A microwear study regarding the function of lithic tools in Moravian Epigravettian. (20th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pyżewicz, Katarzyna; Nerudová, Zdeňka
• Is Part Of: Quaternary international. Volume 536(2020)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 74
• Publication Date: 2020-01-20
• Subjects: Epigravettian -- Lithic tools -- Use-wear analysis; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2019.11.045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-6182

Abstract

Abstract: Use-wear analyses on lithic pieces from Brno-Štýřice III presented in this article are the first studies of this type conducted on Epigravettian Late Upper Paleolithic (LUP) assemblages from the Czech Republic and the broader region. A total of 187 artefacts classified as formal tools as well as pieces with macroscopic traces of marginal – discontinuous – retouch (edge damage) have been microscopically analyzed. Different types of use-wear traces were noticed on 57 of these artefacts. The traces are mainly associated with animal carcass treatment (the tools were usually used for cutting or scraping), including hide processing, butchering activities, or, to a lesser extent, bone/antler processing. Although there are only sporadic traces associated with plant or wood processing, they support the use of plants during LUP. Recognized use-wear traces are located mainly along unretouched edges or on burins around the negative bulbs of spalls. The spatial distribution of the artefacts with the use-wear traces corresponds to the settlement density. The character and intensity of the use-wear traces fit well with both faunal remains and palynological analyses and illustrates the complexity of everyday life for Epigravettian hunters.