Flakes, Feelings, and Finesse: Experiential Studies of Skill Acquisition in Novice Knappers

Here, we present preliminary results from research investigating the influence of different pedagogical methods on skill acquisition amongst novice knappers, with implications for interpreting the Paleolithic and devising pedagogical methods in classrooms. We addressed questions related to knowledge acquisition amongst novice knappers in issues such as raw material selection and technological strategies comprising bipolar knapping, flaking cobbles, and handaxe façonnage. Experiments were set in a highly social and experiential framework and focused on investigating skill acquisition based on observation, mimicry, and direct or indirect intervention of an expert knapper. Variables included self-assessed emotional states of novice knappers before and after each experiment and analysis of selected attributes of the lithics (n=1835 artifacts in 10 experiments). We generated indices for variables related to skill acquisition that are significant for interpreting individual tools, assemblages, and evolutionary trends. Results suggest variability in skill acquisition in different technological processes through time and the effects of differing teaching methods. Large databases of lithic assemblages generated from novice knapping would facilitate global comparative studies investigating learning processes in lithic knapping, thereby enhancing an understanding of the archeological record.