1,721,023 research outputs found
Protocols for extracting residues from stone tools
Full text linkFP7 ; 312283 - EVO-HAFT - Evolution of stone tool hafting in the Palaeolithi
Residue analysis of prehistoric stone tools: a critical evaluation of current methods and practices through experimentation.
Full text linkAppreciating the little things. Possibilities and challenges of stone tool residue analysis in reconstructing Late Pleistocene technologies.
No full textStone tool residue analysis has been used for reconstructing different aspects of prehistoric human behaviour, including tool use and subsistence, in a wide range of geographical and chronological settings since its initial development over forty years ago. Despite its frequent and versatile application and the potential it offers for better understanding past technologies and behaviours, residue analysis still suffers from methodological issues that mainly stem from an insufficient understanding of its possibilities and limitations. This study was designed to overcome some of these issues and to refine and reinforce the existing analytical methods in order to increase their interpretative power. The focus was here particularly on exploring the potential of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in addressing the three crucial aspects of residue analysis: the identification of different residues, the attribution of the residues to different anthropogenic and natural processes, and the recognition of the impact of various taphonomic processes on residue preservation. Extensive experimentation and large-scale analysis of Late Pleistocene lithic material from six sites in Africa and Europe (Bushman Rock Shelter, Caours, Fumane Cave, Ifri n'Ammar, Les Cottés and Les Prés de Laure) were applied to reach these goals. The results provided valuable new data on stone tool production, hafting and use as well as site formation processes, and highlighted the need for a well-established theoretical and experimental framework in archaeological residue studies. The insights gained through the analysis of the experimental and archaeological material allowed concluding that residues are best studied using a flexible approach where optical microscopy plays a central role, where the initial hypotheses it provides are further investigated using methods selected for each case individually, and where use-wear data aids both in narrowing down research questions and analysed samples and in improving the reliability of residue interpretations.Evohaf
Open Science and Reproducibility in Archaeology
No full textOn September 9th, 2025, 11h, we will hold an online panel discussion on implementing open science practices to enhance replicability and reproducibility in the humanities, specifically historical research. Experts on art history, archeology, and digital archiving will come together to share their knowledge and experiences in designing and implementing open science practices in historical research. Whether you are considering starting your project or are simply curious about how these projects work behind the scenes, this panel discussion will certainly prove to be interesting
La question des adhésifs au Paléolithique : état de l’art, méthodes d’identification et expérimentations au TraceoLab
No full textExploring Variability in Residue Accumulation and Adhesion on Stone Tools from different Raw Materials: An Interdisciplinary Perspective from Tribology, Metrology, and Surface Chemistry
Full text linkThis study explores the variability in the accumulation and adhesion of residues on stone tools made from different raw materials, using a theoretical perspective grounded in tribology, metrology, and surface chemistry. The principles of surface science provide valuable insights into how micro and nano-level surface interactions affect residue behaviour. Surface roughness and topography determine the contact mechanics between tools and residues, influencing factors such as surface energy, mechanical interlocking, and the formation of adhesive bonds. Rougher surfaces with higher asperities increase contact area, leading to stronger mechanical interlocking and higher residue retention, whereas smoother surfaces exhibit lower friction and reduced residue adhesion. Surface metrology, the science of measuring these characteristics, is crucial in quantifying roughness and topography, providing precise data on the features that influence residue adhesion.
By applying concepts from tribology, surface metrology, and surface chemistry, we can better predict the accumulation and preservation of residues on stone tools. Understanding the interplay between surface characteristics and adhesion mechanisms allows archaeologists to interpret residue patterns more accurately, offering insights into the use and functionality of ancient tools. Comparative data highlight differences in residue adhesion between different non-flint materials, allowing a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of residue analysis for various raw materials
Understanding the effect of taphonomic processes on stone tool residues through actualistic experimentation
No full texteditorial reviewe
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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