Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This is the first general account of the mechanics behind pre-industrial technology. By combining the skills of an engineer and an archaeologist, it shows how mechanics can be used to create a better understanding of the function of artifacts and the achievements of early technology. The authors examine technology from the earliest stone tools of more than two million years ago to the erection of the statues of Easter Island which continued into the seventeenth century. Representative material cultures from most areas of the world have been selected for this study and the book shows how sophisticated many of their apparently simple techniques and artefacts actually were. After an introduction to basic mechanics the book examines the elements of machines: the various structures which can be made to bridge openings; the mechanics involved in fashioning stone tools; projectiles such as the spear and boomerang; the efficiency of transport by land and water; and the mechanics of musical instruments.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of figures (p. x)
• List of tables (p. xii)
• Preface (p. xiii)
• 1 Introduction (p. 1)
• Invention and diffusion (p. 1)
• Theories of cultural evolution (p. 5)
• Artifact sophistication and complexity (p. 8)
• The development of mechanical science (p. 11)
• Mechanics of material culture (p. 13)
• Methods of mechanical analysis (p. 14)
• Mechanical experimentation (p. 15)
• Definitions and units (p. 16)
• 2 Basic mechanics (p. 18)
• Space and time (p. 18)
• Mass (p. 20)
• Force (p. 22)
• The laws of motion (p. 22)
• The main sources of force in pre-industrial technology (p. 23)
• Muscular force (p. 23)
• Gravitational force (p. 24)
• Frictional force (p. 27)
• Scalars and vectors (p. 29)
• Acceleration (p. 31)
• Work and energy (p. 33)
• Power (p. 35)
• Equilibrium and stability (p. 44)
• 3 Fluids and solids (p. 47)
• Fluids (p. 47)
• Concept of pressure (p. 47)
• The motion of ideal fluids (p. 50)
• The siphon (p. 54)
• The water-wheel (p. 56)
• Viscous flow (p. 57)
• Water-clocks (p. 59)
• Solids (p. 64)
• Stress and strength (p. 65)
• Deformation and strain (p. 69)
• Stress-strain relationships (p. 70)
• Resilience and strain energy (p. 72)
• 4 Machines (p. 74)
• The lever (p. 75)
• The moment of a force (p. 77)
• Lever systems of animals (p. 80)
• Lifting with a lever (p. 80)
• The beam press (p. 83)
• The balance (p. 84)
• The inclined plane (p. 86)
• The pulley (p. 89)
• The winch and capstan (p. 93)
• The screw (p. 94)
• The gear wheel (p. 96)
• The wedge (p. 97)
• 5 Structures (p. 101)
• Suspension bridges (p. 102)
• Column and lintel construction (p. 104)
• Beams (p. 106)
• Trusses (p. 115)
• Arches and domes (p. 119)
• Arches (p. 119)
• Domes (p. 123)
• 6 Stone tools (p. 125)
• The stone materials (p. 127)
• Flaked stone tools (p. 130)
• Fracture mechanics (p. 135)
• The initiation phase of flake formation (p. 140)
• The propagation phase of flake formation (p. 142)
• The termination phase of flake formation (p. 145)
• Flake surface markings (p. 147)
• Ground stone tools (p. 151)
• The mechanics of abrasion (p. 153)
• Use-wear on stone tools (p. 155)
• 7 Projectiles (p. 160)
• The motion of projectiles (p. 161)
• The spear (p. 163)
• The spearthrower (p. 166)
• The stability of a spear (p. 170)
• The boomerang (p. 175)
• The bow and arrow (p. 180)
• The composite bow (p. 185)
• The archer's paradox (p. 187)
• Torsion catapults (p. 188)
• 8 Land transport (p. 193)
• The mechanics of walking (p. 193)
• Pack transport (p. 196)
• Wheeled vehicles (p. 197)
• Friction of rollers and wheels (p. 198)
• The dished wheel (p. 204)
• Animal ability and harness (p. 206)
• The wheelbarrow (p. 214)
• Moving the colossi (p. 216)
• Lubrication (p. 220)
• Rollers (p. 223)
• Ropes (p. 225)
• Easter Island statues (p. 226)
• Classical Greece and Rome (p. 232)
• 9 Water transport (p. 234)
• Buoyancy (p. 237)
• Lateral stability (p. 238)
• Propulsion (p. 245)
• Oars (p. 245)
• Sails (p. 250)
• Water resistance (p. 255)
• The performance of the Trireme (p. 257)
• Steering and directional stability (p. 259)
• 10 Musical instruments (p. 265)
• The nature of sound (p. 266)
• The pitch and quality of a musical note (p. 267)
• Harmony and musical scales (p. 270)
• Musical instruments (p. 276)
• Chordophones, or stringed instruments (p. 276)
• Aerophones, or wind instruments (p. 280)
• Idiophones, or percussion instruments other than drums (p. 287)
• Membranophones, or drums (p. 291)
• Archaeomusicology (p. 292)
• 11 Epilogue (p. 293)
• Appendix I Glossary of mechanical terms (p. 296)
• Appendix II Symbols (p. 305)
• Appendix III Useful mathematical formulas (p. 308)
• References (p. 309)
• Index (p. 319)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Cotterell and Kamminga apply "mechanics theory in the study of ancient and traditional material culture" (p. 293). Beginning with chapters on theories of cultural complexity and of basic mechanics, they continue with machines (simple ones), structures, stone tools, projectiles, land transport, water transport, and musical instruments. Of the last, it is noted that application of mechanics theory is least successful in achieving an understanding of past activities and their products, the instruments. The bibliography is drawn from classical, 18th- and 19th-century beginnings, and comprehensively from 20th-century sources. Frequent reference is made to James E. Gordon, The New Science of Strong Materials (CH, Mar'69), but Time, Energy, and Stone Tools, ed. by Robin Torrence (CH, May'90) is omitted. However, neither of these could substitute for this more comprehensive work. The illustrations are plentiful and excellent; there is a bonus of three useful appendixes.-R. F. G. Spier, University of Missouri-Columbia

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Brian Cotterell: Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering National University of Singapore
Johan Kamminga: Department of Prehistory and Anthropology Australian National University