Whittaker studied anthropology at Cornell University. He began to learning to knap flint in his sophomore year, in 1972. Lacking chert or obsidian to practice with, he used the glass from broken soda bottles. Early on, he had to take a brief hiatus from knapping after he accidentally severed two tendons in his left index finger with a glass flake.[citation needed] In his third year at Cornell, Whittaker worked on the archaeological site of Pech de l'Azé [fr] in France and studied under François Bordes. Bordes taught Whittaker learned how to knap chert and deepened his interest in the craft. He also met expert knappers Mark Newcomer and Jacques Pelegrin.[1]
Whittaker later attended the University of Arizona as a graduate student, where he continued to work on experimental archaeology. Along with his colleague Harold Dibble, Whittaker developed a mechanical device that flaked stone in a controlled, repeatable manner.[2] This allowed for the precise study of the effects of force on reduction angles. In 1979, Whittaker and Dibble taught a course on experimental archaeology and knapping. Whittaker obtained his master's degree from Arizona in 1979 and his doctorate in 1984.[1]
Academic career
Shortly after completing his PhD in 1984, Whittaker began teaching at Grinnell College, Iowa, where he still has a position as of 2019[update].[3] He was appointed a full professor in 2001.[1]
Whittaker has worked on multiple sites and regions, including the American Southwest, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central America.[3] He is best known for his contributions to the study of ancient technologies, particularly his work in experimental archaeology by attempting to replicate or approximate past technologies and testing hypotheses and theories about the cultures that used them.[citation needed] This has included research into bronze casting, foraging and cooking, flintknapping, ceramics, and atlatls.
Whittaker has studied ancient and modern flintknappers in both the Old and New Worlds. His 1994 book, Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools, is a guide to the practice of lithic reduction for academics and hobbyists, covering the history, mechanics, and techniques of flintknapping.
Whittaker has also investigated atlatls, or spear-throwers. He is a member of the World Atlatl Association, an organization that promotes the use and continued research into atlatls. He is a regular contributor to the organization's journal, The Atlatl. One insight gained from Whittaker's research was the physical effects of prolonged atlatl throwing on the human body, a condition known as "atlatl elbow" (cf. tennis elbow). After years of prolonged use of the tool, Whittaker developed the early stages of the condition, which has also been recorded in ancient remains such as Mungo man. He used this opportunity to study the relationship between atlatl usage and human anatomy, establishing the causes of the condition and how it can be prevented by proper form and stretching.[4]
Awards
World Atlatl Association, Top 10 Award, 2000, 2001, 2006
World Atlatl Association, President's Award, 2012
Selected publications
1994: Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools
1999: Surviving Adversity: The Sinagua of Lizard Man Village
2004: American Flintknappers: Stone Age Art in the Age of Computers
^(PDF) http://waa.basketmakeratlatl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Atlatl-elbow.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
External links
Faculty page at Grinnell College
World Atlatl Association homepage
January 20, 2023
john, whittaker, other, people, named, john, whittaker, john, whittaker, disambiguation, john, charles, whittaker, born, september, 1953, american, archaeologist, professor, grinnell, college, whittaker, research, focuses, prehistoric, technology, experimental. For other people named John Whittaker see John Whittaker disambiguation John Charles Whittaker born September 6 1953 is an American archaeologist and professor at Grinnell College Whittaker s research focuses on prehistoric technology and experimental archaeology specializing particularly in stone tools and atlatls He has also worked in natural history and ecology zooarchaeology and paleoethnobotany John C WhittakerBornJohn Charles Whittaker 1953 09 06 September 6 1953 age 69 Richland WashingtonKnown forStudy of flintknapping Work on atlatlsAcademic backgroundEducationCornell University BA 1975 University of Arizona MA 1979 PhD 1984 ThesisArrowheads and Artisans Stone Tool Manufacture and Individual Variation at Grasshopper Pueblo 1984 Academic workDisciplineArchaeologySub disciplinePrehistoric archaeology Experimental archaeologyInstitutionsGrinnell College Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Academic career 3 Awards 4 Selected publications 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education EditWhittaker studied anthropology at Cornell University He began to learning to knap flint in his sophomore year in 1972 Lacking chert or obsidian to practice with he used the glass from broken soda bottles Early on he had to take a brief hiatus from knapping after he accidentally severed two tendons in his left index finger with a glass flake citation needed In his third year at Cornell Whittaker worked on the archaeological site of Pech de l Aze fr in France and studied under Francois Bordes Bordes taught Whittaker learned how to knap chert and deepened his interest in the craft He also met expert knappers Mark Newcomer and Jacques Pelegrin 1 Whittaker later attended the University of Arizona as a graduate student where he continued to work on experimental archaeology Along with his colleague Harold Dibble Whittaker developed a mechanical device that flaked stone in a controlled repeatable manner 2 This allowed for the precise study of the effects of force on reduction angles In 1979 Whittaker and Dibble taught a course on experimental archaeology and knapping Whittaker obtained his master s degree from Arizona in 1979 and his doctorate in 1984 1 Academic career EditShortly after completing his PhD in 1984 Whittaker began teaching at Grinnell College Iowa where he still has a position as of 2019 update 3 He was appointed a full professor in 2001 1 Whittaker has worked on multiple sites and regions including the American Southwest Western and Eastern Europe the Middle East and Central America 3 He is best known for his contributions to the study of ancient technologies particularly his work in experimental archaeology by attempting to replicate or approximate past technologies and testing hypotheses and theories about the cultures that used them citation needed This has included research into bronze casting foraging and cooking flintknapping ceramics and atlatls Whittaker has studied ancient and modern flintknappers in both the Old and New Worlds His 1994 book Flintknapping Making and Understanding Stone Tools is a guide to the practice of lithic reduction for academics and hobbyists covering the history mechanics and techniques of flintknapping Whittaker has also investigated atlatls or spear throwers He is a member of the World Atlatl Association an organization that promotes the use and continued research into atlatls He is a regular contributor to the organization s journal The Atlatl One insight gained from Whittaker s research was the physical effects of prolonged atlatl throwing on the human body a condition known as atlatl elbow cf tennis elbow After years of prolonged use of the tool Whittaker developed the early stages of the condition which has also been recorded in ancient remains such as Mungo man He used this opportunity to study the relationship between atlatl usage and human anatomy establishing the causes of the condition and how it can be prevented by proper form and stretching 4 Awards EditWorld Atlatl Association Top 10 Award 2000 2001 2006 World Atlatl Association President s Award 2012Selected publications Edit1994 Flintknapping Making and Understanding Stone Tools 1999 Surviving Adversity The Sinagua of Lizard Man Village 2004 American Flintknappers Stone Age Art in the Age of ComputersReferences Edit a b c John Whittaker Cirriculum Vitae Academia edu Retrieved 2019 09 08 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Whittaker John 1994 Flintknapping Making and Understanding Stone Tools Austin University of Texas Press p 223 ISBN 9780292790834 a b John C Whittaker Grinnell College Retrieved 2019 09 08 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link PDF http waa basketmakeratlatl com wp content uploads 2013 02 Atlatl elbow pdf a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help External links EditFaculty page at Grinnell College World Atlatl Association homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John C Whittaker amp oldid 1070730715, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
