubs result when flat areas on the core are
repeatedly struck. Damage is often confmed to the edges of the platforms
and stubs. If a 'bipolar' with a percussion platform splits. each fragment
may have either percussion platforms or stubs. A percussion ridge is
formed by flake removals on either side of the area being struck. eventually
reducing the area 10 a percussion ridge. The ridge can be straight, curved
or wavy, depending on whence the flakes are removed. This is the source of
the oft-mentioned scale-flakes. From my experiments, it appears that the
creation of these forms is dependent on the morphology of the 'core'.
Table 3: Average Number of 'Bipolars' produced ill each allvilling eve",.
Number
eventl
Bipolar
'''''I
Bipolar
frags
""I
BQI
Burdekin quartz
Laura quartz
Koolburra quartz
Crystal quartz
Pebble quartz
Non-pebble quartz
,
4
2
1
2
,
JO
7
12
4
1
U 7
J
J9
Total quartz
J5
"
"
Braoooo chert
Brudekin chert
J3
3
2J
Total chen
"
"
lJ
0.67
0.25
J.S
3.16
7
1.,
0.16
0.7
8
2.34
0.53
20
I
1.62
3.67
!.SO
0.33
23
2
1.44
62
'--- - - -
Average
bipolar
~r event per eve m
3
3.5
3
3
7
J
,
Average
bipola".
r
An occasional feature on 'bipolars' is a V-shaped end (figs 2ad, 8, 9b) .
These V-shaped ends are created when a percussion ridge is split. As a
result of being a cross-section of a percussion ridge, most V-shaped ends
have incipient fractures visible on the fracture surface which caused the
split. Other shapes of 'bipoJars' can be named although they have no
technological relevance, being chosen from a range of possible shapes none
of which can be intentionally reproduced on a regular basis. Figure 5
illustrates a group of 'plate-like bipolars' from Wunjunga (Lower Burdekin,
North Queensland). These pieces usually have right-angled edges. 'Bipolar
squares' (Knight 1986. 145-6), so named because they are square in
section. are 'bipolars' with two opposed percussion stubs (fig 2d).
The term ' Iammelate' although unpublished, has been used in the
description of some Australian 'anvil (bipolar)' pieces. Witter (pers.
comm.) states that these vein quartz objects (which vary in length from 10-
63
I~
20,m m are u~ual1y lOmm wide and 3mm thick) are intentionally produced
uSing an anvtl·supported technique. This tenn should nOI therefore be used
in reference 10 'anvil (bipolar)' pieces.
Burin-like Breaks
True burins do exist in Australia (McBryde 1974 , 238; Clark and Pickering
1978, 15; Fullaghar 1982 , 64-6; Kamminga 1982. 91 -3; Hotchin 1982
ap~d.ix 2; Hotcbin and May 1984, 17· 18; Knight 1989, 18). However:
buno-hke breaks are common within anvilled debitage and have previously
mi s ~ed ,McCa.rthy (1976, fig 19, nos 2,6-8, 12, 13 , 16,1 8-19,2 1-24,27.28).
Bunn-hk~ breaks on 'bipolars' are created during anvilling when a
compresSIOn fracture removes an edge, leaving a fracture surface similar to
that left by a burin spall .
' BiIX?lars' with bunn-like breaks are not burins as defined in Europe
(BreZlllon 1968, 165-191 ), and even though they are superficially similar
Can be. distinguisb~ by th~ir 'anvil (bipolar)' featu res. They may be
as bunns. but are Impossible to predict and must not be confused with
in tem~ti onal burins. Kamminga (1982, 9 1-3) examined burin-like breaks,
and Hlscock ( 1988) has recently described burin-like blade cores.
used
Figure 6 is a refit of part of my quartz experiment 49. Piece A exhibits a
burin-like break , although it is apparent when refitted that the break was
caused by an~il!ing ..The ~reaks between the flint pieces illustrated in figure
7 and the obSid ian PieceS m figure 8 are similar.
