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

Autor:	Rachel A. Horowitz, Rachel Johnson, Jason Nesbitt
Rok vydání:	2019
Předmět:	Archeology Paleontology Lithic technology biology Experimental archaeology Anthropology Flake Textile production biology.organism_classification Shearing (manufacturing) Geology Camelid
Zdroj:	Ethnoarchaeology. 11:80-94
ISSN:	1944-2904 1944-2890
DOI:	10.1080/19442890.2019.1573286
Popis:	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.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::5ecaf6b85e1c23ee2c84eb750471d839 https://doi.org/10.1080/19442890.2019.1573286 Zobrazit plný text záznamu