Testing imaging confocal microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and focus variation microscopy for microscale measurement of edge cross-sections and calculation of edge curvature on stone tools: Preliminary results

Stemp, W. James; Macdonald, Danielle A.; Gleason, Matthew A.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.02.010

Cited by 27 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Geometric definitions of sharpness rely on the measurement of tip radius at the apex of an edge [38]. A first attempt to record this edge-form attribute on stone tools was recently performed by Stemp et al [34], who used multiple high-powered three-dimensional microscopy techniques and tip curvature algorithms to examine geometric sharpness on five stone tools. Here, we follow Schuldt et al [37], Key et al [32] and others [33,[35][36][37][38][39]41,42] by using a mechanical definition of sharpness.…”

Section: Recording Sharpness and Durability Through Controlled Cuttinmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone Age of Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)

Key

Proffitt

Torre

2020

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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For more than 1.8 million years hominins at Olduvai Gorge were faced with a choice: whether to use lavas, quartzite or chert to produce stone tools. All are available locally and all are suitable for stone tool production. Using controlled cutting tests and fracture mechanics theory we examine raw material selection decisions throughout Olduvai's Early Stone Age. We quantify the force, work and material deformation required by each stone type when cutting, before using these data to compare edge sharpness and durability. Significant differences are identified, confirming performance to depend on raw material choice. When combined with artefact data, we demonstrate that Early Stone Age hominins optimized raw material choices based on functional performance characteristics. Doing so flexibly: choosing raw materials dependent on their sharpness and durability, alongside a tool's loading potential and anticipated use-life. In this way, we demonstrate that early lithic artefacts at Olduvai Gorge were engineered to be functionally optimized cutting tools.

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Section: Recording Sharpness and Durability Through Controlled Cuttinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only recently have archaeologists started to investigate the attribute of edge sharpness empirically [31][32][33][34]. Controlled cutting tests have previously been used to record mechanical definitions of this attribute on lithic objects [32,33], following techniques regularly applied within fracture mechanics research [35][36][37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone Age of Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)

Key

Proffitt

Torre

2020

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…Recent 3D microtexture methods focus on the quantification of the surface roughness (International Organization for Standardization 1996, 1997, 2012, allowing statistical analysis on the measured surface parameters. In addition, different wear traces can be compared between and within each other (Evans and MacDonald 2011;Galland et al 2019;Ibáñez et al 2018;Macdonald et al 2018;Ollé and Vergès 2014;Stemp et al 2019;Tumung et al 2015).…”

Section: Lack Of Standardization In Data Acquisition and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Rethinking Use-Wear Analysis and Experimentation as Applied to the Study of Past Hominin Tool Use

Marreiros

Calandra²,

Gneisinger³

et al. 2020

J Paleo Arch

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In prehistoric human populations, technologies played a fundamental role in the acquisition of different resources and are represented in the main daily living activities, such as with bone, wooden, and stone-tipped spears for hunting, and chipped-stone tools for butchering. Considering that paleoanthropologists and archeologists are focused on the study of different processes involved in the evolution of human behavior, investigating how hominins acted in the past through the study of evidence on archeological artifacts is crucial. Thus, investigating tool use is of major importance for a comprehensive understanding of all processes that characterize human choices of raw materials, techniques, and tool types. Many functional assumptions of tool use have been based on tool design and morphology according to archeologists' interpretations and ethnographic observations. Such assumptions are used as baselines when inferring human behavior and have driven an improvement in the methods and techniques employed in functional studies over the past few decades. Here, while arguing that use-wear analysis is a key discipline to assess past hominin tool use and to interpret the organization and variability of artifact types in the archeological record, we aim to review and discuss the current state-of-the-art methods, protocols, and their limitations. In doing so, our discussion focuses on three main topics: (1) the need for fundamental improvements by adopting established methods and techniques from similar research fields, (2) the need to implement and combine different levels of experimentation, and (3) the crucial need to establish standards and protocols in order to improve data quality, standardization, repeatability, and reproducibility. By adopting this perspective, we believe that studies will increase the reliability and applicability of use-wear methods on tool function. The need for a holistic approach that combines not only use-wear traces but also tool technology, design, curation, durability, and efficiency is also debated and revised. Such a revision is a crucial step if archeologists want to build major inferences on human decisionmaking behavior and biocultural evolution processes.

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“…In particular, a low degree of accuracy in blind tests has been pointed (see 2,3 ) together with the need to implement quantitative approaches to obtain more accurate use wear datasets and guarantee the comparability and reproducibility of functional results 3,4 . In this regard, several works have discussed the application of quantitative methods focused on surface measurements to knapped and ground stone tools (henceforth GSTs), at both macro and microscale [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] . A variety of equipment and techniques has been tested, including confocal microscopy 5,6,9,15 , atomic force microscopy 16 , surface textural imaging 17 , laser profilometry 9,18 and 3D modelling [11][12][13]14,19,20 .…”

Section: Functional Analysis Of Sandstone Ground Stone Tools: Argumenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, several works have discussed the application of quantitative methods focused on surface measurements to knapped and ground stone tools (henceforth GSTs), at both macro and micro-scale 5 – 14 . A variety of equipment and techniques has been tested, including confocal microscopy 5 , 6 , 9 , 15 , atomic force microscopy 16 , surface textural imaging 17 , laser profilometry 9 , 18 and 3D modelling 11 – 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 . These works paved the way to a new era of functional studies where the objectivity and reliability of functional interpretation are perceived as counterposed against well-established qualitative use wear approaches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional analysis of sandstone ground stone tools: arguments for a qualitative and quantitative synergetic approach

Zupancich

Cristiani

2020

Sci Rep

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In the last few years, the application of quantitative methods in the field of use wear analysis has grown considerably, involving the use of different techniques. A development in surface measurements approaches has become necessary as standard assessments based upon qualitative functional analysis are often affected by a degree of subjectivity and a limited reproducibility. To advance the current methodological debate on functional analysis of ground stone technology, we present a combined methodological approach, including qualitative and quantitative analyses, applied to the study of experimental sandstone ground stone tools. We test surface quantification at a macro and micro-scale, paired with the observation and description of residue and use wear connected to the processing of plant, animal and mineral matters. Our results provide an exhaustive quantitative dataset concerning surface modifications associated with different uses and suggest an analytical workflow for the functional analysis of both experimental and archaeological ground stone assemblages. We also highlight the limitation and pitfalls of an exclusive adoption of quantitative methods in the study of ancient tool use demonstrating how a synergetic approach can enhance the quality, reproducibility and comparability of functional data.

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Testing imaging confocal microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and focus variation microscopy for microscale measurement of edge cross-sections and calculation of edge curvature on stone tools: Preliminary results

Cited by 27 publications

References 87 publications

Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone Age of Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)

Raw material optimization and stone tool engineering in the Early Stone Age of Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)

Rethinking Use-Wear Analysis and Experimentation as Applied to the Study of Past Hominin Tool Use

Functional analysis of sandstone ground stone tools: arguments for a qualitative and quantitative synergetic approach

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