Applied aspects of the theory of reduction analysis of stone industries

In the process of manufacturing of stone tools and their subsequent intended use, they were intensively transformed and subjected to reduction. They sequentially changed their shape and decreased in their size. This technologically determined process applied equally to both lithic cores and tools. Regardless of the goals, stadium splitting (with changes in the cleavage technique, according to E. Giria) and permanent splitting were used. During the reduction, morphology of stone tools changed significantly. In many cases, this led to appearance of new types of lithic cores and tools. The genetic relationship between these types is revealed on the base of morphometric analysis and refitting-model data. Based on empirical observations, it is possible to determine a steady trend of changes in the types of stone tools during their intensive processing. The type of reduction should be understood as a stable vector of changes in shape of stone tools during sequential splitting or cyclical renewal of their working properties. The method of reduction analysis is applicable to stone industries not only of the Stone Age, but also of the Early Iron Age. Reduction analysis of stone industries is associated with two levels of generalization. The first of them concerns reduction sequences in splitting of lithic cores and making-renewal of stone tools. The second one is related to the degree of transformation of structure of entire complex of stone tools, depending on the depth of processing of stone raw materials. The type of reduction reflects not only the technological, but also the cultural context, i.e. the stylistic features of stone industry. They appeared in the case when there is a variable choice of technology or technique for solving the task of stone tools producing. Reduction analysis of stone industry provides additional arguments for functional diagnostics of Stone Age sites.