Was it ground? A closer look at various prehistoric bone grinding techniques – An experimental and traceological study

Abstract

This article presents the results of an experimental program, and traceological analyses of bone tools that were ground using various stone materials. Using multifaceted characterisation and classification of traces, we show that distinctive micro-wear patterns (e.g., striations, polish) are associated with different grinding techniques and corresponding stone materials. At the same time, we underline that it is not possible to distinguish between the different stone materials used during the grinding process. The results of our study highlight the potential for microscopic wear analysis in determining the origin of micro-wear traces on archaeological bone tools.