Microscopic evidence on Mesolithic tools
Wetlands have proved a rich source of artefacts from the Mesolithic period in Europe. Despite widely held assumptions about fishing and other economic activities at these sites, little is known about the tasks and practices that actually occurred there. The EU-funded TRACE project aimed to investigate microscopic traces of wear (microwear) and residues on tools found at Irish Mesolithic wetland sites. Researchers were particularly interested in activities that are not represented in the archaeological record, like crafting. They analysed flint, chert and organic tools ranging in date from 7530–4000 cal BC, and compared them to Dutch and English tools from non-wetland sites. Researchers found that tools used for fish processing and plant working were easily identifiable from an archaeological assemblage. In particular, they identified a specific kind of plant residue associated with a certain timeframe. This residue abruptly disappears from the record around the time that cereal crop production starts, suggesting that it is linked to a food production technology. Along with the evidence of this residue on tools at multiple wetland sites, it seems likely that it is associated with the production of fishing baskets. The research produced by TRACE has shown that microwear and residue studies can shed light on the culture and practices of Mesolithic humans. This could have wide-reaching impact on archaeological studies of early humans.
Keywords
Mesolithic, hunter-gatherer, wetlands, microwear, residues
