Quantitative micromorphological analyses of cut marks produced by ancient and modern handaxes

Cannibalism versus funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay: comparisons of bone modifications from four prehistoric sites

“…This result was expected, as disarticulation involves a cutting action where the tool is held almost perpendicularly to the bone surface and more strength is applied: the tool can therefore penetrate more into the bone, producing generally deeper and wider cuts. These results match previous analyses, which show that cut marks close to (or on) an articulation are typically deeper and wider (Bello et al, ), and have been explained as a direct correlation between force exerted and morphology of the cut (Potter, ). This might be also explained by the fact that the disarticulation marks are found in areas where cortical bone is thinner or consists of greater amounts of trabecular bone.…”

Cannibalism versus funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay: comparisons of bone modifications from four prehistoric sites

“…This result was expected, as disarticulation involves a cutting action where the tool is held almost perpendicularly to the bone surface and more strength is applied: the tool can therefore penetrate more into the bone, producing generally deeper and wider cuts. These results match previous analyses, which show that cut marks close to (or on) an articulation are typically deeper and wider (Bello et al, ), and have been explained as a direct correlation between force exerted and morphology of the cut (Potter, ). This might be also explained by the fact that the disarticulation marks are found in areas where cortical bone is thinner or consists of greater amounts of trabecular bone.…”

Torque creation and force variation along the cutting edges of Acheulean handaxes: implications for tip thinning, resharpening and tranchet flake removals

“…Instructively, therefore, the tip-focussed edge modification, (re)flaking and use seen in Acheulean handaxes (e.g. Ashton and McNabb, 1993;McPherron, 1999;Gowlett, 2006Gowlett, , 2013Bello et al, 2009;Sharon, 2010;Moncel et al, 2015;Key et al, 2016;Viallet, 2019) is consistent with the force data observed here. That is, there are indications that the performance differences observed here may have (consciously or otherwise) influenced the behaviour of Acheulean tool makers.…”

“…For example, the tranchet flake removals observed at Boxgrove (Roberts et al, 1997;Pope et al, 2009) would have created highly acute edges precisely where the greatest working forces could be created, thus maximising cutting stress potential and depth of cut. This is of particular note given the considerable forces required to butcher large mammals at this site (Bello et al, 2009). Moreover, increased flaking and more acute edges on the distally located portions of handaxes (Key et al, 2016;Wynn and Gowlett, 2018) is consistent with the preferential production of sharp, efficient cutting edges at the point of maximal cutting stress potential.…”

Arroyo del Vizcaíno, Uruguay: a fossil-rich 30-ka-old megafaunal locality with cut-marked bones

“…The floor radius shows a mean value of 0.161 + 0.073 mm ( figure 4a-d). These features and values resemble those found in fossil bones cut with flint tools [13,28,29], including in xenarthrans [30].…”

Cannibalism versus funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay: comparisons of bone modifications from four prehistoric sites

“…This result was expected, as disarticulation involves a cutting action where the tool is held almost perpendicularly to the bone surface and more strength is applied: the tool can therefore penetrate more into the bone, producing generally deeper and wider cuts. These results match previous analyses, which show that cut marks close to (or on) an articulation are typically deeper and wider (Bello et al, ), and have been explained as a direct correlation between force exerted and morphology of the cut (Potter, ). This might be also explained by the fact that the disarticulation marks are found in areas where cortical bone is thinner or consists of greater amounts of trabecular bone.…”

Torque creation and force variation along the cutting edges of Acheulean handaxes: implications for tip thinning, resharpening and tranchet flake removals

“…Instructively, therefore, the tip-focussed edge modification, (re)flaking and use seen in Acheulean handaxes (e.g. Ashton and McNabb, 1993;McPherron, 1999;Gowlett, 2006Gowlett, , 2013Bello et al, 2009;Sharon, 2010;Moncel et al, 2015;Key et al, 2016;Viallet, 2019) is consistent with the force data observed here. That is, there are indications that the performance differences observed here may have (consciously or otherwise) influenced the behaviour of Acheulean tool makers.…”

“…For example, the tranchet flake removals observed at Boxgrove (Roberts et al, 1997;Pope et al, 2009) would have created highly acute edges precisely where the greatest working forces could be created, thus maximising cutting stress potential and depth of cut. This is of particular note given the considerable forces required to butcher large mammals at this site (Bello et al, 2009). Moreover, increased flaking and more acute edges on the distally located portions of handaxes (Key et al, 2016;Wynn and Gowlett, 2018) is consistent with the preferential production of sharp, efficient cutting edges at the point of maximal cutting stress potential.…”

Arroyo del Vizcaíno, Uruguay: a fossil-rich 30-ka-old megafaunal locality with cut-marked bones

“…The floor radius shows a mean value of 0.161 + 0.073 mm ( figure 4a-d). These features and values resemble those found in fossil bones cut with flint tools [13,28,29], including in xenarthrans [30].…”

Cannibalism versus funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay: comparisons of bone modifications from four prehistoric sites

“…This result was expected, as disarticulation involves a cutting action where the tool is held almost perpendicularly to the bone surface and more strength is applied: the tool can therefore penetrate more into the bone, producing generally deeper and wider cuts. These results match previous analyses, which show that cut marks close to (or on) an articulation are typically deeper and wider (Bello et al, ), and have been explained as a direct correlation between force exerted and morphology of the cut (Potter, ). This might be also explained by the fact that the disarticulation marks are found in areas where cortical bone is thinner or consists of greater amounts of trabecular bone.…”

Torque creation and force variation along the cutting edges of Acheulean handaxes: implications for tip thinning, resharpening and tranchet flake removals

“…Instructively, therefore, the tip-focussed edge modification, (re)flaking and use seen in Acheulean handaxes (e.g. Ashton and McNabb, 1993;McPherron, 1999;Gowlett, 2006Gowlett, , 2013Bello et al, 2009;Sharon, 2010;Moncel et al, 2015;Key et al, 2016;Viallet, 2019) is consistent with the force data observed here. That is, there are indications that the performance differences observed here may have (consciously or otherwise) influenced the behaviour of Acheulean tool makers.…”

“…For example, the tranchet flake removals observed at Boxgrove (Roberts et al, 1997;Pope et al, 2009) would have created highly acute edges precisely where the greatest working forces could be created, thus maximising cutting stress potential and depth of cut. This is of particular note given the considerable forces required to butcher large mammals at this site (Bello et al, 2009). Moreover, increased flaking and more acute edges on the distally located portions of handaxes (Key et al, 2016;Wynn and Gowlett, 2018) is consistent with the preferential production of sharp, efficient cutting edges at the point of maximal cutting stress potential.…”

Arroyo del Vizcaíno, Uruguay: a fossil-rich 30-ka-old megafaunal locality with cut-marked bones

“…The floor radius shows a mean value of 0.161 + 0.073 mm ( figure 4a-d). These features and values resemble those found in fossil bones cut with flint tools [13,28,29], including in xenarthrans [30].…”