All pi ec~ illustrated. i~ fig~re 10 have burin-like breaks. Pieces e and g
a~ ex~nmental obSidian ~)1 eces from the same experiment as figure 8.
.r
P~ ece IS a refitted chert bipolar from Thrtle Rock (Hervey Range). This
pIece IS a remnant of a fl ake which has been anvilled , and has burin-like
breaks on each edge.
It can be seen that the surface of a burin-Iike break is almost featureless
although these surfaces occasionally show very flattened conchoida'l
fea tures. Identification is easy when opposed impacts can be located. If the
piece has evidence of anvilling, on either an end or side, it must be
as.sumed th.at the break is produced by that technique. Although pieces
wltho~t 'bIpolar' features might still be confused with burins, in my
expenments I have not located any burin-like breaks which do not betray
'anvil (hipolar)' origins.
Features of Fla kes
Anvi.U ~ flakes are not usually recognised and are not mentioned in any
pubhcahon that I aware of except Kobayashi (1975). This may result either
from a concentration upon ' bipolars' or from the general disregard for
64
unretouched flakes. The analysis of ' anvil (bipol.ary .d ebitage is
complicated by the fact that not all anv~lIed fl~es are dlstmctlVe (fig 11).
My e x.periments show that 1-7 % of anvllled vem quartz fl akes ~~ter th~n
3mm appear to be freehand percussed, while only ~ 1 ~22% e.xhlblt defimte
'anvi l (bipolar)' features. The remainder are either equIVocal or are
fragments. The figures for chert are 8-36 % apparen~ly freehand percussed,
and 22 %-26 % 'anvil (bipolar)'. From these figures It can be seen that most
flakes removed from 'bipolar ' cores are nol themselves 'bipolar'.
As Hayden ( 1980, 3) has no ted, the identification?f '~vil (bipolar)' fl~es
relies on the presence of a combination of diag n~sh.c trailS" not .all o~ whlc~
need be present. It is apparent that the maJonty of ~vl l (bIpolar)
debitage does not betray its o rigin. It is therefore not poSSIble .to calc~la~e
the proportions of 'anvil (bipolar), to freehand percussed debltage '."tthm
an assemblage. However, there are sufficient traits to allow the detection of
the presence of 'anvil (bipolar)' debitage within an assemblage.
Many anvilled flakes have a flaking angle of 90° (i.e. the angle between the
striking platfonn and the ventral surface (Kobayashi 1975, fig 2). ,:reeha~d
percussed flakes are usually removed at an angle of l:ss than 90 , whIle
' anvil (bipolar), flakes are usually removed close to 90 (fig 13). The only
published analysis of flaking ang~es of 'anvil ~b ipolar)' fl akes clearly shows
a strong concentration around 90 (Kobayashl 1975 , figs 1,3,5).
The bulbs of force, if present , are usually flattened (figs 2, to). S~riking
platforms are often small, usually damaged and they may be points or
ridges. Point striking platfonns are due to the very small area of contact
between the hammer and core. These can be produce by freehand
percussion, but are more common with anvilling. Striking rid~es are
formed when the striking platform is fragmented as the hanuner stokes the
immobilised flake, and fl akes are removed form both the ventral and dorsal
surfaces resulting in 'a percussion ridge on a flake (fig 9ag).
Anvilling produces more fragments than freehand percussion, simply
because of breakage of immobilised flakes.
Some 'anvil (bipolar)' cores have a pillowed shape, with ridges on each
end while retaining the o riginal thickness in the centre (Mardaga
Ca~pbell and Campbell 1985 , fi g 13, no 10). Following the laws of
fracture (Cotterell and Kamminga 1987, 679. 69?) the forc e f~lIo~s ~he
exterior of the piece and can produce flakes which are cresenhc m Side
view (fig 12). Less extreme and more co~on ~re flak.es ~hich curve ~t the
prox imal end but straighten in the m8(hai region; this IS the oPPOsite of
what is usual for freehand percussed flakes (fig ge).
w
65
Table 4: Percent of debris divided by technique.
