Use-wear Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The main objective of this study is to provide a micro-level observation
of everyday activities in the Iron Gates region, in the period between the end of
the 7th and mid-6th millennium BC. The principal methodological tool is the application of use-wear analysis on chipped stone assemblages from the Lepenski
Vir, Padina and Vlasac sites, where the Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic sequence is noted. Besides the general results of the utilization of lithic artefacts,
like their employment in various undertakings such as scraping wood and hides,
or engraving stone or bones, use-wear analysis can reveal the exact processes behind the activities. The obtained data can indicate the struggles of shaping the
available raw materials and the way prehistoric people confronted these quotidian
difficulties. The discovered results are crucial for understanding human cognition, but are also proof of the ability of ancient individuals to approach and overcome small-scale crises in everyday life.

- by
- •
- Prehistoric Archaeology, Mesolithic Archaeology, Neolithic Archaeology, Use-wear

Macro-lithic tools are among the most abundant artefact categories in the archaeological record. They are made from a wide range of rocks, worked through various techniques and served to carry out a large array of tasks, beginning in the Palaeolithic and continuing to early historic times. Despite their relevance to the economic and social organisation of past societies, it is only recently that archaeologists have begun to develop specific research methodologies for the study of macro-lithic artefacts. One aspect that deserves increasing attention is the description and analysis of traces on stone surfaces specific to production, maintenance and use. The aim of this paper is to compare the different approaches to functional analyses of macro-lithic tools and to achieve a consensus about terms and analytical categories. Issues discussed include the factors governing the formation of wear traces, the manifestation of wear on surfaces of various rock types, comparisons between macroscopic and microscopic approaches and the possibilities for photographically documenting observations. The final objective is to standardize methods for functional analyses, thereby facilitating a better technological understanding of the means of production used by pre-industrial societies.

- by Hugues Plisson
- •
- Experimental Archaeology, Technology, Methodology, Terminology
- by Leore Grosman
- •
- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Natufian, Ochre

This article introduces the results of the functional analysis of the scraping tools of the late Ushki culture (Central Kamchatka). A collection of stone artefacts including a series of end-scrapers and sidescrapers was received due to the longtime excavation of the VI Paleolithic layer of Ushki sites. Most of these tools were found during the study of the remains of dwellings as well as burials. The attempts of classification of scraping tools, definition of functions on the basis of morphology and wear marks were done in the 1970s. In 1989, N.A. Kononenko (Vladivostok) performed use-wear analysis of stone inventory of the late Ushki culture. The wear marks from skin scraping were recorded on typologically marked scraping tools as well as on wedgeshaped micro cores, their preforms, shatters, chippers, microplates, re touched flakes, and fissures without processing. One artefact with scraping morphology was interpreted as wood chisel. Some tools with glossing microtraces and scraping kinematics were used for dredging. Our studies of scrapers of the VI layer allow to judge about the specialization during the process of leathermaking, point out the dis crepancies of some typological definitions of stone ware with their real functional pur pose, reveal the peculiarities of the reissue process of the tools in the industry of the late Ushki culture.

In 2017, a bracelet made of mammoth ivory, the first artifact of such kind found in the Altai, was found in layer 11 in the South Chamber of Denisova Cave. Main stages in bracelet manufacturing have been reconstructed, such as blank production based on longitudinal flaking or knapping of moistened ivory; shaving with a stone tool and bending the moistened blank for giving the needed shape to the artifact. Technological analysis of the bracelet substantially complements the knowledge about the techniques of processing mammoth ivory, which were used in Southern Siberia in the Early Upper Paleolithic. The comparison of this adornment with similar finds from other sites makes it possible to consider the bracelet from layer 11 in Denisova Cave as the earliest artifact of that kind in Northern Eurasia.

Natural behavior of the deer can leave various modifications on the antlers. Deer often rub their antlers against tree bark and bushes and use them intensively during male–male competition. All of these behaviors can leave marks on the antlers. Distinguishing these naturally-made marks from human-made marks is crucial in accurately identifying antler tools from archaeological sites. This study examined 347 white-tailed deer antlers to document the types and frequencies of the natural modifications. Scratches, polish, deformation, and fractures on the tip are the most frequently found modifications. Unless the modifications on the antlers from archaeological sites can be distinguished from these natural modifications, the nature of the purported antler tools remains questionable.

- by Pat Shipman
- •
- Experimental Archaeology, Taphonomy, Upper Paleolithic, Tools

The optical examination under hight magnification of the wear on a series of experimental bone tools, used on animal, vegetable and mineral material, has shown that a part the localization of the active edges, it is not only possible to identify the kind of worked material,but also its condition. The microwear traces observed on bone show certain common features with the traces already described on flint. This gives the possibility of similar identification criteria. The reflected light microscope is therefore totally efficient for the functional analysis of bone surfaces when the relevant traces are preserved.

- by Hugues Plisson
- •
- Traceology, Use-wear, Bone Tool, Micro-Wear

Bone needle, being unique in its well-preserved state, was recovered in 2016 in lithological horizon 11.2 in the Main Chamber of Denisova Cave. The main stages in manufacturing the needle were reconstructed as follows: obtaining a half- finished product from the tubular bone wall of a large mammal by cutting and splitting; shaping and grinding the obtained blank; double-sided drilling and finishing polish. The small diameter of the needle’s eye suggests using a tenuous thread of about 1 mm diameter. This research has made it possible to reveal the wear traces on the needle surface related to the long-term use of the product according to its function. A total of 13 items associated with the context for producing bone needles were recognized and studied in the Paleolithic collections from Denisova Cave. A comparison between these tools and artifacts from the other sites, which yielded similar finds, enables consideration of the bone needles found in layer 11 at Denisova Cave as the earliest articles of this type in Eurasia.

