Building an Experimental Comparative Reference Collection for Lithic Micro-Residue Analysis Based on a Multi-Analytical Approach

Pedergnana, Antonella; Ollé, Andreu

doi:10.1007/s10816-017-9337-z

Cited by 47 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Unfortunately, recent work has also called this link into question (Rots et al 2016), as the location of residues does not necessarily indicate that they are use-related (Xhauflair et al 2017) or contamination distributed along edges (Pedergnana and Ollé 2017). New experimental research (J. Mercader, M. Soto, personal observation, 2018) is focusing on detecting patterns of microbotanical attachment in natural rocks (lying on modern surfaces and in contact with surrounding soils) to build a baseline whereby residue density estimation by geographic information system (GIS) and nearest neighbour heat maps of plant materials adhering to rock surfaces can be compared with residue scatters from stone tools.…”

Section: Authentication Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exaggerated expectations in ancient starch research and the need for new taphonomic and authenticity criteria

Mercader

Akeju

Brown

et al. 2018

FACETS

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Ancient starch research illuminates aspects of human ecology and economic botany that drove human evolution and cultural complexity over time, with a special emphasis on past technology, diet, health, and adaptation to changing environments and socio-economic systems. However, lapses in prevailing starch research demonstrate the exaggerated expectations for the field that have been generated over the last few decades. This includes an absence of explanation for the millennial-scale survivability of a biochemically degradable polymer, and difficulties in establishing authenticity and taxonomic identification. This paper outlines new taphonomic and authenticity criteria to guide future work toward designing research programs that fully exploit the potential of ancient starch while considering growing demands from readers, editors, and reviewers that look for objective compositional identification of putatively ancient starch granules.

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Section: Authentication Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exaggerated expectations in ancient starch research and the need for new taphonomic and authenticity criteria

Mercader

Akeju

Brown

et al. 2018

FACETS

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“…The function of the SSBs was revealed by an integrated use-wear and residue analysis. Methods and criteria for identifying, describing, and interpreting macro-and micro-wear and residues on stone tools were based on well-known literature in the field of functional studies of material culture [8,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66]. Use-wear and residues preserved on the SSBs were analyzed at DANTE-Diet and Ancient Technology Laboratory (at Sapienza University of Rome) (1) using a digital stereomicroscope (Zeiss AXIO Zoom, with magnification ranging from 10× to 173×) and (2) using a metallographic microscope (Zeiss Axio Scope A1, with magnification ranging from 50× to 500×).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The interpretation of archaeological residues was based on the comparison with an experimental macro-residues collection (see below) as well as using the available literature on experimental residues on stone tools [64][65][70][71][72][73][74].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shaped stone balls were used for bone marrow extraction at Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel

et al. 2020

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The presence of shaped stone balls at early Paleolithic sites has attracted scholarly attention since the pioneering work of the Leakeys in Olduvai, Tanzania. Despite the persistent presence of these items in the archaeological record over a period of two million years, their function is still debated. We present new results from Middle Pleistocene Qesem Cave on the use of these implements as percussion tools. Use-wear and abundant bone and fat residues found on ten shaped stone balls indicate crushing of fresh bones by thrusting percussion and provide direct evidence for the use of these items to access bone marrow of animal prey at this site. Two experiments conducted to investigate and verify functional aspects proved Qesem Cave shaped stone balls are efficient for bone processing and provide a comfortable grip and useful active areas for repeated use. Notably, the patina observed on the analyzed items precedes their use at the cave, indicating that they were collected by Qesem inhabitants, most probably from older Lower Paleolithic Acheulian sites. Thus, our results refer only to the final phases of the life of the items, and we cannot attest to their original function. As bone marrow played a central role in human nutrition in the Lower Paleolithic, and our experimental results show that the morphology and characteristics of shaped stone ball replicas are well-suited for the extraction of bone marrow, we suggest that these features might have been the reason for their collection and use at Qesem Cave. These results shed light on the function of shaped stone balls and are consistent with the significance of animal fat in the caloric intake of Middle Pleistocene humans as shown by the archeozoological evidence at Qesem Cave and possibly beyond.

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“…The combination of both techniques helps distinguishing residues due to tool use from contamination . Other non‐destructive techniques are also very useful for identifying microresidues on stone tools such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, also coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The combination of both techniques helps distinguishing residues due to tool use from contamination. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Other non-destructive techniques are also very useful for identifying microresidues on stone tools such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy [10] and scanning electron microscopy, [11] also coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. [12] Sibudu is a large rock shelter ( Figure S1a), situated on the banks of the uThongathi River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with Middle Stone Age (MSA) occupations from 77,000 to 38,000 years ago.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Was yellow lead chromate pigment used during Middle Stone Age at Sibudu rock shelter (South Africa)?

Wojcieszak

Wadley

Prinsloo

2019

J Raman Spectroscopy

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A recent study using the combination of optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of bright yellow residues of lead (II) chromate associated with grinding striations on a 58,000‐year‐old grindstone excavated at Sibudu rock shelter in South Africa. Lead (II) chromate (PbCrO4) exists in nature as the rare mineral crocoite, however was available as the synthetic pigment, chrome yellow, from the 19th century. At the time of the residue analysis on the grindstone, it was not possible to determine whether the yellow residues were due to modern contamination or a result of ancient use. Careful analyses of the excavation protocol followed at Sibudu rock shelter and all implements that might possibly have been in contact with the grindstone after excavation identified yellow spray paint as a possible origin of the contamination. Here, we performed experimental grinding of the mineral crocoite on a sandstone slab, sprayed yellow paint on rhyolite and compared optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopic analysis results to the archaeological sample. The optical appearance of the archaeological residues, the absence of associated minerals of crocoite, and the presence of organic matter mixed with lead chromate demonstrate that the residues on the archaeological grindstone stem from modern contamination. This paper draws attention to contamination issues originating from excavation practices.

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Building an Experimental Comparative Reference Collection for Lithic Micro-Residue Analysis Based on a Multi-Analytical Approach

Cited by 47 publications

References 82 publications

Exaggerated expectations in ancient starch research and the need for new taphonomic and authenticity criteria

Exaggerated expectations in ancient starch research and the need for new taphonomic and authenticity criteria

Shaped stone balls were used for bone marrow extraction at Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel

Was yellow lead chromate pigment used during Middle Stone Age at Sibudu rock shelter (South Africa)?

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