"Totall in graml
F/C A
Q<A
"
14
11
FIe HF
Qz HF 9
Percentages
F/C A 14
Q<A
11
FIe HF
9
Q< HF 14
....
POIi\flaking
CO~(I)
fl aldna
weia ht
....,
1400
11 00
1400
'00
1400.41 201.81
693.12 242.46
597.84 343 .33
899.16
74 .14
100
100
100
100
100.03
'9.02
99.90
99.64
Qz .. Qua rtz,
FIe = A intlChen,
percussion)
we ight
Post·f\
debris
Co~ s
fragmentation of a 'core' . This faceting alone is not distinctive and can
occur with freehand percussion. However. it is usually accompanied by
'anvil (bipolar)' features .
+
3-6mm
<3mm
994.04 169.17
863. 10
87.04
1282.8 1 65.25
827.25
60.79
234.9 1
93. 14
21.44
40.37
>6~
> 6~
14.42
26.94
8.24
24.52
792.23
451.69
939.48
753. 11
56.59
50.19
83.68
67.11
71.00
78.46
91.92
91.63
12.08
7.91
6.75
4.66
16.78
13 .31
4.49
3.57
!he ~Ie- like flake has accompanied the 'bipolar; debate almost since its
Inception (Bardon et al. 1906). p'ercussion ridges are created by the
remov~1 of small flakes. The usual ndge damage flake on anvilled chert is
sc~le-hke (14 ~), as opposed to only 2% on vein quartz. (2 %) (tables 5.7) .
Vem quartz ridge damage is a combination of different shapes of small
flakes, both complete and broken. The names which allude to scales are
therefore not al?pli~able to the technique under all conditions and cannot be
used as a genen c title for the technique (table 8).
5; Quaru (1 Oaking eventa)
MClni ng
T. ble
6: Cben (16 O:o.king cventa)
00.
A _Itu
Scalc.
.~~
00
A akn
Scales
lraml
87
22
26
"
,
0
I
0
"
"
70
2
77
10
I
0
I
60.60
38 .90
81.01
202.10
92.63
6
88
230
5
92.27
56 .63
32.29
50.66
45. 15
63.92
47.44
31.06
57.68
t99.32
76.99
87.03
43 .71
89.21
33 .93
50.14
89
92
97
101
102
Table 7;
_ I.
Qu.",
230
547
14. 19
t9.89
509.32
53
54
""
"
""
,
"
4
I
41
17
28
7
JO
1
14
10
2
60
61
25
I
63
71
7J
"
50
12
7
41
9
5
I
5
235
78
12
50
27
9J
640
79
23
2
2
547
9J
J058 .13
74
Cb,.
34
Features of Anvmed Glass
Aboriginal people in Australia used bottle glass as a raw material during
the contact period. both flakes and anvilled pieces were produced (Knight
in prep). Anvilled glass produces distinctive forms. the shapes being
largely determined by the shape of the bottle from which the pieces are
made (fig lOabd). They share all other feature with chert.
1hble 8: Bipolar names relaled tQ scales
""l ied piecc
Kaled tool
Table
A .. Anvil (Bipolar), HF .. Hand Daked (f~c hand
Scale-like Flakes
Piece eca iJlee
Outil ecliJlee
Tables 5-7: Number of scale-like flakes produced.
Muning
Scaled core
SCllar COR
SqLlalllOU1 t1a lte
llea led co~
Ka le-like co~
lleale-like flake
Features of Chert nakes
flak:
Anvilled chert flakes often have exaggerated ri lin
.
tenninations are common (fig IQ). Anvilled chert
a~'o:!d inh~~ge
strange forms (fig 9fg) caused by an overly of step and hinge fmcw:!
