Archaeological industry
Encyclopedia
An archaeological industry, normally just "industry", is the name given in the study of prehistory
to a consistent range of assemblages connected with a single product, such as the Langdale axe industry
. Where the assemblages contain evidence of a variety of items and behaviours, the more correct term is "archaeological culture
", although both terms are often used to describe the same assemblage by different sources. They may also be referred to as "lithic industries" where the products are stone tool
s or weapons.
Archaeological industry is not to be confused with Industrial archaeology
, which is normally concerned with investigating the industries of much more recent periods, typically the Early Modern period
.
Examples of early lithic industries are the following:
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
to a consistent range of assemblages connected with a single product, such as the Langdale axe industry
Langdale axe industry
The Langdale axe industry is the name given by archaeologists to the centre of a specialised stone tool manufacturing at Great Langdale in England's Lake District during the Neolithic period .The area has outcrops of fine-grained greenstone suitable for making polished axes which have been...
. Where the assemblages contain evidence of a variety of items and behaviours, the more correct term is "archaeological culture
Archaeological culture
An archaeological culture is a recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place, which are thought to constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society. The connection between the artifacts is based on archaeologists' understanding and interpretation and...
", although both terms are often used to describe the same assemblage by different sources. They may also be referred to as "lithic industries" where the products are stone tool
Stone tool
A stone tool is, in the most general sense, any tool made either partially or entirely out of stone. Although stone tool-dependent societies and cultures still exist today, most stone tools are associated with prehistoric, particularly Stone Age cultures that have become extinct...
s or weapons.
Archaeological industry is not to be confused with Industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology, like other branches of archaeology, is the study of material culture from the past, but with a focus on industry. Strictly speaking, industrial archaeology includes sites from the earliest times to the most recent...
, which is normally concerned with investigating the industries of much more recent periods, typically the Early Modern period
Early modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
.
Examples of early lithic industries are the following:
- Oldowan
- AcheuleanAcheuleanAcheulean is the name given to an archaeological industry of stone tool manufacture associated with early humans during the Lower Palaeolithic era across Africa and much of West Asia, South Asia and Europe. Acheulean tools are typically found with Homo erectus remains...
- MousterianMousterianMousterian is a name given by archaeologists to a style of predominantly flint tools associated primarily with Homo neanderthalensis and dating to the Middle Paleolithic, the middle part of the Old Stone Age.-Naming:...