Production and Exchange of Stone Age Tools : Prehistoric Obsidian in the Aegean

The aim of this important study is to develop new methods for reconstructing the processes of prehistoric exchange. Recent archaeological work has concentrated on mapping obsidian finds relative to source areas using trace-element analysis and on investigating the effect of trade on particular cultural groups. Dr Torrence, in contrast, draws extensively on ethnographic analogy to develop a new approach which uses differences in the level of efficiency for the acquisition of raw materials and the production of goods to infer the type of exchange. Regional patterns of tool manufacture, specialist craft production at central places and quarrying are analysed in detail in the context of the prehistoric Aegean and previous ideas about the importance of trade in the growth of civilisations are re-assessed. The methodology developed will be applicable to a wide range of artefact types and the book will therefore be of value to archaeologists working in many different places and periods.Torrence, Robin is the author of 'Production and Exchange of Stone Age Tools : Prehistoric Obsidian in the Aegean', published 1986 under ISBN 9780521252669 and ISBN 0521252660.