Formation of Macro- and Micro Use-Wear Traces on Tools from Different Stone Raw Materials: Experiences from a Comparative Analysis
https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2025-24-3-53-70
Abstract
Purpose. The article is devoted to the study of the regularities of the formation of macro and micro use-wear traces on experimental tools made of high-quality stone raw materials from the Altai region.
Results. The work is based on a comparative collection of samples (n = 109) obtained within the experimental modelling of different economic operations: scraping of fresh hides, planing, sawing and scraping of moistened bone and fresh wood with end-scrapers, burins, retouched and unretouched flakes and blades. The results of the study revealed the peculiarities of the formation of the main types of use-wear traces on samples from fine-grained volcanic tuffs and jasperoids, including micropolishing, edge damage, grinding and striations. The determinants of trace formation on jasperoid and tuff tools were found to be the duration and type of work, the physical properties of the raw material, including grain size, hardness, toughness and isotropy, and the characteristics of the working material – moisture, hardness and structure.
Conclusion. Sequential comparative analysis of similar samples of flint and obsidian allowed the specificity of the Altai material to be revealed in the context of use-wear trace formation against the background of rocks much better studied from the point of view of archaeological traceology.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 20-78-10125 “The dynamics of cultural development and human colonization of Altai at the onset of the Upper Paleolithic: life support strategies, paleotechnologies, mobility”
About the Authors
A. Yu. Fedorchenko
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alexander Yu. Fedorchenko
Scopus Author ID 57189367702
WoS Researcher ID D-5485-2016
Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
E. V. Levina
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ekaterina V. Levina
Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
N. E. Belousova
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Natalia E. Belousova, Candidate of Sciences (History)
Scopus Author ID 57191634232
WoS Researcher ID R-2153-2016
Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Fedorchenko A.Yu., Levina E.V., Belousova N.E. Formation of Macro- and Micro Use-Wear Traces on Tools from Different Stone Raw Materials: Experiences from a Comparative Analysis. Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2025;24(3):53-70. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2025-24-3-53-70
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