MICROSCOPIC USE-WEAR ANALYSIS: A Basic Introduction on How to Reconstruct the Functions of Stone Tools
Alfred Pawlik · Hukay · 2001
All remains produced by humans are called artefacts. For prehistoric archaeologists the most important artefacts were made of stone. Stones are usually hard and resistable, especially those used by prehistoric men to make tools. While most organic materials may disappear during time, under regular geological conditions stone tools will last over millions of years. Thus, they contain most of the informations archaeologists get from prehistoric life. Over 99% of the time span humans exist, stones played a major role to fulfill almost all functions necessary for subsistence. They were used for cutting, scraping, carving, boring, grinding and more. All the functions today metal is used for were formerly done with stones. The first stone tools which appear at least 3 million years ago had a simple design and were made from pebbles or rocks. Beside flakes they are so-called choppers or chopping tools. Because of some disadvantages, especially the less to control cleavage, prehistoric humans learned to choose silicate rocks like quartzite, radiolarite, chert or flintstone. They showed both great hardness and sharpness and good cleavage qualities.