SEARCHING FOR THE FUNCTION OF THE EARLY HOLOCENE HEAVY DUTY BEVEL-ENDED TOOLS: REMARKS FROM EXPERIMENTAL AND USE-WEAR STUDIES
Keywords:
experimental archaeology, Stone Age, Europe, osseous artefacts, use-wear, heavy duty bev- el-ended toolAbstract
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.
References
Buc N. Análisis de microdesgaste en tecnología ósea. El caso de punzones y alisadores en el noreste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (humedal del Paraná inferior). In : M. Woods (ed.). Tesis de Licenciatura del Departamento de Ciencias Antropológicas, vol. I. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Buenos Aires: Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2008. 118 p.
Buc N. Experimental series and use–wear in bone tools // Journal of Archaeological Science. 2011. Vol. 38 (3). P. 546–557.
Buc N., Loponte D. Bone tool types and microwear patterns: some examples from the Pampa region, South America. In: G. Gates St-Pierre, R. B. Walker (eds). Bones as Tools: Current Methods and Interpretations in Worked Bone Studies. BAR International Series; 1622. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2007. P. 143–157.
Bell M. Prehistoric coastal communities: the Mesolithic in Western Britain. Research report (Council for British Archaeology); 149. York: Council for British Archaeology, 2007. 381 p.
Chapman D. I. Antlers–bones of contention. In: Mammal Review. 1975. Vol. 5 (4). P. 121–172.
Christensen M. Technologie de l’ivoire au Paléolithique supérieur. Caractérisation physico–chimique du matériau et analyse fonctionnelle des outils de transformation. BAR international series; 751. Oxford: J. and E. Hedges, 1999. 201 p.
Clark G. The mesolithic settlement of northern Europe; a study of the food–gathering peoples of northern Europe during the early post–glacial period. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1936. 283 p.
Clark G. Excavations at Star Carr: An early Mesolithic site at Seamer near Scarborough, Yorkshire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1954. 200 p.
Clark G. Europa przedhistoryczna : podstawy gospodarcze. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydaw. Naukowe, 1957. 410 p.
Clark G., Piggott S. Prehistoric Societies. New York: Knopf, 1965. 356 p.
d’Errico F. Criteria for identifying utilised bone: the case of the Cantabrian “tensors” // Current Anthropol-
ogy. 1993. Vol. 34 (3). P. 298–311.
Elliott B. Facing the Chop: Redefining British Antler Mattocks to Consider Larger–Scale Maritime Networks in the Early Fifth Millennium Cal BC. In: European Journal of Archaeology. 2015. Vol. 18 (2). P. 222–244.
Évora M.A. Use–Wear Methodology on the Analysis of Osseous Industries. In: J. M. Marreiros; J. F. G. Bao; N. F. Bicho (eds). Use–Wear and Residue Analysis in Archaeology. New York: Springer, 2015. P. 159–170.
Fisher J.W. Bone Surface Modifications in Zooarchaeology. In: Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 1995. Vol. 2. P. 7–68.
Goslar T., Kabaciński J., Makowiecki D., Prinke D., Winiarska–Kabacińska M. Datowanie radiowęglowe zabytków z Kolekcji Epoki Kamienia Muzeum Archeologicznego w Poznaniu. In: Fontes Archaeologici Posnanienses. 2006. Vol. 42. P. 5–14.
Goss R.J. Deer antlers: regeneration, function, and evolution. New York: Academic Press, 1983. 316 p.
Janka G. Die Harte des Holzes. Wien: K. U. K. Hofbuchdruckerei Carl Fromme, 1906. 32 p.
Jensen G. Ubrugelige økser? Forsøg med Kongemose– og Ertebøllekulturens økser af hjortetak. In: B. Madsen (ed.). Eksperimentel arkæologi. No 1. Studier i Teknologi og Kultur. Lejre, 1991. P. 9–22.
Jensen G. Macro Wear Patterns on Danish Late Mesolithic Antler Axes. In: A. M. Choyke, L. Bartosiewicz (eds). Crafting Bone: Skeletal Technologies through Time and Space – Proceedings of the 2nd meeting of the (ICAZ) Worked Bone Research Group Budapest, 31 August – 5 September 1999. BAR International Series; 937. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2001. P. 165–170.
Jin J.J.H., Shipman P. Documenting natural wear on antlers: A first step in identifying use–wear on purported antler tools. In: Quarternary International. 2010. Vol. 211 (1–2). P. 91–102.
Juel Jensen H. Flint tools and plant working: hidden traces of Stone Age technology: a use wear study of some Danish Mesolithic and TRB implements. Aarhus C, Denmark: Aarhus University Press, 1994. 263 p.
Korobkova G.F. Narzędzia w pradziejach. Podstawy badania funkcji metodą traseologiczną. Toruń: Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika, 1999. 168 p.
