Ref ID:	29478
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Marwick, Ben
Title:	Beyond typologies: the reduction thesis and its implications for lithic assemblages in Southeast Asia
Date:	2008
Source:	Bulletin of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association
Notes:	Proceedings of the 18th Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, Manila, Philippines, 20 to 26 March 2006
Abstract:	Stone artefact archaeology in mainland Southeast Asia has not enjoyed the same level of interest and productivity as studies of stone artefacts in other parts of the world. Although there are a number of reasons for this, a significant one is the use of essentialism as the underlying philosophy of lithic classification. Essentialism is a flawed approach to classifying stone artefacts because of the continuous nature of artefact reduction. Case studies are presented that show essentialism has additional problems, such as inefficiency, compression of variation and inability to explain historical change. An alternative approach, nominalism, is better suited to lithic classification and analysis. Existing nominalist approaches can easily be adapted for Southeast Asia assemblages and promises to liven-up stone artefact archaeology in mainland Southeast Asia.
Date Created:	7/18/2008
Volume:	28
Page Start:	108
Page End:	116