Lithic analysis
Lithic analysis is when we look at really old rocks and try to figure out how people in the past used them. We call these old rocks "artifacts," and they can be tools or even just pieces of rock that were changed by people.
To understand lithic analysis, let's pretend we're looking at a rock that someone chipped to make a sharp edge, like a knife. We might start by carefully looking at the rock to see how it was shaped. Then we might use a fancy tool called a microscope to look even closer at tiny marks on the rock.
These marks might tell us how the rock was used - for example, if we see marks that look like they were made from scraping, we might guess that the rock was used to scrape animal hides. If we see marks that look like they were made from chopping or cutting, we might guess that the rock was used like a knife.
So, lithic analysis is all about using clues on old rocks to figure out how people in the past used them. It's kind of like being a detective, but with rocks instead of fingerprints!
To understand lithic analysis, let's pretend we're looking at a rock that someone chipped to make a sharp edge, like a knife. We might start by carefully looking at the rock to see how it was shaped. Then we might use a fancy tool called a microscope to look even closer at tiny marks on the rock.
These marks might tell us how the rock was used - for example, if we see marks that look like they were made from scraping, we might guess that the rock was used to scrape animal hides. If we see marks that look like they were made from chopping or cutting, we might guess that the rock was used like a knife.
So, lithic analysis is all about using clues on old rocks to figure out how people in the past used them. It's kind of like being a detective, but with rocks instead of fingerprints!