Some flakes may have faceted ventml surfaces if the piece is the result of
66
Features of Vein Quartz Flakes
Bulbs, rare on freehand percussed vein quartz, are usually very flattened or
absent on anvilled flakes. As is to be expected with such a brittle material,
there is much fragmentation of anvilled vein quartz debitage, although the
percentage of shatter is determined by the technique used rather than the
material (table 4; fig 11). Ve in quartz shatters, more than chert. but the
percentages within techniques are nevertheless distinct .
In all other respects. anvilled vein quart2 debitage displays features
described above. The analysis
..... : of vein quartz requires different assumptions
~
..
and techniques from that of chert, and these have been described in detail
in another paper in this volume (Knight 1991).
I
I
, viewed from the dorsal view, Raw material is describe:rl, then
~tit;r~;~he ~w material or site. Where material is archaeological the
find number is included,
Mechanical crushing
Mechanical crushing for gold extraction or gravel production often
produces very clear 'bipolar' features. From my limited knowledge of
crushed gravels. it would appear that context (gravel scatter near road or
gold mining area) is usually a sufficient criterion to dislinguish
commercialfi ndustrial grotvel from Aboriginal work.
Sullivan (1973 , 5. 13-5.17) examined crushed vein quartz and compared
this to archaeological bipolar vein quartz from Mangat (Victoria) and
bipolar vein quartz implements fonn Bendemeer (New South Wales). The
only selection criterion was that the gra'vel be similar in size 10 the Mangat
assemblage. She found that the gravel was more unifonn in length , breath,
thickness and thickness/length ratio than the archaeological material.
Uniformity of size may be a useful discriminant, since the sizes of debitage
produced during a single anvill ing event usually vary greatly.
References
"
A
. . . . ,lSOniC J 19Q6 Outil. ~c.ill es par perc ussion , Revue de
Baroon, L., Bouy.some, , I . ",
U
L 'Ecole d'Anthropologie de PuriJ 16,
"
.
t1O- t15.
Barb.m, L.S. \987, The bipolar teehnique in Soulhem Africa: • replication e:<pcrimc nl . South
-1ftic(ln Archoeological Bulletin 42, 45-50.
nd h'
"tone material . in the
Binford , L.R. a nd Quimby, 0 .1, 1963. Indian aitc¥ a
c .ppe 8
northern Lake Michigan area, Field/ana (oothropolofYJ 36(12). 217-307 .
B' ro M
\987 Life 'S
If
Ikach: A Pre; m /nary Inw$tig(llion of the Coas/al Archaelflo1 Y .of
~ju,,~a (Ba; h Mount) , UpSlart Bay, North Quu(l$land. Unpublished B.A. Hon.
.
d"s·th."a
B",uil, H . 1932. Le feu et I' industrie de piel'ft et d 'os dllU le , Ise ment u 1II1n ropo
Choukou.tien. L'Al1Ihropologie 42, 1· 17.
Conclusion
Breuil, H . and Lantier, R. 1965. Th t Men of the Old Slone Age (London, HalTllp).
The ' anvil' (bipolar)' technique is almost ubiquitous in Australian
assemblages. Experimental stone working has given various insights into
the mechanics and debris of this technique. The presence of the technique
can be detected in an assemblage, but quantification of volume is made
impossible by the deceplive nature of much of the debitage. The technique
is not time specific and, although commonly used on vein quartz, is not
inextricably linked to it. The 'anvil (bipolar)' technique appears to have
been used in order to make use of small pieces of raw material.
srtunon, M.N . 1968. La Dl nomin(ltion des Objeu de Pierre Tail/le (pari., CNRS).
Chauchat, C. Nomuon, C. Raynal. I-P., . nd Sanllrnaria , R. t985. Le retour de la piece
esql.liUee , Bull Soc Prlhlstorique Fran j:(li, 82(9). 35-4t .
.
u
1978 M(lri"'" " Beach Recreation Centre: Archaeological
Ctan, D.J. and Pi e, enog, ,., .
:
'I
Surwy (Victoria , Victoria Archaeological Survey).
