A multi-analytical methodology of lithic residue analysis applied to Paleolithic tools from Hummal, Syria

Monnier, Gilliane; Hauck, Thomas C.; Feinberg, Joshua M.; Luo, Bing; Tensorer, J. M. Le; Sakhel, Heba al

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.03.018

Cited by 62 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Micro-Raman has seen increasing use in recent years across a diverse range of archaeological investigation, from the analysis of bitumen residues on stone tools (Monnier et al 2013), to anthropogenic pyrite traces on flint fire-strikers (Lombardo et al 2016). In the Palaeo-Lake Flixton region, micro-Raman was recently used to identify naturally formed authigenic pyrite microcrystals on the surfaces of an engraved Mesolithic shale pendant from Star Carr ).…”

Section: Micro-raman and The Study Of Ochrementioning

confidence: 99%

The application of micro-Raman for the analysis of ochre artefacts from Mesolithic palaeo-lake Flixton

Needham

Croft

Kröger

et al. 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Article:Croft, Shannon, Kröger, Roland orcid.org/0000-0002-5070-0297, Robson, Harry K. orcid.org/0000-0002-4850-692X et al. (5 more authors) (2018) The application of micro-Raman for the analysis of ochre artefacts from Mesolithic palaeo-lake Flixton. Highlights• Two possible ochreous objects are investigated with reflected visible light microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy. • Objects identified unambiguously as containing mineral haematite.• Objects identified as anthropogenic artefacts.• Results attest to powder production and use of red ochre in Mesolithic Britain. AbstractOchre is an important mineral pigment used by prehistoric hunter-gatherers across the globe, and its use in the Mesolithic is no exception. Using optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy with micrometre spatial resolution (micro-Raman), we present evidence that confirms unambiguously the use of ochre by hunter-gatherers at Mesolithic sites surrounding Palaeo-Lake Flixton, Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire, UK. Our results suggest that people collected ochre and processed it in different ways, likely for diverse purposes. The quality and specificity of chemical characterisation possible with micro-Raman facilitates new avenues for further research on ochreous materials in Britain, including provenancing through chemical ÔfingerprintingÕ.

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Section: Micro-raman and The Study Of Ochrementioning

confidence: 99%

The application of micro-Raman for the analysis of ochre artefacts from Mesolithic palaeo-lake Flixton

Needham

Croft

Kröger

et al. 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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“…The use of adhesives for hafting in prehistory was a significant technological advancement [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Three primary materials were used to make adhesives in the Palaeolithic: Naturally sticky resins exuded from trees [9,10], a naturally sticky petroleum product known as bitumen [11][12][13][14][15], and manufactured tars or pitches produced from the destructive distillation (pyrolysis) of plant matter [4,[16][17][18][19]. The earliest known adhesives are tars, dated to approximately 200,000 years ago, and were made from birch (Betula sp.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory strength testing of pine wood and birch bark adhesives: A first study of the material properties of pitch

Kozowyk

Poulis

Langejans

2017

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Adhesives are an important yet often overlooked aspect of human tool use. Previous experiments have shown that compound resin/gum adhesive production by anatomically modern humans was a cognitively demanding task that required advanced use of fire, forward planning, and abstraction among other traits. Yet the oldest known adhesives were produced by Neandertals, not anatomically modern humans. These tar or pitch adhesives are an entirely different material, produced from a distinct, albeit similarly complex process. However, the material properties of these adhesives and the influence of the production process on performance is still unclear. To this end we conducted a series of laboratory based lap shear and impact tests following modern adhesive testing standards and at three different temperatures to measure the strength of pine and birch pitch adhesives. We tested eight different recipes that contain charcoal as an additive (mimicking contamination) or were reduced by boiling for different lengths of time. Lap shear tests were conducted on wood and flint adherends to determine shear strength on different materials, and we conducted high load-rate tests to understand how the same material behaves under impact forces. Our results indicate that both pine and birch pitch adhesives behave similarly at room temperature. Pine pitch is highly sensitive to the addition of charcoal and further heating. Up to a certain extent charcoal additives increases performance, as does extra seething. However, too much charcoal and seething will reduce performance. Similarly, pine pitch is sensitive to ambient temperature changes and it is strongest at 0°C and weakest at 38°C. Adhesive failures occur in a similar manner on flint and wood suggesting the weakest part of a flint-adhesive-wood composite tool may have been the cohesive strength of the adhesive. Finally, pine pitch adhesives may be better suited to resisting high-load rate impacts than shear forces. Our experiments show that pitch production and post-production manipulation are sensitive processes, and to obtain a workable and strong adhesive one requires a deep understanding of the material properties. Our results validate previous archaeological adhesive studies that suggest that the manufacture and use of adhesives was an advanced technological process.

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“…Raman microscopy can help relate data from usewear/micro‐residue and spectroscopic analyses, both of which are minimally destructive and ideally suited for many archaeological applications . Here, we examine the viability of Raman microscopy to screen for modern contaminants and micro‐residues related to tool manufacture and/or tool use in a sample of five stone artefacts recovered during archaeological excavations at Liang Bua, Flores, Indonesia (Table ) …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viability of Raman microscopy to identify micro‐residues related to tool‐use and modern contaminants on prehistoric stone artefacts

Bordes

Prinsloo

Fullagar

et al. 2017

J Raman Spectroscopy

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Analyses of ancient micro‐residues and usewear preserved on stone artefacts can potentially provide detailed information about how prehistoric humans used the artefacts to process materials such as food, pigments and/or adhesives. However, ancient micro‐residues are likely degraded, and there are multiple potential sources of contamination, such as contact with sediments, groundwater, recent handling, storage materials or laboratory conditions, any of which can inhibit reliable identification of micro‐residues and other traces of prehistoric use. In this pilot study, five stone tools from the archaeological site of Liang Bua (Flores, Indonesia) were used to evaluate the viability of Raman spectroscopy to identity ancient micro‐residues preserved on stone artefact surfaces that are due specifically to prehistoric use as opposed to some form of ancient or modern source of contamination. Inorganic and organic deposits that occur commonly in the cave environment, including iron oxide, manganese oxide and biofilms, were identified in both the sediment and on the artefacts. Protein and saturated fatty acid micro‐residues were identified on edges of all artefacts and may partially originate from modern handling. Proteins, plant fibres and other micro‐residues associated with calcium nitrate are possibly archaeologically significant. Detection of plant fibres and starch grains may indicate either modern contamination or prehistoric contact with plant material that was transferred incidentally or during tool manufacture and/or tool use. These results demonstrate the viability of Raman microscopy to screen, at an early stage of archaeological residue analysis, for modern contaminants and micro‐residues related to tool manufacture and/or tool use. This approach serves as a base for planning strategies and analytical protocols for future work that targets larger samples of artefacts, integrates Raman microscopy with GC–MS/LC–MS and includes more comprehensive studies of usewear. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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A multi-analytical methodology of lithic residue analysis applied to Paleolithic tools from Hummal, Syria

Cited by 62 publications

References 59 publications

The application of micro-Raman for the analysis of ochre artefacts from Mesolithic palaeo-lake Flixton

The application of micro-Raman for the analysis of ochre artefacts from Mesolithic palaeo-lake Flixton

Laboratory strength testing of pine wood and birch bark adhesives: A first study of the material properties of pitch

Viability of Raman microscopy to identify micro‐residues related to tool‐use and modern contaminants on prehistoric stone artefacts

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