Surface analysis of stone and bone tools
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23345951 |
|---|---|
| Authors | W J Stemp (0000-0002-8063-9327, Keene State College, corresponding author), Adam S Watson (0000-0003-2356-9606), Adam Watson (0000-0002-5707-0523, American Museum of Natural History, corresponding author), Adrian Evans (0000-0001-6891-8465, University of Bradford, corresponding author), Adrian A Evans |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 013001 |
| Publication date | 2015-11-05 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2051-672X • E-ISSN: 2051-672X |
| Publisher | IOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1088/2051-672x/4/1/013001 |
| OpenAlex | W2144298174 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 60 |
| References cited | 241 |
Microwear (use-wear) analysis is a powerful method for identifying tool use that archaeologists and anthropologists employ to determine the activities undertaken by both humans and their hominin ancestors. Knowledge of tool use allows for more accurate and detailed reconstructions of past behavior, particularly in relation to subsistence practices, economic activities, conflict and ritual. It can also be used to document changes in these activities over time, in different locations, and by different members of society, in terms of gender and status, for example. Both stone and bone tools have been analyzed using a variety of techniques that focus on the observation, documentation and interpretation of wear traces. Traditionally, microwear analysis relied on the qualitative assessment of wear features using microscopes and often included comparisons between replicated tools used experimentally and the recovered artifacts, as well as functional analogies dependent upon modern implements and those used by indigenous peoples from various places around the world. Determination of tool use has also relied on the recovery and analysis of both organic and inorganic residues of past worked materials that survived in and on artifact surfaces. To determine tool use and better understand the mechanics of wear formation, particularly on stone and bone, archaeologists and anthropologists have increasingly turned to surface metrology and tribology to assist them in their research. This paper provides a history of the development of traditional microwear analysis in archaeology and anthropology and also explores the introduction and adoption of more modern methods and technologies for documenting and identifying wear on stone and bone tools, specifically those developed for the engineering sciences to study surface structures on micro- and nanoscales. The current state of microwear analysis is discussed as are the future directions in the study of microwear on stone and bone tools.
Archaeology · Artifact (error) · Data science · Documentation · Indigenous · Interpretation (philosophy) · Paleoanthropology · Stone tool · Subsistence agriculture · Variety (cybernetics) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Ecology · Engineering · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
Kárpát-medencei nyersanyagokból készült kőeszközök felületi elváltozásainak kvalitatív és kvantitatív elemzése
A review of the curved lithic cleavers from the rainforest of southeastern South America
Lawrence H. Keeley's contributions to the use of microwear analysis in reconstructions of past human behavior (1972–2017)
Pointed Objects of the Mierzanowice Culture (Early Bronze Age). A Study of Function by Use-Wear Analysis
Quantifying 3D Micro‐Surface Changes on Experimental Stones Used to Break Bones and Their Implications for the Analysis of Early Stone Age Pounding Tools
Stone Artifacts
A Protocol to Identify the Wear Traces on Osseous Points Used for Fishing
The morphometrics and microwear of a small Clovis assemblage from Guernsey County, Southeastern Ohio, U.S.A
Cognitive possibilities of studying pigments on stone artefacts
Bone and Shell Tools
To What Extent Are Similarities in Lithic Artifacts Due to Convergence
The Joshua Cache
Not All That Glitters is Gold? Rock Crystal in the Early British Neolithic at Dorstone Hill, Herefordshire, and the Wider British and Irish Context
First evidence of hippopotamus ivory exchange networks in north-eastern Iberian Peninsula
An Examination of Terminal Archaic Bone and Antler Implements from the Firehouse Site, Dearborn County, Indiana
Early occupation of High Asia
Replicating surface texture
A new combined approach using confocal and scanning electron microscopy to image surface modifications on quartzite
Replicative experimental use of Palaeolithic Ground Stone Tools
Testing imaging confocal microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and focus variation microscopy for microscale measurement of edge cross-sections and calculation of edge curvature on stone tools
Multiscale characterizations of topographic measurements on lithic materials and microwear using a GelSight Max
Exploring the microscale
The role of artificial contact materials in experimental use-wear studies