CotteR11 , B.
A _ A
....
· - -;n'l , J. 1987. The fortnltio Dof naku. Am Ant 52 , 615·708.
tuN ..... ,,~'u
Crabtree, D.E.
Acknowledgements
ell l,
lames Cook: Univenity.
1972. An frnroducticm to Flinrworting (Occ Papers Idaho State Muse um 28).
977 Re"!' to : The myth of bipoll r nakinl, J. SoI!berger and L . PatKnon .
.
I'
CR lSon , J"H 1
Lithic Technology 6(3), 27.
Paul Goreki, John Campbell , Neville Baker and Peter Hiscock read and
commented on drafts of this paper, however, any remaining faults are
solely my responsibility. For kindly giving pennission to illustrate
archaeological material I wish to thank Nicky Horsfall (Green Ant Shelter
and Mulgrave River 2), Michell Bird (Wunjunga) and John Campbell
(Turtle Rock). I am also indebted to Nicky Horsfall and Michelle Bird for
collecting experimental stone material. For exchange of ideas I wish to
thank John Campbell, Mireille Mardaga-CampbeU and particularly Nicky
Horsfall, whose interest prompted the descriptive fonnat of this paper. This
paper has evolved from research initially conducted as part of a Masters
Qual. thesis at James Cook University. All artefact illustrutioos an~ laid out
in the following form : left side, dorsal, right side, ventral. Views of the top
and bottom are placed above and below the dorsal view. Left and right
68
Dewez, M. 1985. Le. pieces esql.lilleu dalU le Paleo!ithiql.le Superieur de Beige, Bull SOl:
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W "gh (d) Slone Tools as Cultural MarUl'I
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0 ' kso
[)()neh, C. 1984. Devil', Lair (penh, Western Au stralian Museum).
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If.
lid 0 am~nU of Gnat Bri/ain
lapons a
m
"
""
, ". "'''iniTl1lp Brook . ite cOIllplex.
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Records of the WA . Musellnl 11, 609-637.
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A enniken, J.J . • nd White, I. P. [985. AIIJtrali.n flaked lIone tools; A tcchnologi cal
pe rspeclive. Ruords of /he Australian Museum 36, 13 1· 15 1.
•
/1110 thc Microcosms: A FUllCrion al ~naly.tis of Certain
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°
_
J 1982 h.-er Iht Edge: FlUlctiOllal Anrl/ysis of Austrrllian SlonC Tools (Brisbane,
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r
v . I
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. A Alltmpl to Undcrs(lln(lli and &plrlill
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\1h,ud StOllC, Parricu/rlriy QUrlTl% WlUI tJtrt~e .
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Knight, J. 1989 . Arc,h~tol" ,glca,/et~~~
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R ..
Lampen,•. \ 98 1.
4
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CUuSCl
~:tori. ArchleolOjicai SlIrvey.
~i~~,;~.·nson (cd .) , Whlc
Cij~arOllg Terra Australi. I (Canberra, A. N.U.).
BUfTiII Lau rlrui
Th e Great KDl'fan MY$tcry Terra AII llralis 5 (Canberra, A.N .U.).
.L.
.. •
Lel f, G .R . 19 79 . V.n.toon on u,
'n_
''' '''
of bipola r COrtI. Plains Allthropologist 24(83). 39-50.
. BCth I
Lukey, L.S .B. 1971. ExCQva rl OM III
(Camb ridge, Unive nilY Pre n ).
rlnd
11
.
1960-1963. O/duvai Gort e , 3
McBryde, J. 1974. Aboriginal Prehistory in New EIIg/and (Sydney, Un,vCr1ity Pre$I).
!J.
MacCalman, " :R. and Grobbel',lf,
Tjimba group. 111 the North Koa ove
965 Prerminary n:pol1 on 10 Slonc-wolking Ov.
/SOI.Ith We~ Mric •. CimlHbasla 13 , 1-39.