- by Козликин Максим and +2
- •
- Prehistoric Archaeology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Bone and Antler, Use Wear Analysis

Ushki sites complex (Central Kamchatka) is one of the most famous geoarchaeological objects in Northeast Asia. The article presents the results of trasological analysis of stone beads and pendants from Paleolithic burial of VIIth cultural layer of Ushki-I site. The ornaments are among the most ancient and widespread evidence of symbolic behavior in the region. Through the use of modern microscopic and photographic equipment the author found various categories of use-wear traces and traces of manufacture on them. Analysis of use-wear and experimental data allowed to identify a number of functional types of ancient personal ornaments and reconstruct the main stages of manufacturing. The first type of personal ornaments includes beads and one pendant that were used as components of necklaces, bracelets or amulets. Single beads for hanging on a string or strap represent the second type. The third type of personal ornaments (plaque to be sewed on clothes) includes a pendant with five holes. The technology of producing the ornaments consisted of such operations as primary abrasive finishing, drilling and polishing.

- by Hugues Plisson
- •
- Use-wear, Microliths, Natoufian, Microlithism

Heavy duty bevel-ended tools, such as axes and mattocks, belong to the category of the most frequently discovered artefacts on the early Holocene hunter-gatherer European archaeological sites. These objects are distinguished by c.a. 50-degree bevelled working edge and the raw material used to produce them was mostly deer antler. The main objective of the presented study is to classify, analyse, interpret and correlate the macro and microscopic traces formed on the experimental replicas of this kind of tools. During the experiments conducted directly for the purpose of this project, a wide variety of household activities were tested, taking into the account many possible variables, such as: the kind of worked material (soil, wood, hide, flesh, ice), the type of activity performed (chopping, digging, scraping, hewing, hitting) and the duration of work. The effectiveness and suitability of the selected tools for those varying activities were also examined.

The paper presents the results provided by technical research focused on personal ornaments recovered from layer 11 in the Main Chamber of Denisova Cave in 2016 and 2017. Personal ornaments and bone tools from Denisova cave are one of the oldest and most expressive elements of modern human behavior, known in the Paleolithic of Northern and Central Asia. These items are considered an element of cultural identity and a chronological marker of the first Upper Paleolithic societies in Altay region. All bone tools and personal ornaments come from stratified and well-dated archaeological contexts. As a result of integrated, multidisciplinary investigations – including petrographic, experimental, use-wear and technological analysis – we reconstructed the chaîne opératoire of these non-utilitarian artefacts. The manufacture of personal ornaments involved the use of a great variety of raw materials: soft stones, tubular bones of animals and birds, teeth of mammals, mammoth ivory, as well as shells from freshwater clams. Production techniques employed for manufacturing non-utilitarian objects included several stages: selecting a raw material; obtaining a half-finished product; processing by shaping, scraping, grinding, drilling and polishing. A number of processing methods (grinding, drilling, cutting, polishing), being specific for the early Upper Paleolithic period, were utilized in this industry for producing objects from bone and ivory, as well as for soft stones working. According to their function, the ornaments from layer 11 can be classified into various types: flat and dimensional beads; holed beads; pendants with the circular grooves or with one drilled hole; plaques with two holes. A unique specimen in the collection is a fragment of ornamental ivory diadem (headband). Results of technological and use-wear analysis of personal ornaments from Paleolithic complexes of Denisova cave demonstrate communication of these objects with various functional and semantic systems. The morphology of use-wear traces indicates the use of the majority of Denisova cave beads, pendants and plaques as everyday items – personal wearable ornaments and elements of clothes decoration. The abundance, morphological and functional variability of the ornaments from layer 11 reflect an exceptional diversity of the methods used for personal ornamentation, implying the existence of preferences and traditions in the use of these objects.

In 2017, during the study of the Pleistocene deposits from layer 11 in the South Chamber of Denisova Cave, excavations revealed a fragment of mammoth ivory point and 15 adornments made of different materials. The adornments included pendants made of animal teeth, soft stone, a mollusk shell, and mammoth ivory, as well as tubular beads of bone and the decorated object made from the rib of a mammal. Manufacturing technology for producing the adornments involved several stages, such as selection of raw material, production of the blank, shaving, scraping, grinding, sawing, drilling, and polishing. The analysis of the industry associated with layer 11 indicates that some techniques specific for the Early Upper Paleolithic (grinding, drilling, and polishing) were used both for manufacturing bone and ivory artifacts and processing of soft stone. In addition, the evidence of repairing the adornments and their remodeling has also been found.

- by Alexander Fedorchenko
- •
- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Symbolism

The site Pogostische 15 is situated in the north of Vologda province, in the Lake Vozhe basin. A number of 14-C dates in the interval 7800-7100 calBC were obtained on worked wood from the Masolithic find level. Pollen data place this level into the Boreal period. 128 bone artifacts were found, among them 55 arrowheads divided into 9 types. Six barbed points include two types. 13 bone spearheads are divided into 2 types. Three fragments of daggers of different types supplement the collection. Traceological analysis with the help of a stereomicroscope made possible to reconstruct technology of manufacture of bone weapons. Use-wear traces characteristic for arrowheads, javeline and spearheads were observed on a substantial number of artifacts. Mesolithic inhabitants of the site Pogostische 15 had highly developed bone weapons, which made possible successful hunting of various animals. Most semblances is observed between bone weapons of Veretye culture of the Lake Lache basin 120 km to the north on one hand, and Butovo culture of the Volga-Oka interfluve on the other. At the same time bone weapons of the site Pogostische 15 have some specific features.