Cortex (archaeology)
Encyclopedia
In lithic analysis
in archaeology
the cortex is the outer layer of rock
formed on the exterior of raw materials by chemical and mechanical weathering processes. It is often recorded on the dorsal
surface of flake
s using a three class system: primary (100% cortex), secondary (100%>x>0%), and tertiary (0%). The amount of cortex present on artifacts in an archaeological assemblage may indicate the extent of lithic reduction
that has occurred.
Lithic analysis
In archaeology, lithic analysis is the analysis of stone tools and other chipped stone artifacts using basic scientific techniques. At its most basic level, lithic analyses involve an analysis of the artifact’s morphology, the measurement of various physical attributes, and examining other visible...
in archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
the cortex is the outer layer of rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
formed on the exterior of raw materials by chemical and mechanical weathering processes. It is often recorded on the dorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
surface of flake
Flake
Flake or Flakes may refer to:In food preparation:* Fish flake, a platform for drying cod* Flake , an Australian term for edible flesh of one of several species of shark...
s using a three class system: primary (100% cortex), secondary (100%>x>0%), and tertiary (0%). The amount of cortex present on artifacts in an archaeological assemblage may indicate the extent of lithic reduction
Lithic reduction
Lithic reduction involves the use of a hard hammer precursor, such as a hammerstone, a soft hammer fabricator , or a wood or antler punch to detach lithic flakes from a lump of tool stone called a lithic core . As flakes are detached in sequence, the original mass of stone is reduced; hence the...
that has occurred.