0
implement1 of the Aboriginc$. Austral/an Muscum
McC.rthy, F.D. 1941. Chipped stone
MrlgrlvlIC 1, 257-263.
.
ed; 1emenl, from eighl EIOI.Iere ,ndu,,"/),
McClrthy, F.o. 19431. An analy'" ~f
~p: Rcc";...USlra/ian Museum 2 1, 127-153.
sataliol15 on the South Coast of New ou
C •
u:
-d "" ,"""ed d one imp lemenll of the B.thhunit Diltricl.
McCarth y, EO. 1943b. Th c coro, •
Rtcords oflhc Auslratiall Muscum 21, 199·209.
.
I ..1_ /lIS 2nd edition, revised (Sydney,
McCarthy, EO. 1976. Auslrofirlf1 Aborigl/lal SIOfIC my_"'c
The Aultraliln Mutcum Trust).
'd
F A 1943 The Elouera indllSlry of Singleton, Hunter River,
~:;~iliF!I:a~i':::WSOofrk A·lUtrali".m
McCarthy, F.o ., BramcU, E . •
MlUtll l1
nd N
21, 2 10-230.
" VV 1946. The Slonc Implcnocllu of AlUtro/ia
oonc,···
71
I
I
(Sydney, The Australian Mu se um Memoi. 9).
While, I .P. 1968 . F.bn.:.con, oucH. eseaillu or sellar eore,? Mankind 6, 658-666.
Mardag. -Cllnpbell, M. and C.mpbcll, I .B. 1985. Lithic ~curreocu and Itnlligraphic
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Mulvcnc)" DJ. 1975. The Prchlswry 01 AU$INllia revised edition (Ringwood, Pen"',in).
Wilier, D. 1984. A Repon an the A_lysis 0/ SIOfIe Arte/ac/S from To Si~s in the A.C. T.
Unpub lished n'IIllUSCript , June 1984.
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Winer, D. 19S6b. SIOM Ane/acl Classification Unpubli shed n'IInulCripl, Mareh 1986.
Palterson, L. W. 1979. Additional comments on bipolar flaking. Flifltk.llapptn £Xch 2, 21-22.
Pauc noll, L.W. and SoUbcrge r, I.B. 1976. The myth of bipolar flaking industriu. lithic
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Pancrson , L.W. and Sollbcrgcr, I .B. 19TI. Reply by SoIlbcIJcr.nd P.ttCI'$OIl to comments
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Nom.
ROKnfe ld, A., Horton, D. I nd Winte r, J. 198 1. &rly Man in Nom. Quuruland: An 0IId
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SillilOC, P. 1933 . Th e lithic technology of I Papua New Guinel Hipland people. Th4! Aru/acl
7(3 /4) 19·38 .
SlIfford, C.R. 19n. Reply 10 'The myth of bipolar I1lking' , J. Sollbertler Ind L. Palt.cr-.on.
Ulhlc Technology 6(3) 27-28.
Sullivln, K. 1973,. The ArchaeoloSY 0/ MongOl and Some o/Ihe Problems DJ A_lysins a
Quom Industry (Unpublished BA (Hons) The,;., University of Sydney).
Tho rpe , W.W. 193 1. Aboriginal n. ked impleme nts. Auslralian Musewn Magazine 4, 286-288.
Towle, C.C. 1935 . Slone scrapers: In inquirr concerning I cc ruin convcntiona1 ikd Iype
found 110ng the coast of Ne South \\'ilu. Proc Royal Soc New South ffilles 68, 117. 143 .
V. ndervli , P.L . 19n. The 'flbrielloc' in Aunralil . nd New Guinea. In R .S.V. Wrigbl (cd.),
SlOtIe 1Oo/s as CMlrural Marters (Canbeml, AUII mst Aboriginal Studie.) 350-353 .
Vl n Riel Lowe, C. 1946. The eoastal Smilhfield and bipolu technique. South .-1JHcan Journal
o/Sc/ence 42, 240-246.
