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Use Wear on Bone and Antler Tools from the Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Genevieve M. LeMoine*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Abstract

A series of experiments making and using bone and antler tools show that functional identifications of these tools can be made with confidence in some circumstances. Using principles from the field of tribology, the experiments demonstrate that different uses leave different microscopic traces on bone and antler. They also show that when the materials used are similar, the wear produced will be similar. In particular, wet materials, including snow, ice, wet hide, and wet antler all produce nearly identical microscopic patterns. Other groups of similar materials, such as bone, antler, and wood, or fish scales and hair, present the same problem. Although differences can be detected, these may not be preserved on archaeological tool specimens. Application of the experimental results to bone and antler tools from the Mackenzie Delta illustrates that functional identifications of tools can be made with confidence, despite the problem of similar microscopic patterns, when other lines of evidence (ethnographic and historical accounts, distribution of wear) are taken into account. When such information is lacking, functional identifications are more difficult and must be made with more caution.

Resumen

Resumen

Una serie de experimentos sobre manufactura y uso de herramientas de hueso y cuerno indican que identificaciones funcionales de estas herramientas son confiables en ciertas circunstancias. Usando principios del campo de la “tribología,” los experimentos demuestran que diferentes usos dejan diferentes trazas microscópicos en hueso y cuerno. Estos tambián indican que, cuando los materiales usados son similares, el desgaste producido será similar. En particular, materiales húmedos incluyendo nieve, hielo, cuero mojado y cuerno mojado producen patrones microscópicos casi idénticos. Otros grupos de materiales similares, como hueso, cuerno y madera, o escamas de pescado y cabello, presentan el mismo problema. Aunque diferencias pueden ser detectadas, éstas no siempre están preservadas en herramientas arqueológicas. La aplicación de estos resultados experimentales a las herramientas de hueso y cuerno del Delta de Mackenzie demuestran que, a pesar del problema de patrones microscópicos similares, las identificaciones funcionales de herramientas pueden ser hechas con confianza cuando otras líneas de evidencia (fuentes etnográficas e históricas, distribución del uso) son consideradas. Cuando este tipo de información no existe, las identificaciones funcionales son más dificiles y deben hacerse con cautela.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1994

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