Industry (archaeology)

An archaeological industry, normally just "industry", is the name given in the study of prehistory to a consistent range of assemblages connected with a single product, such as the Langdale axe industry. Where the assemblages contain evidence of a variety of items and behaviours, the more correct term is "archaeological culture", although both terms are often used to describe the same assemblage by different sources. They may also be referred to as "lithic industries" where the products are stone tools or weapons.

Archaeological industry is not to be confused with industrial archaeology, which is normally concerned with investigating the industries of much more recent periods, typically the Early Modern period.

Examples of early lithic industries are the following:

• Oldowan
• Acheulean
• Mousterian

See also

• Stone tool
• Bone tool