A newfield is opening up in biological archaeology, as it is found that ancient DNA and other bio-molecules may -under the right conditions -survive over the long term. Is the same true of blood residues on stone tools?
IntroductionArchaeologists have long been interested in determining the functions stone tools served in their original context. The attempt to determine the species identity of blood residues on stone tools from archaeological sites is one such recent endeavour. The first efforts to identify blood residues on tools were made by Loy and colleagues who used crystallization (Loy 1983) and detection of iron from hemoglobin (Nel-
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