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When is a microlith not a microlith? |
Anonymous
User not Registered |  Posted 07-01-2004 at 15:45
When is a microlith not a microlith?
At what point does a microlith cease being a microlith? I know arrow heads are classed as microliths, but what about axe heads? Is there an intemediary stage between microlioths and megaliths?
Curiously
Tim
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 08-01-2004 at 16:18
[quote]
On 2004-01-07 15:45, TimPrevett wrote:
When is a microlith not a microlith?
At what point does a microlith cease being a microlith? I know arrow heads are classed as microliths, but what about axe heads? Is there an intemediary stage between microlioths and megaliths?
Hi Tim - microliths and megaliths -big difference!!
A microlith is a small later Upper Palaeolithic or Mesolithic stone artifact varying in size from 1 to 5cms and used as the tip of a bone or wooden implement or as an arrow point. They were struck from very small flint cores.
Peter
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 08-01-2004 at 16:46
I knew (of course) that they were smaller than megaliths - but wondered what the cut off point is... cheers
Tim
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Vicky
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from Macclesfield, Cheshire
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| Posted 08-01-2004 at 17:27
Quote:
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On 2004-01-08 16:46, TimPrevett wrote:
I knew (of course) that they were smaller than megaliths - but wondered what the cut off point is... cheers
Tim
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Hi Tim
There is no cut off point between microliths and megaliths because they are two completely separate entities. As Peter said microliths are tiny flint tools, characteristic of the Mesolithic period. Megaliths on the otherhand are large stones used to build sites such as Neolithic chambered tombs and large stone circles, nothing to do with tools such as axe heads.
Cheers
Vicky
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 09-01-2004 at 15:05
So, this is a cunning device of archaeological language to confuse people!
megalith - (big stone) any big old stone
microlith - (small stone) a small stone, but not just any - over a certain age...
ah... that's so clear from the name designations 
Cheers for the clarification!
Tim
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Vicky
Joined:
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Messages: 92
from Macclesfield, Cheshire
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| Posted 09-01-2004 at 19:24
[quote]
On 2004-01-09 15:05, TimPrevett wrote:
So, this is a cunning device of archaeological language to confuse people!
megalith - (big stone) any big old stone
microlith - (small stone) a small stone, but not just any - over a certain age...
ah... that's so clear from the name designations
Cheers for the clarification!
Tim
Hi Tim
Microlith sounds as if it should mean a small stone, but it doesn't. It is a term used only to describe a minute worked flint.
Cheers
Vicky
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PaulM
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from Macclesfield
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| Posted 09-01-2004 at 20:09
I'm not an archaeologist but the way I see it is a microlith is a very small stone tool used for cutting/slashing skin and meat or sawing if the edge is serated.
A megalith is a stone used as part of 'stones' architecture. I am a fan of the informal 'minilith' I have seen used elsewhere meaning a small megalith eg shin high stumps.
To put it in modern parlance a microlith is a swiss army knife (but without the corkscrew obviously ) and a megalith is a spire or a nave.
So what is the cut off between a swiss army knife and a nave? They are completely different in terms of usage.
Cheers
Paul
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Thorgrim
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|  Posted 09-01-2004 at 20:38
Brilliant Paul! I love it - pocket knives and spires - wonderful.
Tim,
Yes some archaeological terms are very odd, but we have to use them to make ourselves understood to others. The word "henge" is the one that I love to hate. Strongly recommend that you buy the Penguin Archaeological Guide and/or The Handbook of British Archaeology by Lesley & Roy Adkins. Well worth it I do assure you - they are my bibles!
Peter
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 13-01-2004 at 12:07
Thanks for further clarifications, Paul, Vicky, and Thorgrim..
Will note the book, too.
Cheers
Tim
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 04-02-2004 at 12:20
Hi there
For anybody interested in getting fast info on the meaning of a technical term in archaeology, use :
http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/glossary/index2.html
extracted from there :
microlith: a tiny stone tool, characteristic of the Mesolithic period, many of which were probably used as barbs.
Cheers
Bernard Clist
Anthropology Resources on the Internet
http://www.anthropologie.net
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Anonymous
User not Registered | Posted 05-02-2004 at 16:14
Quote:
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On 2004-02-04 12:20, Anonymous wrote:
Hi there
For anybody interested in getting fast info on the meaning of a technical term in archaeology, use :
http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/glossary/index2.html
extracted from there :
microlith: a tiny stone tool, characteristic of the Mesolithic period, many of which were probably used as barbs.
Cheers
Bernard Clist
Anthropology Resources on the Internet
http://www.anthropologie.net
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sem
Joined:
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Messages: 1704
from Bridgend,S.Wales
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| Posted 13-02-2004 at 19:40
To quote J.Gowlett in Ascent to Civilization (1984),"Microliths are very small stone tools,generally 3cm long or less,made from small flakes or segments of blades.Usually one side has been blunted by the "backing" technique,a form of retouching in which tiny flakes are struck off the edge...."
If they can be described as Swiss army knives,what about the thingy for getting stones out of horses' hooves?
Cheers
Sem
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