Organics from inorganics: using experimental archaeology as a research tool for studying perishable material culture

Plant processing in the Late Mesolithic Poland: in search for function of the mysterious ‘curved knives’

“…Traces similar to those found on the curved knives were also described by Vaughan (1985) who characterised the nature of damages formed during experimental scraping/planing of cane. At present, the results of the experiments appear to confirm the opinion of most researchers (Vaughan and Bocquet 1987;Juel Jensen 1994;Hurcombe 2008;van Gijn 2010;Guéret et al 2014; Little and van Gijn 2017), indicating a possible relationship between these tools and work in non-wooden-like material, exhibiting a high content of silica. The arrangement of registered striations points to an activity similar to planing, possibly splitting.…”

“…The probable scale is also suggested by a number of Early Holocene seasonal camps such as Ludowice which demonstrate a highly specialised plant processing economy. What is needed is more multifaceted and in-depth research, stepping beyond the experimental work and use-wear analyses that are standard in this field into modern botany, studies on plant properties, results of palynological studies and analyses of macro fossils from sites where siliceous plant processing was performed (compare Hurcombe 2008). Lastly, an exceptionally important element of this type of analyses should be analyses of residues present on the actual flint tools.…”

“…In the past, tools of this type were associated with the treatment of very different materials, for example plant fibres (shoots or stems of plants containing silica), hide with the addition of ochre, mud or other abrasive materials, the ochre itself, bone and antler. To interpret the function of curved knives and microdenticulates, experiments were undertaken peeling rhizomes, de-barking different types of soft wood, opening hazelnuts and peeling tubers of lily and water stick (van Gijn 1989(van Gijn , 2010Juel Jensen 1994;Hurcombe 2008; Little and van Gijn 2017). Traces similar to those found on the curved knives were also described by Vaughan (1985) who characterised the nature of damages formed during experimental scraping/planing of cane.…”

Removal of natural organic dyes from wool–implications for ancient textile provenance studies

“…As textile finds are often very fragmentary when found preserved, they have been previously often ignored. Today it is recognized that textiles have a potential to reveal aspects of prehistoric textile technology and production (Andersson, 2003;Chase et al, 2008;Gleba, 2008;Hurcombe, 2008). The study of textiles can also provide important information about socioeconomic aspects (Balakina et al, 2006;Brumfiel, 2006;Chase et al, 2008;Ferreira et al, 2004;Good, 2001;Jakes and Eriksen, 1997) and even religious features (Ferreira et al, 2004;Levi, 1998).…”

Metalwork wear analysis: The loss of innocence

“…We discuss here the problems that, in our 330 opinion, are to be addressed most urgently. (Bell, 2015;Hurcombe, 2008). This is, for example, the approach chosen 413 for the ongoing Newcastle Bronze Age Combat Project (Fig.…”