The lithic assemblages

Abstract

The lithic assemblages recovered from the archaeological excavations conducted by the University of Malta at Tas-Silġ were collected from all four areas (referred to as Area A, B, C and D). Since these assemblages were recovered in most part from secondary deposits of post-prehistoric date, the approach here is primarily typological and is intended to highlight the main technological attributes. In two stratigraphic situations, lithics were recovered from primary prehistoric deposits. An in-depth assessment of these lithics will be conducted below. In lithic studies, a typology is generally understood to be a selection of observed attributes that can shed light on the technology and production dynamics of the lithics. Of the two main lithic typologies employed by archaeologists, one is based on function (Table 4: 1), the other on chronology. The former is probably the more favoured typology, where lithics are grouped and sub-divided according to perceived functions as indicated by the analyst. This method of classification, however, has started to cause a certain degree of debate amongst archaeologists primarily because microwear studies are indicating that macroscopic functional interpretation can frequently be erroneous. Thus lithic tools classified by functional terms, such as 'arrowheads' and 'drills', might not match their initial intended function. Additionally, there is some confusion in the use of terminology adopted by various schools of thought, which often overlap or conflict with each other. In view of such potential subjectivity, the present assemblage is interpreted from two typological perspectives, namely morphology and function, which are intended to complement each other.