Kozłowski S.K. Thinking mesolithic. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2009. 545 p.
Krzemień M.P. 1000 słów o łowiectwie. Warszawa: Wydawn. Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1984. 189 p.
Krzysik F. Nauka o drewnie. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawn. Naukowe, 1975. 653 p.
Legrand A. Fabrication et utilisation de l’outillage en matières osseuses du Néolithique de Chypre: Khirokitia et Cap Andreas–Kastros. BAR International Series; 1678. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2007. 178 p.
Le Moine G. Use Wear on Bone and Antler Tools from the Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories. In: American Antiquity. 1994. Vol. 59 (2). P. 316–334
Le Moine G. Use wear analysis on bone and antler tools of the Mackenzie Inuit. BAR International Series; 679. Oxford: Archaeopress, 1997. 146 p.
MacGregor A. Bone, antler, ivory & horn: the technology of skeletal materials since the Roman period. London: Croom Helm, 1985. 245 p.
MacGregor A., Currey J. Mechanical properties as conditioning factors in the bone and antler industry of the 3rd to the 19th century. In: Journal of Archaeological Science.1983. 10 (1). P.71–77
Mansur M.E. Microwear analysis of natural and use striations: New clues to the mechanisms of striation formation. In: Studia Praehistorica Belgica. 1982. Vol. 2. P. 213–234.
Olsen S. L. On distinguishing natural from cultural damage on archaeological antler. In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 1989. Vol. 16 (2). P. 125–135.
Olsen S.L., Shipman P. Surface modification on bone: trampling versus butchery. In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 1988. Vol. 15 (5). P. 535–553.
Osipowicz G. Narzędzia krzemienne w epoce kamienia na ziemi chełmińskiej. Studium traseologiczne, Toruń: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika, 2010. 569 p.
Osipowicz G., Nowak D., Kuriga J. Two reconstructions of the prehistoric houses from Toruń (Poland). In: EXARC Journal. 2015. 2015–1, P. 1–13
Pleyer R. Herstellung und Einsatz von spatneolithischen Hirschgeweihaxten. In: Experimentelle Archaologie Bilanz. Oldenburg, 1995. P. 161–165.
Powell T. Mud and fire – tools of the dugout canoe maker. In: Primitive Technology. 2001. Vol. 2. P. 183–190.
Pratsch S. Mesolithische Geweihgeräte im Jungmoränengebiet zwischen Elbe und Neman. Ein Beitrag zur Ökologie und Ökonomie mesolithischer Wildbeuter. Studien zur Archäologie Europas; 2. Bonn: R. Habelt, 2006. 221 p.
Riedel K., Pohlmeyer K., Rautenfeld D. B. von. An examination of Stone Age/Bronze Age adzes and axes of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) antler from the Leine Valley, near Hannover. In: European Journal of Wildlife Research. 2004. 50 (4). P. 197–206.
Schipman P., Foster G., Schoeninger M. Burnt bones and teeth: an experimental study of color, morphology, crystal structure and shrinkage. In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 1984. Vol. 11 (4). P. 307–325.
Semenov S. A. Prehistoric technology: An experimental study of the oldest tools and artefacts from traces of manufacture and wear. London : Cory, Adams and Mackay, 1964. 211 p.
Sidéra I., Legrand A. Tracéologie fonctionnelle des matières osseuses:une méthode. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistoriquefrançaise. 2006. Vol. 103 (2). P. 291–304.
Smith C. British Antler Mattocks. In: C. Bonsall (ed.). The Mesolithic in Europe: papers presented at the third intern
Turner W. On some implements of stag’s horn associated with whale skeletons found in the Carse of Stirling. In: Report on the Meetings of the British Association. 1889. Vol. 59. P. 789–791.
Woodman P. A Review of the Scottish Mesolithic: a plea for normality! In: Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 1989. Vol. 119. P. 1–32.
Van Gijn A.L. The wear and tear of flint: principles of functional analysis applied to Dutch Neolithic assemblages. In: Analecta praehistorica Leidensia. Vol. 22. Leiden: University of Leiden, 1989. 182 p.
Van Gijn A.L. A functional analysis of some Late Mesolithic bone and antler implements from the Dutch coastal zone. In: H. Luik, A. M. Choyke, C. E Batey L. Lougas (eds.) From hooves to horns, from mollusc to mammoth. Manufacture and use of bone artefacts from prehistoric times to the present. Proceedings of the 4th Meeting of the ICAZ Worked Bone Research Group at Tallinn, 26th–31st of August 2003. Tallinn, 2005. P. 47–66.
Van Gijn A.L. Science and interpretation in microwear studies. In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 2014. Vol. 48. P. 166–169.
Vaughan P.C. Use–wear analysis of flaked stone tools. Tucson. Arizona: University of Arizona Press, 1985. 204 p.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2017 J. Orłowska, G. Osipowicz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
