The Effect of Heat on Lithic Microwear Traces: An Experimental Assessment

Rutkoski, Ashley R.; Miller, G. Logan; Maguire, Leanna; Eren, Metin I.; Bebber, Michelle R.

doi:10.1080/01977261.2019.1690617

Cited by 12Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyArchaeological and Geological StudiesArchaeology and ancient environmental studies

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The Effect of Heat on Lithic Microwear Traces: An Experimental Assessment

Rutkoski, Ashley R., Miller, G. Logan, Maguire, Leanna, Eren, Metin I., Bebber, Michelle R.·2020·Lithic Technology

DOI 10.1080/01977261.2019.1690617

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Abstract

Despite decades of study of post-depositional surface modification by lithic use-wear analysts, the impact of heat remains underexplored. In this paper, we present the results of an experiment designed to test the effects of heat on chert tools with well-developed wood polish. We placed 50 flakes at varying positions in and around a wood fueled hearth. Visual examination of the wood polish before and after exposure to the fire identified no discernable alterations to its texture, brightness, or extent. These results indicate that the specific conditions of thermal alteration reported here may not inhibit lithic use-wear analysis on fine-grained chert implements with wood polish, ultimately highlighting the need for further experimentation on additional lithic materials and types of polish. Given that this experiment was inspired by analysis of stone tools from ephemeral hunter-gatherer camps, we consider the implications of this experiment for the analysis of chert tools at these sites.

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Authors: Rutkoski, A. R., Miller, G. L., Maguire, L., Eren, M. I., & Bebber, M. R.
Affiliations: Kent State University (US)
Illinois State University (US)
Corresponding author: Rutkoski, Ashley R.
Miller, G. Logan
ORCID: Miller, G. Logan
Eren, Metin I.
Bebber, Michelle R.
Venue: Lithic Technology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2019-11-14
Volume: 45
Issue: 1
Pages: 38-47
ISSN: 0197-7261 (ISSN-L)
2051-6185
DOI: 10.1080/01977261.2019.1690617
OpenAlex: W2989302023
Cited by: 12
References: 43
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3
FWCI: 3.51
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Lithic Technology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Archaeological and Geological Studies
Social Sciences › Archeology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Keywords: lithic use-wear, chert flake, post-depositional alteration

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The Effect of Heat on Lithic Microwear Traces: An Experimental Assessment

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