Microwear features on vein quartz, rock crystal and quartzite: A study combining Optical Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Ollé, Andreu; Pedergnana, Antonella; Fernández-Marchena, Juan Luis; Martin, S.; Borel, Antony; Aranda, V.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2016.02.005

Cited by 45 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…; Kononenko ; Pedergnana and Ollé , ; Ollé et al . ) demonstrates the variation in wear formation and differences in wear characteristics associated with non‐flint lithic raw material types.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Ollé et al . ; see also Ollé and Vergès ). These raw materials also bring a series of challenges that are not as frequently encountered on fine‐grained silicates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…, ; Ollé et al . ; Pedergnana and Ollé —for microwear analysis of quartz tools, see also Knutsson ,b; Knutsson et al . ; Taipale et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Testing Area‐Scale Fractal Complexity (Asfc) and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) to Document and Discriminate Microwear on Experimental Quartzite Scrapers

2017

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Few microwear studies have been conducted on tools made from quartzite. Most rely on visual observation of microwear features using optical light microscopes and scanning electron microscopes. Quantification of microwear on quartzite tools is extremely rare, even though numerous methods to mathematically document surface roughness have been applied to other silicate tools. In this paper, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to document surface roughness on four experimental scrapers made from two different subtypes of Mistassini quartzite that were used on either fresh or dry deer hide. Surface roughness data were analysed using area‐scale fractal complexity (Asfc). The results of this test case indicate that Asfc can effectively discriminate between the unused and used regions on the quartzite tools based on surface roughness, and that it can also discriminate between surface roughness produced by working dry versus fresh hides. Differences in the subtypes of Mistassini quartzite did affect surface roughness, but not significantly enough to prevent discrimination of the dry and fresh hide‐working tools. Although the use of the Asfc parameter for lithic microwear analysis requires further testing, these first results suggest it could be a reliable technique to mathematically document and discriminate wear patterns on archaeological quartzite tools.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Ollé et al . ; see also Ollé and Vergès ). These raw materials also bring a series of challenges that are not as frequently encountered on fine‐grained silicates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Testing Area‐Scale Fractal Complexity (Asfc) and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) to Document and Discriminate Microwear on Experimental Quartzite Scrapers

2017

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“…We employed several methods and analytical techniques in order to glean as much information as possible from the tool. Although in this paper we do not present our experimental data or images of experimental tools, essential in any use-wear study, we have based our results on data obtained in previous experimental work we have undertaken on this raw material, some of which is already published Fernández-Marchena et al, in press;Ollé et al 2016). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case, and due to the scarce literature specifically dealing with rock crystal (Pignat & Plisson 2000;Plisson 2008), we have based our understanding of this material on our own ongoing experiments and analyses, which have been partially published Fernández-Marchena et al in press;Ollé et al 2016).…”

Section: Use-wear Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traceological analysis of a singular artefact: The rock crystal point from O Achadizo (Boiro, A Coruña, Galicia)

Fernández-Marchena

2016

JLS

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The stone knapping industry is largely unknown from Galician Iron Age hillforts. Research into the material culture of these settlements is increasingly diverse, meaning this research is no longer reduced to techno-typological studies of pottery and metals, but also includes a wide range of approaches, including anthracological and carpological analyses, macrolithic tools, and so on. However, there have still been no studies on knapped stone tools. This gap in the research, which may be dependent on various factors, limits the overall perception of the economy of these communities.In this paper we present the data obtained from a use-wear study of a rock crystal tool from the O Achadizo hill fort (Boiro, A Coruña, Galicia). This tool was located in shell midden A, dated as Second Iron Age, and is of particular importance because of its pointed morphology and the configuration evidence on its perimeter. We carried out a macroscopic and microscopic analysis to obtain as much data on this piece as possible. Macroscopically we identified retouching as well as an impact fracture, and at the microscopic level we found several series of striations on the ventral face which are not in keeping with the use of the piece as a projectile tip. We decided to generate several “gigapixel” images of different areas of the tool, in order to record the order and arrangement of these striations, and to understand their origin. We identified differential orientation of the striations in the various sectors of the tool, suggesting a technical origin. The combination of the macro and microscopic analysis of both faces has allowed us to functionally interpret the tool as a sharp element.

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New Insights into Use-Wear Development in Bodily Ornaments Through the Study of Ethnographic Collections

Falci

Cuisin

Delpuech

et al. 2018

J Archaeol Method Theory

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The use of microwear analysis has made substantial contributions to the study of archaeological bodily ornaments. However, limitations persist with regard to the interpretation of use and the reconstruction of systems of attachment, hampering a holistic understanding of the diversity of past bodily adornment. This is because the complexities of ornament biographies and the resulting wear traces cannot be grasped exclusively from the study of experimental reference collections. In this paper, we propose to bridge this gap in interpretation by systematically researching ethnographic collections. We conducted a microscopic study of 38 composite ornaments from lowland South America housed at the Musée du quai Branly (Paris). These objects involve organic, biomineral, and inorganic components, attached through different string configurations. The combined use of optical and 3D digital microscopy at different magnification ranges provided a thorough understanding of wear trace formation, distribution, and characterization. We demonstrate how individual beads develop characteristic use-wear in relation to one another and to the strings. We further challenge common assumptions made in the analysis of archaeological ornaments. In sum, this research addresses methodological and interpretative issues in the study of bodily adornment at large, by providing insight into the biographies of objects that were actually worn in a lived context. In the future, our results can be applied as reference for a more effective understanding of the use of ornaments worldwide.

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Microwear features on vein quartz, rock crystal and quartzite: A study combining Optical Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Cited by 45 publications

References 30 publications

Testing Area‐Scale Fractal Complexity (Asfc) and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) to Document and Discriminate Microwear on Experimental Quartzite Scrapers

Testing Area‐Scale Fractal Complexity (Asfc) and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) to Document and Discriminate Microwear on Experimental Quartzite Scrapers

Traceological analysis of a singular artefact: The rock crystal point from O Achadizo (Boiro, A Coruña, Galicia)

New Insights into Use-Wear Development in Bodily Ornaments Through the Study of Ethnographic Collections

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