Shark teeth used as tools: An experimental archaeology study

Abstract

Shark teeth are common artefacts found in numerous archaeological contexts in several places in the world. This paper presents the results of the first experimental and microwear analyses realized on this material. Fourteen experiments were undertaken to create a variety of microwear types on shark teeth. The experiments included scraping, sawing and barking green wood, scraping and cutting fresh and dry bone, piercing and cutting fresh skin, hide and leather, as well as cutting and scaling fish, and, finally, the use of shark teeth as arrowheads. The methods for each experiment and the resulting microwear analyses are presented here, along with some first-hand observations on the experimental use of shark teeth as tools.