Functional analysis of sandstone ground stone tools: arguments for a qualitative and quantitative synergetic approach

Zupancich, Andrea; Cristiani, Emanuela

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72276-0

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The application of open source 3D point cloud analysis software has the capacity to quantify, in high resolution, the surface morphometry of percussive tools in their entirety [26], potentially overcoming the weakness of 2D and 2.5D methods. These analytical techniques can be powerful when assessing overall changes to use-wear in experimental datasets where surfaces are quantified before and after use [25][26][27][28]. However, this method does not differentiate between damaged and undamaged areas of a tool's surface and as such does not provide an accurate measure of the use-wear alone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional surface morphometry differentiates behaviour on primate percussive stone tools

Proffitt

Reeves

Benito‐Calvo

et al. 2021

J. R. Soc. Interface.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Early Stone Age record preserves a rich behavioural signature of hominin stone tool making and use. The role of percussive technology in the daily subsistence strategies of our earliest ancestors has seen renewed focus recently. Studies of modern primate tool use highlight the diverse range of behaviours potentially associated with percussive technology. This has prompted significant methodological developments to characterize the associated damage marks (use-wear) on hammerstones and anvils. Little focus has, however, been paid to identifying whether these techniques can successfully differentiate between the damage patterns produced by specific and differing percussive behaviours. Here, we present a novel workflow drawing on the strengths of visual identification and three-dimensional (3D) surface quantification of use-wear. We apply this methodology firstly to characterize macaque percussive use-wear and test the efficacy of 3D surface quantification techniques in differentiating between percussive damage and natural surface topography. Secondly, we use this method to differentiate between use-wear associated with various wild macaque percussive behaviours. By combining analyst-directed, 3D surface analysis and use-wear dimensional analysis, we show that macaque percussive behaviours create specific diagnostic signatures and highlight a means of quantifiably recording such behavioural signatures in both primate and hominin contexts.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional surface morphometry differentiates behaviour on primate percussive stone tools

Proffitt

Reeves

Benito‐Calvo

et al. 2021

J. R. Soc. Interface.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The analysis of macro-wear from modern hammers and anvils among non-human primates to infer Oldowan tool function has become increasingly popular 20 , 21 , 23 , 25 . Inspired by these efforts, various researchers have focused on qualitative and (semi) quantitative analysis of wear proxies 47 , such as stone polish, damage location, and surface roughness. While the potential of centimetre-scale use-wear modifications on percussion tools is an evident first step, its applicability to study Oldowan plant use is limited, as it cannot isolate the residues needed to secure direct evidence and identify ancient extractive behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We assess microbotanical remains on rock clasts from an outcrop known to have been the main source of raw material during the Early Stone Age 45 , 46 . We mapped this signal, and analysed it quantitatively to classify its spatial distribution objectively 47 , extracting microbotanical proxies for taxonomic identification and systematic comparison with freestanding plant microremains from local soils 35 , 48 . In addition, we used blanks to manufacture pounding tools during blind, controlled replication of plant processing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbotanical residues for the study of early hominin tools

Mercader

Belev²,

Bushozi

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

More than 2 million years ago in East Africa, the earliest hominin stone tools evolved amidst changes in resource base, with pounding technology playing a key role in this adaptive process. Olduvai Gorge (now Oldupai) is a famed locality that remains paramount for the study of human evolution, also yielding some of the oldest battering tools in the world. However, direct evidence of the resources processed with these technologies is lacking entirely. One way to obtain this evidence is through the analysis of surviving residues. Yet, linking residues with past processing activities is not simple. In the case of plant exploitation, this link can only be established by assessing site-based reference collections inclusive of both anthropogenic and natural residues as a necessary first step and comparative starting point. In this paper, we assess microbotanical remains from rock clasts sourced at the same quarry utilized by Oldowan hominins at Oldupai Gorge. We mapped this signal and analysed it quantitatively to classify its spatial distribution objectively, extracting proxies for taxonomic identification and further comparison with freestanding soils. In addition, we used blanks to manufacture pounding tools for blind, controlled replication of plant processing. We discovered that stone blanks are in fact environmental reservoirs in which plant remains are trapped by lithobionts, preserved as hardened accretions. Tool use, on the other hand, creates residue clusters; however, their spatial distribution can be discriminated from purely natural assemblages by the georeferencing of residues and statistical analysis of resulting patterns. To conclude, we provide a protocol for best practice and a workflow that has the advantage of overcoming environmental noise, reducing the risk of false positive, delivering a firm understanding of residues as polygenic mixtures, a reliable use of controls, and most importantly, a stronger link between microbotanical remains and stone tool use.

show abstract

“…Oat grain grinding leaves a discontinuous smooth film adhering the stone surface, which connects the crystal grains into a smooth flat surface. Sometimes, the residues Yes merge with the stone matrix so that distinguishing the raw material from the residual substrate becomes difficult (Zupancich and Cristiani 2020). Depressions appear at low magnification within the residual layer, filled with starch-rich powder and other vegetal structures (Fig.…”

Section: Residue Morphologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sandstone Ground Stone Technology: a Multi-level Use Wear and Residue Approach to Investigate the Function of Pounding and Grinding Tools

Cristiani

Zupancich

2020

J Archaeol Method Theory

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ground stone tool (GST) technology includes artefacts utilized in pounding or grinding activities and characterized by long life cycles and multiple uses. The introduction of such technology dates back to early prehistory, and for this reason, it is used as prime evidence for tackling a wide range of archaeological questions such as the origins of technology, patterns of daily subsistence and lifeways. In this paper, we contribute to the field of study of GSTs by discussing the application of a novel multi-level analytical approach combining use wear and residue observations at low and high magnification with residue spatial distribution investigated using GIS. We aim to assess the potential of a combined use wear and residue approach to (1) discriminate specific gestures and worked materials on sandstone GSTs and (2) understand the potential of residue distributions for reconstructing ancient GST functions and, more specifically, the role of GSTs recovered at Mesolithic sites of the Danube Gorges region in the Central Balkans. We identified diagnostic surface modifications associated with the use of GSTs in different activities involving both animal and plant materials. Morphological characteristics of residues have been described under reflected and transmitted light and characterized using biochemical staining. Finally, we mapped residues across the utilized surfaces of experimental tools to link patterns of residue spatial distribution to specific materials and gestures. We expect our methodological approach will be taken up by other researchers in order to produce comparable datasets on GSTs and improve our understanding of their ancient functional biographies.

show abstract

Functional analysis of sandstone ground stone tools: arguments for a qualitative and quantitative synergetic approach

Cited by 22 publications

References 39 publications

Three-dimensional surface morphometry differentiates behaviour on primate percussive stone tools

Three-dimensional surface morphometry differentiates behaviour on primate percussive stone tools

Microbotanical residues for the study of early hominin tools

Sandstone Ground Stone Technology: a Multi-level Use Wear and Residue Approach to Investigate the Function of Pounding and Grinding Tools

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About