News from the Lithic Studies Society http://www.lithics.org/news.html May 2012 http://www.lithics.org/news.html Submissions wishing to be considered for lithics 33 are due by May 2012. Please submit to the <a href ="http://www.lithics.org/members/becky.html"> Editor </a> http://www.lithics.org/img/holding.jpg Friday 2nd November 2012. http://www.lithics.org/news.html Lithic Studies Society AGM at 12pm on Friday 2nd November 2012, followed by a lecture by <a href ="http://sites.google.com/site/metinieren/home">Dr Metin Eren</a> (details to be announced) at 2pm. Location: British Museum: Franks House, 56 Orsman Road, London. N1 5QJ. http://www.lithics.org/img/Eren.jpg OUT NOW http://www.lithics.org/news.html Thats right, the latest issue of Lithics (Lithics 32) should of hit your matts by now. This includes the latest login information, to enable you to access the Members Area, in the editorial. http://www.lithics.org/img/holding.jpg : International Symposium on Chert and Other Knappable Materials http://www.lithics.org/news.html Fifth Arheoinvest Symposium. ‘Stories Written in Stone’: International Symposium on Chert and Other Knappable Materials<br /> 20–24 August 2013<br /> "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Romania. http://arheoinvestsymposium.uaic.ro/stone <br /> <br /> As far as raw materials go, chert and other knappable stone stand out as some of the most common materials in the archaeological record, and at some sites the only preserved material. They were used in almost every corner of the world, from the Palaeolithic up until today. Use of these materials even predates the appearance of our own species. Being so widespread both geographically as well as chronologically, this topic merits a global meeting of researchers to discuss and compare our findings. <br /> This conference will cover all aspects of knapped stone raw materials from geological origin, to mining, usage, and laboratory analyses on these materials. Although we expect that there will be more focus on chert and other microcrystalline quartz varieties, we also encourage presentations related to other knappable materials such as obsidian, quartzite, rhyolite and others. Papers will be accepted on any culture or time period. Whether you are a field archaeologist, laboratory researcher, ethnographer or a modern day knapper yourself, come tell your stories. <br /> Main Sessions<br /> The symposium will focus on two major themes: (1) the chaîne opératoire of knapped stone artefacts, and (2) auxilliary sciences related to lithics (in particular microcrystaline quartz). <br /> Theme 1 - Chaîne opératoire<br /> - Raw material exploitation strategies — mining and surface collecting<br /> - Ancient lithic trade and economics<br /> - Stone tool production and processing techniques<br /> - Use-wear analyses — signs of usage on stone tools (a.k.a. traceology)<br /> <br /> Theme 2 - Auxilliary sciences<br /> - Microcrystaline quartz as a geological material<br /> - Characterising lithic sources<br /> - Lithotheques — collections of comparative raw materials<br /> - Gemology — Microcrystaline quartz as a gemstone today and in the past<br /> <br /> Sessions Proposals<br /> We are pleased to invite proposals for themed sessions, round table discussions or workshops for the upcoming symposium. Sessions are invited on current issues and research in the field of microcrystaline quartz (knapped or otherwise) or knappable materials in general. Sessions may be specific to methodology, regional research, or any other theme. <br /> More information<br /> For more information, please visit the symposium website, or contact Otis Crandell (otis.crandell@ubbcluj.ro) or Vasile Cotiugă (vasicot@uaic.ro). <br /> This symposium is organised by Arheoinvest – Interdisciplinary Research Platform in the Field of Archaeology, Faculty of History, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iaşi, Romania http://www.lithics.org/img/ISCOKM.jpg Available <a href ="http://www.lithics.org/history.html"> Here </a> http://www.lithics.org/news.html Alan Savilles marvelous history of the Lithic Studies Society is now available <a href ="http://www.lithics.org/history.html"> HERE </a>. http://www.lithics.org/img/holding.jpg Now Online http://www.lithics.org/news.html The Treasurer's report is now available in the <a href ="http://www.lithics.org/Members_Area/index.html"> Members Area </a> http://www.lithics.org/img/holding.jpg Saturday 11th- Sunday 12th August 2012. http://www.lithics.org/news.html Butser Ancient Farm have invited us back for our fifth annual flintknapping weekend. This year John Lord will be giving us the benefit of his considerable knapping knowledge. There is no formal structure to the weekend - just an opportunity to turn up and knap in beautiful surroundings with like-minded people. The weekend is an excellent opportunity for knappers of all abilities, including complete novices, to meet, share ideas and techniques and learn from each other. Butser have also kindly agreed to allow us to stay on the site, either camping in your own tent or sleeping in the Iron Age round house. <br />Each year we try to encourage anyone with knapping experiments they wish to try out to let us know. Also, anyone wishing to bring raw materials other than flint to try please do! <br />Please bring: Goggles/safety glasses, gloves, food (there are shops about 20min drive away) including something to BBQ on Saturday night, suitable clothing (it is pretty exposed if wet or sunny), tent/sleeping bag if you are camping and any knapping kit you have. <br /><br />Location: Butser Ancient Farm, Nr Petersfield, Hampshire. <a href ="http://www.butser.org.uk/">http://www.butser.org.uk/</a> <br />Meet: 10:30am on Saturday 11th August 2012 <br />Depart: by 4:30pm on Sunday 12th August 2012 <br />Cost: £45 (£35 for students) for the two days to include flint, tuition and camping at the site. Please bring cheques payable to Lithic Studies Society on the day. <br />Booking: Advance booking essential. Please contact Hannah Fluck (hannahfluck@hotmail.com) http://www.lithics.org/img/butser.gif Report now here http://www.lithics.org/news.html A brief report on this years kanpping weekend can be found <a href ="http://www.lithics.org/butser2011.html"> here </a> http://www.lithics.org/img/butser.gif Corrected Version of McLaren 2010 http://www.lithics.org/news.html Erratum: For a corrected version of Andrew McLaren's 2010 Lithics paper "Household production in the Middle Bronze Age of southern and Eastern England: the mid term car park (MTCP) assemblage, Stansted airport, Essex, England", please go to Lithics 31 in the members area. http://www.lithics.org/img/holding.jpg http://www.lithics.org/news.html Certain back issues, in addition to some of the occasional papers, can know be purchased online (via paypal). Add to cart buttons are now to be seen beautifying several pages and these can be used to place your orders. Alternatively, you can still order via snail mail with the order forms, also on those pages. http://www.lithics.org/img/holding.jpg New Mesolithic web community http://www.lithics.org/news.html Members may be interested to know that Mesolithic Miscellany, the established Journal of the Mesolithic, has started a new web based community resource. I tcan be reached at <a href ="https://sites.google.com/site/mesolithicmiscellany/">https://sites.google.com/site/mesolithicmiscellany/</a> http://www.lithics.org/img/Mesomiscellany.gif