The use of microwear analysis has made substantial contributions to the study archaeological bodily ornaments. However, limitations persist with regard interpretation and reconstruction systems attachment, hampering a holistic understanding diversity past adornment. This is because complexities ornament biographies resulting wear traces cannot be grasped exclusively from experimental reference collections. In this paper, we propose bridge gap in by systematically researching ethnographic We...

Osseous barbed and unbarbed points are commonly recovered from the Dutch North Sea other Mesolithic sites of northern Europe. Interpreted as elements projectile weaponry, considered by archaeologists to be a technological innovation in hunting equipment hunter-gatherers. However, debate about their exact use identification targeted prey species is still ongoing. To shed light on function these tools, we analysed sample 17 artefacts Netherlands with multi-disciplinary approach encompassing...

This paper explores the application of use-wear analysis on flint tools for reconstruction bone-working toolkits. Lithics from three Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture (3400–2500 BCE) sites were analysed. We successfully identified toolkits used in production bone tools. Combining our results with zooarchaeological data, we conclude that metapodium technique was only practiced where deer hunted, and bones thus available. When not, or barely, limited to ad hoc tool production. Widely available...

This paper examines aspects of the agricultural activities and network supported by ‘Canaanean’ blade segments from Ninevite V sites located principally in Syria Iraq. Technological functional analyses an extensive sample these tools, alongside experimental ethnoarchaeological reference data, point to their use as instruments for working cereals, but not a harvesting tool (sickle) is usually assumed. Our indicate that blades were standardised inserts used special raft-like threshing...

In Europe, cremation as a burial practice is often associated with the Bronze Age, but examples of cremated human remains are in fact known from Palaeolithic onwards. Unlike conventional inhumation, destroys most evidence we can use to reconstruct biography buried individual. Remarkably, Ireland, used for earliest recorded and grave assemblage (7530–7320 bc ) located on banks River Shannon, at Hermitage, County Limerick. While unable any great detail this individual, have examined polished...

China is a major centre for rice domestication, where starch grain analysis has been widely applied to archaeological grinding tools gain information about plant use by ancient Chinese societies. However, few grains have identified date. To understand this apparent scarcity of from rice, dry‐ and wet‐grinding experiments with stone were carried out on four types cereals: ( Oryza sativa L.), foxtail millet Setaria italica ), Job's tears Coix lacryma‐jobi L.) barley Hordeum vulgare L.). The...

In the central plain of China, grinding tools are a common category artefacts at sites attributed to Peiligang Culture (c. 9000-7000 BP). This paper focuses on tool assemblage from site Tanghu, largest settlement yet discovered. The results microwear and residue analyses both suggest that cereals were primary plant material processed with tools. Other plants, including acorns underground storage organs, also processed, but probably smaller extent. Furthermore, analysis suggests dry-grinding...

La carrière de Maastricht-Belvédère, connue pour ses sites bien préservés datant l'avant-dernier interglaciaire (stade isotopique 7), a aussi livré un site du début la dernière glaciation 5). Des analyses technologiques, typologiques et tracéologiques cet assemblage non-Levallois ont démontré comportement assez paradoxal avec d'une part, gaspillage lithique, d'autre part une forte économie des matières premières. L'article donne explication strictement fonctionel- le ce paradoxe. Les...

L’analyse technologique et fonctionnelle des «trousses à outils » de potier peut nous fournir indications sur la structure sociétés du passé. Les expérimentations menées avec en silex, galets, coquillages, coraux tessons ont montré que chacune ces catégories d’objets pouvait être utilisée différentes étapes chaîne opératoire fabrication vases, selon un mode fonctionnement propre. La présente étude démontre les potier, issus contextes archéologiques variés, étaient employés même manière. Ces...

Abstract The present paper examines bodily ornaments made of semiprecious lithic materials from the site Pearls on island Grenada. was an important node in long-distance interaction networks at play between circum-Caribbean communities during first centuries Common Era. amethyst bead-making workshop and a gateway to South America, where certain lapidary raw likely originated. importance for regional archaeology local stakeholders cannot be overstated. However, it has undergone severe...

In this study, we generate novel insights regarding bodily ornaments from indigenous societies of late precolonial Greater Antilles. Previous research has highlighted the sociopolitical role valuable, exotic, and figurative ornaments, yet there are many gaps in our current understanding these artifacts. Here, focus on five recently excavated sites Dominican Republic (AD 800–1600). We used microwear analysis to investigate each ornament assess its production sequence use life. These data...

Abraded potsherds from Caribbean archaeological sites have rounded, square or oval shapes due to human modification. Microscopic analysis of traces wear was performed on the abraded two Guadeloupe, Anse à la Gourde and Morel. Explorative experiments proved sherds be very effective for pottery production but considerably less functional other activities. High power use has revealed identifiable that are interpreted been scraping leather hard clay. The application high broken rarely done...