Current Approaches to the Analysis and Interpretation of Small Lithic Sites in the Northeast

Small lithic sites (or scatters) represent one of the most common site types identified in the Northeast. These sites are commonly identified in both upland and lowland settings and represent areas where resource extraction, processing, and collection often take place. Some of these small sites may also contain residual evidence of overnight or temporary lodging and meal preparation activities (Piles and Wilcox 1978; Means 1999; Rieth 2003a; Shen 2001). In this way, these small sites offer a view of life beyond residential and community boundaries (Lennox 1995). Small lithic sites are also not limited to a single culture-historic period but rather span the region’s entire 12,000-year history of human occupation (Funk 1976; Ritchie and Funk 1973; Snow 1980).
Despite the prominence of these sites across the Northeast, small lithic sites are the least commonly referenced site type in the archaeological literature and are considered by some archaeologists as the most difficult site type to deal with when assessing research potential and function (Barber 2001; Carr, this volume; Lennox 1995). The limited artifact assemblages, absence of complex and formal work areas, and limited number of features often result in the conclusion that these sites have little or no research potential.
It is with this idea in mind that the current volume is presented. Fourteen of the chapters in the volume were presented as papers in a symposium entitled “Current Approaches to the Analysis and Interpretation of Small Lithic Sites” held at the New York State Museum in Albany in November 2003. These papers are couched in between an introduction and concluding chapter. The primary goal of this colloquium was to provide a venue within which the importance and significance of small lithic sites could be discussed by including prehistoric archaeologists, cultural resource managers, and state and federal historic preservation officers from across the region.

小型石制品遗址（small lithic sites，亦称散布点）是东北部地区已识别的最常见遗址类型之一。这类遗址广泛分布于高地与低地环境中，多为资源开采、加工与采集活动的开展区域。部分此类小型石制品遗址还可能留存有过夜或临时住宿、膳食制备活动的遗留痕迹（Piles与Wilcox 1978；Means 1999；Rieth 2003a；Shen 2001）。据此，这类小型石制品遗址能够展现居住聚落与社群边界之外的生活图景（Lennox 1995）。此外，小型石制品遗址亦不局限于单一文化历史阶段，而是覆盖了该地区整整12000年的人类居住史（Funk 1976；Ritchie与Funk 1973；Snow 1980）。
尽管这类遗址在东北部地区分布广泛，但小型石制品遗址却是考古文献中被引用最少的遗址类型，部分考古学家认为，在评估研究潜力与功能时，这类遗址是最难处理的遗址类型（Barber 2001；Carr，本卷；Lennox 1995）。由于出土遗物组合有限、缺乏复杂规整的工作区域，且遗迹数量稀少，这类遗址常被判定为几乎或完全不具备研究价值。
正是基于这一认知，本论文集得以编撰问世。本论文集中的14篇章节，均为2003年11月于奥尔巴尼纽约州博物馆举办的「小型石制品遗址分析与阐释的当代路径」学术研讨会上宣读的论文，这些论文位于导论与结论章节之间。本次学术研讨会的核心目标，是搭建一个交流平台，邀请来自该地区各地的史前考古学家、文化资源管理者以及州级与联邦级历史保护官员，共同探讨小型石制品遗址的重要价值与意义。