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Experiments to Investigate the Effects of Heat Treatment on Use-wear on Flint Tools

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Author

Summary, in English

A series of twenty controlled experiments was undertaken to determine if heat treatment alters the speed, intensity, or appearance of wear on the edges of flint tools. Four hypotheses were tested with the following results: Heat-treated tools wore more quickly and with more severity than tools which had not been heated. When used in the same fashion and on the same materials, heat-treated flakes showed longer microflake removals from use than did non-heat-treated tools. Flake scars from microflaking due to use had a shiny surface on flints which had been heat-treated, while such surfaces were matt on unheated materials. The results suggest that these effects should be taken into consideration when studies of use-wear are undertaken.

Department/s

Publishing year

1983

Language

English

Pages

1-13

Publication/Series

Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society

Volume

49

Issue

1983

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Prehistoric Society

Topic

  • Archaeology

Keywords

  • edge-wear analysis
  • experimental archaeology
  • heat-treatment

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0079-497X