An experimental investigation of the effects of post-depositional damage on current quantitative use-wear methods
A workflow for quality control in surface texture analysis applied to teeth and tools
A pilot investigation into forager craft activities in the middle Limpopo Valley, southern Africa
Microscope agnosticism and the characterization of sedimentary abrasion of flint stone tools
Making impact
Identifying Experimental Tool Use Through Confocal Microscopy
Why should traceology learn from dental microwear, and vice-versa
Analysis of Micro-Residues on Stone Tools From Zaskelna IX, Crimea
Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Surface Alterations of Stone Tools Made of Raw Materials from the Carpathian Basin
Toward Recognizing the Prehistoric Butchery of Frozen Meat
Ghosts in the Room and Elephants in the Machine
The lithic assemblage from the 700,000-year-old butchery site of Kalinga (Luzon Island, Philippines)
The Effect of Heat on Lithic Microwear Traces
A New View on the Late Pleistocene Lithic Remains from Pikimachay Cave, South Central Peru
Stone Age technologies and human behaviors as reflected in decoration of osseous artefacts from the northern part of East-Central Europe
Was it ground? A closer look at various prehistoric bone grinding techniques – An experimental and traceological study
D multiscale curvature analysis of tool edges as an indicator of cereal harvesting intensity
On the Mousterian origin of bone-tipped hunting weapons in Europe
A citation network analysis of lithic microwear research
Description, Geometric Morphometrics, and Microwear of Five Clovis Fluted Projectile Points from Lucas and Wood Counties, Northwest Ohio, USA
Barely scratched the surface
Expedient lithic technology in complex sedentary societies
The West Tofts handaxe
Hunter-gatherer gatherings
Here's the dirt
The perception of gloss
Technological and behavioural complexity in expedient industries
New taphonomic advances in 3D digital microscopy
Rethinking Use-Wear Analysis and Experimentation as Applied to the Study of Past Hominin Tool Use
Application of computed tomography to the study of Mesolithic portable art
Topographic analysis of ceramic vessel surfaces and variability in wall thickness as a means to identify pottery-forming methods
Quantification of microwear on experimental shell tools
Discrimination of wheel-thrown pottery surface treatment by Deep Learning
A method for the taphonomic assessment of bone tools using 3D surface texture analysis of bone microtopography
Microwear study of quartzite artefacts
Identifying the contribution of rotational movement in pottery forming based on statistical surface analysis
The Use of the Horse Phalanx by the Chiyalik Culture Population Based on the Materials of the Settlement of Yabalakly-1 (South Urals)
Maya stone tools
The Functional Analysis of Flint Implements: Pincevent and Pont d'Ambon : two case studies from the French Final Palaeolithic
Prehension and Hafting Traces on Flint Tools
Prehistoric Blood Residues
Dental microwear texture analysis shows within-species diet variability in fossil hominins
Using metrology in early prehistoric stone tool research
Quantifying Microwear on Experimental Mistassini Quartzite Scrapers
Experimental determination of stone tool uses
Starch analysis reveals prehistoric plant translocations and shell tool use, Marquesas Islands, Polynesia
Some criticisms and suggestions in response to Newcomer et al. (1986)
Early and mid Holocene tool-use and processing of taro (Colocasia esculenta), yam (Dioscorea sp.) and other plants at Kuk Swamp in the highlands of Papua New Guinea
Tracéologie des outils tranchants en os des Ve et IVe millénaires av. J.-C. en Bassin parisien
Use–Wear and Residue Analysis in Archeology
Ancient Stone Implements, Weapons, and Ornaments, of Great Britain
Tendances actuelles des recherches sur l'industrie de l'os
Behavioural Complexity and Modern Traits in the Philippine Upper Palaeolithic
Perspectives on ancient Maya bone crafting from a Classic period bone-artifact manufacturing assemblage
Prehistoric Hafting and Mobility in the North American Midcontinent
Étude fonctionnelle des artefacts lithiques du site paléolithique supérieur de Hutouliang, Chine du Nord
Functional analysis of prehistoric flint tools by high-power microscopy
Ground stone use-wear analysis
A review of “Investigating microwear polishes with blind tests”
A review of quantification of lithic use-wear using laser profilometry
Technique and methodology in microwear studies
Is Loading a Significantly Influential Factor in the Development of Lithic Microwear? An Experimental Test Using LSCM on Basalt from Olduvai Gorge
Measuring Retouch Intensity in Lithic Tools
The Functional Riddle of 'Glossy' Canaanean Blades and the Near Eastern Threshing Sledge
The Functional Riddle of ?Glossy? Canaanean Blades and the Near Eastern Threshing Sledge
Microwear methodology
Gloss and use-wear traces on flint sickles and similar phenomena
Multi-scale tribological analysis of the technique of manufacture of an obsidian bracelet from Aşıklı Höyük (Aceramic Neolithic, Central Anatolia)
