Skill an introduction Nada Khreisheh What is Skill

Skill – an introduction Nada Khreisheh

What is Skill? Photos: Whitlock 2011

What is Skill? • 1: – A) the ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance – B) dexterity or coordination especially in the execution of learned physical tasks • 2: – a learned power of doing something competently : a developed aptitude or ability (Merriam-Webster 2012)

Types of Skill • Skill can be divided into 2 separate areas of understanding and ability: – Connaissance (Knowledge). – Savoir-faire (Know-how). • Identified by Pelegrin in relation to flintknapping (1990). • Connaissance – understanding of how a task should be performed, mental image of intended object, understanding of technical stages that must be performed. • Savoir-faire – physical ability to carry out a task, possession of necessary motor skills and ability to adapt these as needed.

Skill Aquisition • Learning: – Observation – Emulation – Teaching – Practice

Skill Acquisition • Teaching: – Observation – Demonstration – Scaffolding • Archaeological evidence: – Spatial evidence – Artifactual evidence

Skill Acquisition • Aptitude/natural abilities: – Motor skills – Spatial abilities – Intelligence – Age – Sex – Size/weight/strength

Why is this important for archaeologists? • • • Interpreting behaviour Understanding archaeological remains. Identifying children. Understanding social structure. Identifying craft specialisation.

Why is this important for experimental archaeologists? • • • Craft skills Understanding technology from artefacts Time factors Learning/teaching methods Project Development – identifying highly skilled craftspeople

Conclusion • Skill is an important concept for archaeologists. • Studying it can help us get a better understanding of human behaviour from archaeological remains. • It is a key issue for experimental archaeologists demonstrating craft skills and planning experimental projects. References: Pelegrin, J. 1990: Prehistoric lithic technology: some aspects of research, Archaeological Review from Cambridge. 9 (1), 116 -25. http: //www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/skill