Wrighl , R.S. V. 1970. Fllked Ilone nUlleri. 1 from GOW- t. Mem Nal Mus Victoria 30, 79-92.
Wrighl. R .S .V. 1971. Pn!hiltory in the C.pe York PerUll5Uil. In D.J. Mulv.ncy 000 J. Gobon
(ed •. ), Aboriginal Man and Envirorunnll in AUSlralia (Canb-eml, A.N .U.) 113- 140.
72
73
•
,
~
•
Figure 2: Anvllled *111 Quam:. a) bfpolar with V....shapcd base (Mulgrave River 2, EJJ{8) J,
while), s/cp-frocturing on edge ofpm:usshm platJormfrom anvilling. b) bipolar (Green Ani
She/ler OAf Sq O/S{l7], dear/milky), opposed percussion ridges ...i/h hutin-like breaks on
Figure J: 1Qp. Anvilling ch ..n. NOle dUlt the hamm", Is held by onc cnd, and the con IJ
struck by /he side oJme hammer. The larger debris hcu bun stlln jrom oJIM anv/lfar Ill/er
se/ection, (Drawing by J . \\bISon, Dj/er photograph by M . CaIUJbiaflO). BOIIOl1l. Alumalivc
hand position (after Holmts 1919, )00).
74
both edgts . sryliud scalloping represerns overiain jlau removals. c) bipolar cnd fragment
(GAl Sq 018a) SE, JtJ.5mm. mi/kylwhlle). d) bipolar (anvil squa re) (GAl 1563. ckorlmUky).
c) flake rcmovcJ at 900 (GAl Sq O/S{1l) NW, 10-5mm, milkylclcar), percussion damage
features on prw:imo/ cnd . ./J j/alu removed at 9<r (GAl Sq 018[2) SE, 100Jmm, ckar/whlle),
impacl damage on venlral suiface. g) flake removed al 90° (GAl Sq OJgfl J) SE, /O-Smm,
whil.! wilh red $1O;n;"8), longitudinal cone split On left edge. h) bipolar V·shaped end
jragmenl (GII/ Sq O/B{7) NE, 10-5mm, clearlmilky).
75
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anvillN ./laM). a-b) split bfpo/ars; c) bipolar, d) bipolar (classic fabricator /0",,), t) j1a~
from (4) with slriking ridge on the jlah.
76
o"
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Figure 4; Expuimmsa/ pie" .. Qz 66 refined. NOli! the dif!ert:nce in sizes ami shapes produced.
77
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Figure 5: Whllt' quam (W!mjunga, uwer Burdeldn 0) SqU22{J}, b) SqZ10[1}, c) SqZ21fll,
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brokm along afraclun plane. Previously pllblished in Bird 1987,jig 264 elM b.
78
,
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Figure 6: CO<ln.. grained dellr vriO'l quartz (Blodr)' Quarry J, Ht 1'l'ty Range) , experimenfllJ
core Qz 49. Thr'U refining bipolan selected /Q iIIustralt' lite changes lhal occur in lM shape
of 'bipolars' under continued reduction.
79
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80
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0
-
----- ~~l~ i~~8
'om
Figure
Anvilled C'hcn.
.""
, . 9:
. Note slrlki
~
Obsidian I(M Ios, Grttct),
1Ig ridge.
jlallt~d
• K),jlausjram
f(.aru~,
jla/us
fi contQ/dul/tCllllns
and IXperlmenw/ corts Fie ,.,,,
,~
, ang/nulin I
rom a ptri
Yery stron . .
uv
srrlking pla.ro
split 011 the rl,h ~mtntal con FIe 72. Nq R~ " PP/lIIg. c,d,e)
Ne
~,on onad cone
and J,
, t uge of c lid
k J_1uned
b.tbdrscaron
MWW' ".p' .11':' -g/ FU" (8,.""."_
UK)-;.k/ro".~,,'
ripp'u .",,';"00,".'
~ ..
