Abstract
Microwear analysis of flaked stone stools based on examination of microwear polishes has recently been criticized because of several analysts' poor performances in blind tests and because of unsuccessful attempts to distinguish between polishes using computer- based image processing. The present paper identifies fundamental problems with (1) the image processing and (2) the design and scoring of the blind tests. Systematic analysis of the results of the most recent tests along with the published results of other blind tests provide strong support for the efficacy of polish-based microwear analysis. Microwear analysis appears to be a viable technique of archaeological analysis at present, although some limits on its utility are evident.
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