Advances and challenges around the qualitative-quantitative approaches applied to lithic studies

Abstract

The long tradition of studies of lithic materials, as well as its ubiquity in the archaeological record at a spatial and temporal level, have favoured the great diversification of methodologies applied to its identification, record and description. Furthermore, these varied approaches range from purely descriptive and qualitative analyses to quantitative methods that are largely anchored to different archaeological epistemologies. This diversification has recently been intensified due to the increase in the capacity of computer systems to handle growing databases and the proliferation of different statistical analysis software. Likewise, the diffusion of new quantitative approaches such as geometric morphometry for the study of shape or spatial analysis, open up new possibilities for the study of artefactual sets. On the other hand, another central aspect is the construction or choice of analysis units as a previous step to the generation of data. These are closely related to the research question, which is key when selecting variables and ordering the observed variation. However, there has not been an equivalent emphasis on reflection on the way in which these different aspects are articulated with each other and in which way they respond more or less efficiently to the problems posed within lithic studies.