COrtS omagcd
FIe 63
to
owrlcl/n
.' on con
s/rom__«perimen/al
bi
Cl , 1Ft
n' l
(BroMoII U
If!
Figurt
8: asjlgs
Obsidian
(Mews
ofsh(J~1
9aM
IO. ' HGtn
nut).
t.Xlmimenlal
con the
Fierell;/
n~ . If!III
. the SDntt
the difference
between
d ~,rallng
change
plues Is mon
marked.
82
g.
If!
IUpjraCfUrtS
• ut ...
83
SInking ridge QM large'
:: ._.-
o
~
-
Debita"" types """ !lIUng frOll I\nvillin'l
""
'"
""
."
E
..
~' .J.
'"
'"
" •,
0
,
Hand-fIMed
flak",
'"
'"
'"
."
h
,
0
,
J\I'Ivil/H-F
flakes
,,
0
I\nvil
flakes
,
• ,
0
,
Fragmen t s
-, , ,,
Unworked
pi"oe s
1
Debi tage t ype s ",,, s uIting frot!! It"nd-flaki""
J
"
~,
'"
'"
" ,, ,
Hand-flaked
l\nvil/H-F
fl akes
Claku
Ke y, A
B
C
o
-~- -=
~-
.
Lcwer Burdeldn) c shm..s rtf/lIed bipotars (I
Figure 10: a,b,c,d) Brown glass (WunJunga,
R20[1]) with classic JabriCQlOr' form _ MU
(SqS20{4}) and b (SqS20[S}). d shows blpo/(Jr (Sd'
J Ohsidill" (Me/os, Greece) mpo/al'S
.
I'r.
bauaruifissurtsoneges.e,8
. 8
, .. j)
~rcU$slon p 0,0"" on
b
ak
0'1
right pJge of e, g IS mm ""'g.
.from ufUrimental con Fi e n,. noM bUrlfi lJ:: ;:nom (1R 1977:23JJ) is buff. top (1R
OIerl (Turtle R(JCk) b~n bIpolar on a, if' h 'ling bu n exposed lafire.
1977;1505) is QrtJngd pirzk possibly as a nsu t 0 a
84
-
, , ,
--
, ,,
Anvil
flak ....
A
,,
Fragments
, , ,
lInworked
pi .. ""s
Quartz from!IQl (Hervey RAnge , No rth Queensl a nd)
Quartz from the Burdekin River (North Queenuland)
<hert from the Burdekln River (North Queensland)
<hert fro.n Brandon (England) (this material "'as not available for
hand-flaking e xped .... nt1))
I~
Figurt JJ: Bar chart of dt bitagt typtS ",ulting from differem mapping lechniqucs. KLy; A)
Quamfrom Btocky Quany / (Hervey Range, N QId); 8) qaamfrom the Bn/dekin River (N
QId); c) Chm./rom the BlUdekin River (N QId); D) Chm from Brandon iEngltUld) phis
malerial was nOI available /or fru hand percussion experiments).
85
I1
o
~
iI'
<::>
@
~
~~ - ~-Cd -----
,
Oz 92 (a )
'c m
\ !
.
"
\
Figure }3: Refitting pair of am1lled thm jlaUI (Tunle Rock) aj 1R 1977:/975 (blfl!), b) 1R
1977:/ 98J (blue). Both jlQUs show 90· Impacts, damagcs Itrildng platforms, turd large
bulbar scan aI/hough ripple, arc vinllally abscnt.
Oz92 (b)
,
~
-
---5cm
;ew.
. .
.
FIe 84 t hen (l..tltha[dl RiVtr). Qz
, • E.:t rimtrllalj/aJzs w/lh m:sentle
side
rlr. the froCIUf't which 'pilI (a) ar
Figurv J. pt!.
_ ,Burdcldn River), heavy PW'S ma ~
92(.) alld (b) ~'" qua,...
. ..
• d~)
"<'\"
, nIJppt!
w ~,ftaU during removal.
86
87