Coauthor of book "Prehistoric Lithic Sources of New England" with Jeff Georgiady, it will be published in 2002. 

Ordering Information

The most ancient human works are found and preserved as stone tools. This is not to say that other materials were not used earlier, but stone is a more durable, lasting material. In particular, the types of stone used in chipped stone manufacture (knapping) require a dense, fine-grained stone with a high silica composition.

Through time the physical and cultural requirements dictated the types of tools and lithic materials used. Tool typologies are often currently used as indices for cultural and temporal boundaries. The choice of lithic raw materials used is most often dictated by what is locally available. In some cases, however, cultural preferences are detected. In Maine, the Paleoindians preferred using Munsungun chert. During the Woodland Period, exotic and colorful materials were used. One of the best examples of chert preference, the Terminal Archaic Fulton Turkeytail projectile point, is almost exclusively made of the gray, Harrison County, Indiana Hornstone or Wyandotte chert

The particular qualities of lithic material dictates its use. These qualities include: a good conchoidal fracture; color; hardness and luster. In general the higher the quality, the greater the value of the lithic material. These high quality materials, being more sought after, were more extensively utilized and traded over greater distances. Some of these high quality materials were so valuable that they were traded over thousands of miles. During the Woodland Period (Ceramic Period) some materials such as the Flint Ridge flint were traded from the Ohio River Valley to New England. On a more regional level, Mt. Jasper Rhyolite from the Berlin New Hampshire area was traded along the Androscoggin River drainage.

In most parts of the world the ideal lithic materials are flint and obsidian. In New England there is an absence of obsidian and limited chert (flint-like siliceous rock) resources. Because of limited high quality lithic resources, existing materials with similar lithic properties were utilized. These other lithic materials include: rhyolite, felsite, quartz, quartzite, hornfels, argillite and occasionally basalt, dolomite and limestone.

The purpose of this book is to document known lithic resources. It should be noted that glacial and alluvial processes have moved large boulders and cobbles varying distances from their sources. These geologically transported fragments were also a source of raw lithic materials for prehistoric stone tools.

The authors have expended a great deal of time and effort visiting the outcrops of these raw lithic materials. Color photographs are used extensively to aid in identification. Written descriptions of texture, luster, inclusions and patina are also included to aid in identification as well as notes on cultural preference and distribution.

It should be noted that the lithic sources described in this book occur on state, federal and private lands. On private land, necessary permission was obtained to collect the samples. In no case were any prehistoric sites disturbed.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Copies of the book on CD may be purchased for $30.00 US. Please include $5.00 to cover shipping and handling and send to:

Mark Brockmann, 192 Dutch Gap Road, Chesterville, ME  04938 

Make checks and money orders payable to: Mark Brockmann.

Please e-mail me if you are interested in a printed copy of the book. If enough interest is generated, we may produce some printed copies for sale to interested individuals.

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