Use Angle and Motional Direction of End Scrapers: A Case Study of the Palaeolithic in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

introductionEnd scrapers are one of the essential artifacts in human prehistory studied by archaeologists not only in Japan, but elsewhere in the world. Because these artifacts are highly conducive to stylistic embellishments, they provide significant clues for chronological investigation and study of the relationships between sites. The highly curated aspects of end scrapers as a tool also offer valuable information about reduction sequences and functional systems of stone tools (Barnes 1932;Shott 1995;Siegel 1984). Furthermore, this tool is often associated with fur/hide resource processing, clothing which is indispensable for humans, especially in mid-and high-latitude zones. The function-specific character of end scrapers makes it easier for us to e xamine issues related to the history of technology, the division of labor, gender, social stratification and the symbolism of power (Frink and Weedman 2005;Hayden 1979 Hayden , 1990 Hayden , 1993Semenov 1964).in studies of the Palaeolithic in the Japanese islands, end scrapers have played an important role not only in chronology, but also in discussions identifying human groups and their adaptation to cold climates. Arguments in the past concerning cultural attributions and adaptive strategies were not necessarily backed up by sufficient evidence on the use and functions of end scrapers. However, in the last decade, lithic use-wear analysis has demonstrated that the Palaeolithic end scraper was one of the principal tools for hide-working (Kanomata 2003(Kanomata , 2004(Kanomata , 2008Takase 2003 Takase , 2008b Tsutsumi 1997a Tsutsumi , 1997b Tsutsumi , 1999 Tsutsumi , 2000.Nevertheless, very few attempts have been made to investigate in detail the specific mechanics of how end scrapers were used. For example, little is known about the direction of tool movement and the hafting method, although these provide basic information for discussing the technology of hide processing and the tool use strategies of hide-workers. The objective of this article is to demonstrate a method for estimating the direction of tool movement of end scrapers, focusing specifically on the relationship between the use angle and the edge angle (Fig. 1).

Lithic usewear confirms the function of Wilamaya Patjxa projectile points

“…Because much of Smallwood’s experimental program has focused on bifacial point functionality, we also reference the experimental work of other usewear analysts as analogues for the detection and explanation of usewear traces on the artifacts from Wilamaya Patjxa 26 , 30 , 31 , 57 , 58 .…”

Dynamic Monitoring Reveals Motor Task Characteristics in Prehistoric Technical Gestures

“…In tool use, the latter is determined by gesture, and yet, most use-wear experiments are carried out with some degree of control on the materials and the duration of contact, but without recording the dynamics (but see [ 10 ] for a recent attempt). Thus, only a rough reconstruction of the gesture is currently possible (for example, the direction of tool motion ‘transversal’ or ‘longitudinal’ to the working edge [ 9 , 11 – 16 ] and sometimes the angle and hafting arrangement [ 17 , 18 ]). Our paper sets out to fill in this gap by proposing a methodology for monitoring task dynamics and testing its ability to statistically distinguish gestures using their associated parameters.…”

Taguatagua 3: A new late Pleistocene settlement in a highly suitable lacustrine habitat in central Chile (34°S)

“…During this process, various hinged fractures were formed at the frontal plane of the flaking, which probably led to the piece being discarded. The working edge is tilted to the left, which probably indicates a right-handed user [ 71 – 73 ]. Hafting is suggested for this piece, considering the thinning of the proximal portion and bending fractures with step and hinge terminations located at both the lateral and proximal edges ( Fig 7A ).…”