Stone artifacts from Schöningen 12 and 13 were examined microscopically to identify residues, wear, and manufacturing traces in order to clarify their possible anthropogenic origins and their function. We present evidence showing that the stone tools were used for working wood and hide and for cutting meat. The results from the use-wear and residue analyses proved complementary in several instances. Suggestive evidence of hafting was observed on a few pieces, which is particularly interesting given the identification of wooden hafts at the site. The positive results of this analysis demonstrate the efficacy and potential of these techniques for Lower Paleolithic sites such as Schöningen.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.07.005 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Prehistory, Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
The evolution of human behaviour is marked by key decision-making processes reflected in technological variability in the early archaeological record. As part of the technological system, differences in raw material quality directly affect the way that humans produce, design and use stone tools. The selection, procurement and use of various raw materials requires decision-making to evaluate multiple factors such as suitability to produce and design tools, but also the materials' efficiency and durability in performing a given task.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hum Evol
December 2024
Department of Pedagogy, Chubu Gakuin University, Gifu, 504-0837, Japan; College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
The use of broad tool repertoires to increase dietary flexibility through extractive foraging behaviors is shared by humans and their closest living relatives (chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes). However, comparisons between tool use in ancient human ancestors (hominins) and chimpanzees are limited by differences in their toolkits. One feature shared by primate and hominin toolkits is rock selection based on physical properties of the stones and the targets of foraging behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Microbiol
December 2024
School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
Introduction: The Sanxingdui site (Sichuan, China) is the typical representative of the ancient Shu culture, which lasts from the late Neolithic to early Western Zhou. The sacrificial pits are located in the core region of Sanxingdui site, and numerous artifacts are unearthed including ivory, seashells, bronzes, pottery, jade, stone, gold, bone, and horn products. The function of the pits and buried artifacts has always been the focus, but the microbiome around artifacts attracts less attention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Rheumatol
December 2024
General Directorate, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City, Mexico.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
December 2024
School of Art and Archaeology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China.
The accelerated deterioration of carbonate stone artifacts under climate change has long been an urgent issue. Inspired by biomineralization, we developed carboxymethyl chitosan-diammonium hydrogen phosphate (CD) composite and investigated the conservation effectiveness of the CD composite compared to diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) on limestone. The morphologies and microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).
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