Testing the Bordes method on handaxes: a geometric morphometric approach

Abstract

Bordes’ typology has been in use for many years and is widely applied in studies of Early and Middle Palaeolithic stone tools, especially in vocabulary and typological classification in shaping artefacts (mainly flake tools and handaxes). However, over the years, this method has received different critiques, especially regarding the arbitrariness and subjectivism in the definition and classification of some artefacts. The application of geometric morphometric methods (2D or 3D) on the study of stone tools is starting to become widespread. These methodological approaches are highly suitable for measuring patterns in shape change between artefact groups, which would be impossible to establish with more “traditional” methods. This paper aims to analyse the accuracy and reliability of the main types of handaxes established by Bordes, by performing different methods of Geometric Morphometric Analysis. The evidence from this study suggests that a large percentage of the handaxe types noted by Bordes is reliable and correlates with statistically significant changes in shape and only a small percentage of forms have no geometric morphometric significance. Likewise, these findings support the suitability of Geometric Morphometric Analysis on lithic artefact assemblages focusing on the measurement and classification by shape changes.