Bifaces and Retouched Flakes

Changes in the frequencies of bifaces and retouched flakes by excavation level, though relatively few in number, are one indicator of diachronic changes in production, and a notable pattern in these variables emerges from the 38 retouched flakes and 41 broken bifaces found in the workshop unit. The Q02-2u3 unit contained predominantly broken bifaces in level 3, and a statistically significant decline (a< .05) in relative prevalence of retouched flakes when comparing level 6 to level 3 in the workshop.

Figure 7-15. Retouched artifacts by Excavation Level.

As this is a workshop production site, not a consumption context, formal artifact classes are of limited utility in discerning changes in activities taking place. Notable changes appear to have occurred between level 4 and level 3. These inferences are reinforced by excavation data presented earlier (see section above "Q02-2u3 Descriptive Characteristics by Level"), where the high discard of cores in level 4 switched to a low discard of retouched flakes in level 3. Further detail into reduction trajectories by level requires investigating cores and flakes discarded at the workshop.