A Cautionary Note on the use of Hemastix and Dot-blot Assays for the Detection and Confirmation of Archaeological Blood Residues
UBM Laser Profilometry and Lithic Use-Wear Analysis
Documenting Stages of Polish Development on Experimental Stone Tools
An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Trampling on the Results of Lithic Microwear Analysis
Integration of use-wear with protein residue analysis – a study of tool use and function in the south Scandinavian Early Neolithic
On the importance of blind testing in archaeological science
Discriminating wild vs domestic cereal harvesting micropolish through laser confocal microscopy
The role of abrasives in the formation of lithic use-wear
A multi-analytical methodology of lithic residue analysis applied to Paleolithic tools from Hummal, Syria
Experimental determination of use wear on stone adzes from Boomplaas Cave, South Africa
Maize in ancient Ecuador
Investigating microwear polishes with blind tests
A study of the feasibility of detecting blood residue on artifacts
Use-wear analysis of obsidian artifacts from Later Stone Age shell midden sites on the Red Sea Coast of Eritrea, with experimental results
Blood from Stones? Some Methodological and Interpretive Problems in Blood Residue Analysis
Functional analysis of prismatic blades and bladelets from Pinson Mounds, Tennessee
The elemental chemistry of lithic microwear
Clues to Stone Tool Function Re-examined
Recovery of Protein and DNA Trapped in Stone Tool Microcracks
Verifying the reliability of blood residue analysis on archaeological tools
The formation of use-wear polish on flint
Insights from a tribological analysis of the tribulum
Applying SEM to the study of use-wear on unmodified shell tools
Investigating microwear polishes with blind tests
Microwear analysis of early Neolithic (PPNA) axes and bifacial tools from Netiv Hagdud in the Jordan Valley, Israel
Some Preliminary Observations on Subsurface Damage on Experimental and Archaeological Quartz Tools using CLSM and Dye
On distinguishing natural from cultural damage on archaeological antler
On the application of 3-D scanning technology for the documentation and typology of lithic artifacts
Ambiguous use traces and blind test results
The Presence of Starch Grains on Prehistoric Stone Tools from the Humid Neotropics
Science and interpretation in microwear studies
Possible bone threshing tools from the Neolithic levels of the Grotta dei Piccioni (Abruzzo, Italy)
Identification of Woodworking on Stone Tools through Residue and Use-Wear Analyses
DNA from ancient stone tools and bones excavated at Bugas-Holding, Wyoming
Recovery of Mammalian DNA from Middle Paleolithic Stone Tools
A cautionary note on the use of chemstrips for detection of blood residues on prehistoric stone tools
The Quantification of Use-Wear Polish Using Image Analysis. First Results
Lithic raw material physical properties and use-wear accrual
Microwear analysis of experimental flint tools
Blind tests shed light on possibilities and limitations for identifying stone tool prehension and hafting
Scanning electron microscopy of dry hide working tools
The application of focus variation microscopy for lithic use-wear quantification
Integrating Phytoliths within Use-Wear/Residue Studies of Stone Tools
Identification of archaeological blood proteins
The first residue analysis blind tests
The role of silica in Polish formation
An investigation of the fractal properties of flint microwear images
Reaping the rewards
Notes on Early Sickles
Additional comments on blood residue analysis in archaeology
Le lustre des faucilles et les autres traces d'usage des outils en silex
Les grattoirs-burins du Morin et du Roc de Marcamps (Gironde)
Identifying Edge Damage on Surf Ace Occurring Lithic Artifacts
Starting From Scratch
Edge Damage on Experimentally Used Scra Pers of Hawaiian Basalt
The Effects of Human Trample Damage on Lithics
Notes on the Occurrence of Spontaneous ReTouch
Manufacture and Use of Bone Points from Early Neolithic Colle Santo Stefano, Abruzzo, Italy
Lithic Microwear Analysis of Middle Stone Age Artifacts from White Paintings Rock Shelter, Botswana
Evidence for Maya Household Subsistence and Domestic Activities
Blood Residue Analysis at Çayönü Tepesi, Turkey
Experiments with Spears and Arrows on Animal Targets
Use-Wear Analyses on Manos and Hide-Processing Stones
Contemporary Stone Tools in Ethiopia
Microwear Analysis in the Maya Lowlands
Mesoamerican Obsidian Blades
Verifying the Reliability of Lithic Use-Wear Assessments by ‘Blind Tests’
Utilización de instrumentos de concha durante el Mesolítico y Neolítico inicial en contextos litorales de la región cantábrica
Processus de formation et caractérisation physico-chimique des polis d'utilisation des outils en silex. Application à la technologie préhistorique de l'ivoire
| Unique citing works | 60 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 6,67 |
| Citation span | 2017 - 2027 (11) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 55 |