A multi-analytical methodology of lithic residue analysis applied to Paleolithic tools from Hummal, Syria

Lithic residue analysis is traditionally based upon the morphological identification of microresidues preserved on the surfaces of stone tools. In order to improve the reliability of these identifications, we apply multiple techniques beyond morphological description to characterize the residues on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 2013-10, Vol.40 (10), p.3722-3739
Main Authors: Monnier, Gilliane F., Hauck, Thomas C., Feinberg, Joshua M., Luo, Bing, Le Tensorer, Jean-Marie, Sakhel, Heba al
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeology and Prehistory
Asia
Confocal Raman microscopy
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
Excavation and methods
Fourier transform infrared microscopy
Humanities and Social Sciences
Laboratory methods
Lithic industry
Lithic residue analysis
Methodology and general studies
Microscopy
Middle Paleolithic
Near East
Palaeolithic and mesolithic
Physical and chemical analysis
Prehistory and protohistory
Scanning electron microscopy
Syria
Typology, technology and attribute analysis
X-ray diffraction
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Summary:Lithic residue analysis is traditionally based upon the morphological identification of microresidues preserved on the surfaces of stone tools. In order to improve the reliability of these identifications, we apply multiple techniques beyond morphological description to characterize the residues on stone tools from Hummal, Syria. We first document the residues using visible light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and then characterize them using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared microscopy, and confocal Raman microscopy. Our analyses confirm that some of the residues are bitumen. X-ray diffraction analysis of associated sediments is used to identify the other residues. •A new methodology of lithic residue analysis is presented.•It is applied to Middle Paleolithic stone tools from Hummal, Syria.•Lithic residues are characterized using microscopy, elemental analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy.•Sediments are analyzed using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.•These methods document the presence of bitumen residues as well as authigenic minerals on the lithics.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/j.jas.2013.03.018