Archaeology Term: Bulbar Depression
A bulbar depression, a distinctive mark left on a core after a flake has been removed, provides valuable insights into the techniques and skills employed by ancient stone toolmakers.
When a flintknapper strikes a core with a hammerstone or another tool, a fracture propagates through the stone, resulting in the detachment of a flake. The point of impact, where the force is initially applied, leaves a characteristic depression on the core known as the bulbar depression.
The shape and size of the depression can vary depending on the type of stone, the angle of impact, and the force applied.
The analysis of bulbar depressions is crucial for understanding the lithic reduction sequences used by ancient toolmakers. By examining the patterns of bulbar depressions on a core, archaeologists can reconstruct the steps involved in the production of stone tools and identify the specific techniques employed.
For example, the presence of multiple bulbar depressions on a core indicates that the toolmaker may have removed several flakes from the same piece of stone, gradually shaping it into a desired form. The orientation of the bulbar depressions can also provide information about the toolmaker's preferred hand position and the angle at which the strikes were delivered.
By studying bulbar depressions, archaeologists can gain a deeper understanding of the cognitive abilities and technological skills of early humans. This knowledge helps us to appreciate the ingenuity and creativity of our ancestors and to reconstruct the complex processes involved in the production of stone tools.
