Was Obsidian Used for Camelid Shearing in Ancient Peru? An Experimental and Use-Wear Study

IF 1.8 0 ARCHAEOLOGY

Ethnoarchaeology Pub Date : 2019-01-02 DOI:10.1080/19442890.2019.1573286

Jason Nesbitt, Rachel K. Johnson, R. Horowitz

引用次数: 6

Abstract

ABSTRACT Obsidian flake tools are an important component of Early Horizon (ca. 800–400 B.C.) lithic assemblages in highland Peru. However, the functions of these tools have not been ascertained. In this paper, we present the results of an experimental project that tests the hypothesis that flake tools were used for shearing domesticated camelids (alpacas and llamas). A collection of 10 replicated flake tools were used to shear an alpaca over different amounts of time. Our results indicate that these implements provide an efficient means of shearing camelids, though their efficiency declines after prolonged use. Following the shearing experiment, optical light microscope (OLM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were undertaken to determine what kinds of use-wear were present on the tools. We tentatively conclude that shearing does leave recognizable edge-wear, including micro-chipping, faint striations, and residues, which we believe could be visible in Peruvian archaeological lithic assemblages.

查看原文本刊更多论文

古秘鲁用黑曜石剪骆驼毛吗?试验与使用磨损研究

黑曜石鳞片工具是秘鲁高地早期地层(约公元前800-400年)岩屑组合的重要组成部分。然而，这些工具的功能尚未被确定。在本文中，我们提出了一个实验项目的结果，该项目测试了薄片工具用于剪驯化骆驼(羊驼和美洲驼)的假设。在不同的时间内，使用10个复制的薄片工具来剪切羊驼。我们的结果表明，这些工具提供了一个有效的手段剪骆驼，虽然他们的效率下降后，长期使用。在剪切实验之后，进行光学光学显微镜(OLM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)分析，以确定刀具上存在何种使用磨损。我们初步得出结论，剪切确实留下了可识别的边缘磨损，包括微碎片，微弱的条纹和残留物，我们相信这些可以在秘鲁考古的岩石组合中看到。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Ethnoarchaeology ARCHAEOLOGY-

CiteScore

1.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Ethnoarchaeology, a cross-cultural peer-reviewed journal, focuses on the present position, impact of, and future prospects of ethnoarchaeological and experimental studies approaches to anthropological research. The primary goal of this journal is to provide practitioners with an intellectual platform to showcase and appraise current research and theoretical and methodological directions for the 21st century. Although there has been an exponential increase in ethnoarchaeological and experimental research in the past thirty years, there is little that unifies or defines our subdiscipline. Ethnoarchaeology addresses this need, exploring what distinguishes ethnoarchaeological and experimental approaches, what methods connect practitioners, and what unique suite of research attributes we contribute to the better understanding of the human condition. In addition to research articles, the journal publishes book and other media reviews, periodic theme issues, and position statements by noted scholars.