In anthropology and archaeology, the term concave is usually descriptive rather than conceptual—it refers to shapes, surfaces, or tool forms that curve inward. It’s applied in lithic technology, skeletal morphology, and material culture analysis.
🌍 Definition
- Concave: A surface or edge that curves inward, like the inside of a bowl.
- Anthropological Use: Used to describe artifacts, bones, or structures with inward-curving forms.
🔑 Applications in Anthropology
Lithic Technology
- Concave Base Projectile Points: Many Paleoindian points (e.g., Clovis, Folsom) have concave bases for hafting.
- Concave Scrapers: Tools with inward-curved working edges, used for hide processing or woodworking.
- Diagnostic Feature: Concavity in stone tools helps classify point types and cultural traditions.
Skeletal Morphology
- Concave Surfaces in Bones:
- Vertebral bodies have concave superior and inferior surfaces.
- Pelvic bones show concave areas shaping the birth canal.
- Cranial vaults may be described as concave in certain regions.
- Functional Significance: Concavity often relates to articulation, load distribution, or protection.
Material Culture & Architecture
- Concave Vessels: Pottery and ritual bowls often feature concave interiors.
- Concave Structures: Some communal or ritual spaces are designed with inward-curving walls or amphitheater-like forms.
- Symbolism: Concavity can symbolize containment, receptivity, or fertility in ritual contexts.
📚 Anthropological Significance
- Classification: Concave features are diagnostic in typologies of tools and artifacts.
- Functional Analysis: Concavity often enhances usability (e.g., scraping, hafting, holding).
- Symbolic Dimension: In ritual or art, concave forms may represent wombs, vessels, or cosmic receptacles.
- Comparative Studies: Concave vs. convex forms highlight cultural choices in tool-making and design.
In short: In anthropology, “concave” describes inward-curving forms in tools, bones, vessels, and structures—important for classification, function, and symbolism.
