Micro-abrasion of flint artifacts by mobile sediments: a taphonomic approach
Micro-abrasion of flint artifacts by mobile sediments: a taphonomic approach
Fluvial redeposition of stone artifacts is a major complicating factor in the interpretation of Lower Palaeolithic open-air archaeological sites. However, the microscopic examination of lithic surfaces may provide valuable background information on the transport history of artifacts, particularly in low energy settings. Replica flint artifacts were therefore abraded in an annular flume and examined with a scanning electron microscope. Results showed that abrasion time, sediment size, and artifact transport mode were very sensitive predictors of microscopic surface abrasion, ridge width, and edge damage (p?<?0.000). These results suggest that patterns of micro-abrasion of stone artifacts may enhance understanding of archaeological assemblage formation in fluvial contexts.
Fluvial processes, Micro-abrasion, Flaked stone taphonomy, SEM, Flint
3-11
Chu, Wei
c99722fd-50d6-4da5-94cf-ae898dae1297
Thompson, Charlie
2a304aa6-761e-4d99-b227-cedb67129bfb
Hosfield, Rob
71589b3e-fdde-4e96-90a9-38b3a71b3c73
March 2015
Chu, Wei
c99722fd-50d6-4da5-94cf-ae898dae1297
Thompson, Charlie
2a304aa6-761e-4d99-b227-cedb67129bfb
Hosfield, Rob
71589b3e-fdde-4e96-90a9-38b3a71b3c73
Chu, Wei, Thompson, Charlie and Hosfield, Rob
(2015)
Micro-abrasion of flint artifacts by mobile sediments: a taphonomic approach.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 7 (1), .
(doi:10.1007/s12520-013-0157-0).
Abstract
Fluvial redeposition of stone artifacts is a major complicating factor in the interpretation of Lower Palaeolithic open-air archaeological sites. However, the microscopic examination of lithic surfaces may provide valuable background information on the transport history of artifacts, particularly in low energy settings. Replica flint artifacts were therefore abraded in an annular flume and examined with a scanning electron microscope. Results showed that abrasion time, sediment size, and artifact transport mode were very sensitive predictors of microscopic surface abrasion, ridge width, and edge damage (p?<?0.000). These results suggest that patterns of micro-abrasion of stone artifacts may enhance understanding of archaeological assemblage formation in fluvial contexts.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 2 October 2013
Published date: March 2015
Keywords:
Fluvial processes, Micro-abrasion, Flaked stone taphonomy, SEM, Flint
Organisations:
Geology & Geophysics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 375972
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/375972
ISSN: 1866-9557
PURE UUID: 7746a450-ebdf-4b90-88db-a08c0c924432
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Date deposited: 10 Apr 2015 15:00
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:05
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Author:
Wei Chu
Author:
Rob Hosfield
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