Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BaTEx (Wear traces on Basalt Tools: an Experimental case for archaeological interpretation)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-10-01 do 2024-09-30
Basalt, in certain geographic and chronological contexts, was the most abundant—and sometimes the only—raw material used for manufacturing lithic implements. Due to its prevalence, basalt has provided valuable insights into the socioeconomic strategies and lifeways of hominins. Despite its widespread presence across numerous archaeological sites, researchers have faced challenges in establishing a unified methodology for studying basalt’s uses in prehistory. This gap has limited the ability to fully exploit basalt as a source for understanding hominin technological choices and subsistence strategies. Basalt thus remains an underutilized resource for establishing reference patterns of hominin behavioural variability across diverse geographic, chronological, and environmental contexts.
The Wear Traces on Basalt Tools: An Experimental Case for Archaeological Interpretation (BaTEx) project aimed to address this gap by developing a robust methodological framework through the integration of macro- and microscopic techniques and experimental approaches to facilitate the study of use-wear on basalt. The project focused on (i) building a robust methodological framework through the integration of multiple macro- and microscopic techniques and experimentation to facilitate the study of use-wear on basalt; (ii) conducting a large-scale study of experimental and selected archaeological basalt tools; and (iii) exploiting these new data to deepen our understanding of technological choices and behavioural patterns while demonstrating basalt’s untapped potential.
The Wear Traces on Basalt Tools: An Experimental Case for Archaeological Interpretation (BaTEx) project aimed to address this gap by developing a robust methodological framework through the integration of macro- and microscopic techniques and experimental approaches to facilitate the study of use-wear on basalt. The project focused on (i) building a robust methodological framework through the integration of multiple macro- and microscopic techniques and experimentation to facilitate the study of use-wear on basalt; (ii) conducting a large-scale study of experimental and selected archaeological basalt tools; and (iii) exploiting these new data to deepen our understanding of technological choices and behavioural patterns while demonstrating basalt’s untapped potential.
The BaTEx project successfully developed a robust and innovative methodological framework for analysing use-wear on basalt. It notably advanced a comprehensive understanding of basalt’s physical and chemical properties, providing critical insights into how its petrological characteristics influence functional behaviour and wear formation. Moreover, a major achievement of BaTEx was the creation of a dedicated experimental reference collection for basalt. This collection integrates a diverse range of basalt varieties, activities (e.g. butchery, hide and bone working, plant processing), actions, and worked materials. This comprehensive dataset provides the essential groundwork for understanding wear development patterns over time and across various experimental scenarios, establishing a solid foundation for comparative studies of archaeological basalt assemblages. In addition, the project pioneered a multi-technique approach to basalt wear analysis, incorporating stereomicroscopy, metallographic, 3D digital, and scanning electron microscopy. This combination of methods was validated as essential for capturing the full spectrum of wear features.
Additionally, the project also initiated one of the first efforts to quantify wear on basalt tools, employing advanced systems such as a 3D profilometer with focus variation, confocal microscopy, and interferometry techniques. While in the testing phase, this initiative produced high-resolution surface texture measurements, yielding a valuable dataset for characterizing wear patterns. The integration of these quantitative methods with traditional qualitative studies proved particularly promising for enhancing the precision and depth of basalt wear analyses.
The project’s methodological advancements were successfully applied to archaeological basalt assemblages from Olduvai Bed 2 FC East and West (Tanzania; Lower Pleistocene; paleo-lake), Abri du Maras (France; Middle to Upper Pleistocene), and Bagratashen 1 (Armenia; Upper Pleistocene). These applications demonstrated the reliability of the multi-technique microscopic approach developed by BaTEx for identifying use-related wear on basalt tools. Furthermore, the validity of the methodology was confirmed across different chronologies, geo-archaeological conditions, and geographic contexts. Finally, the study highlighted the significance of basalt tools within the technological repertoires of hominins at the studied sites, likely due to the material’s local availability. While further analysis of entire lithic assemblages is necessary to fully understand the specific activities associated with basalt tools, BaTEx concluded that basalt was integral to hominin behavioural, technological, and adaptive strategies at the studied sites.
Additionally, the project also initiated one of the first efforts to quantify wear on basalt tools, employing advanced systems such as a 3D profilometer with focus variation, confocal microscopy, and interferometry techniques. While in the testing phase, this initiative produced high-resolution surface texture measurements, yielding a valuable dataset for characterizing wear patterns. The integration of these quantitative methods with traditional qualitative studies proved particularly promising for enhancing the precision and depth of basalt wear analyses.
The project’s methodological advancements were successfully applied to archaeological basalt assemblages from Olduvai Bed 2 FC East and West (Tanzania; Lower Pleistocene; paleo-lake), Abri du Maras (France; Middle to Upper Pleistocene), and Bagratashen 1 (Armenia; Upper Pleistocene). These applications demonstrated the reliability of the multi-technique microscopic approach developed by BaTEx for identifying use-related wear on basalt tools. Furthermore, the validity of the methodology was confirmed across different chronologies, geo-archaeological conditions, and geographic contexts. Finally, the study highlighted the significance of basalt tools within the technological repertoires of hominins at the studied sites, likely due to the material’s local availability. While further analysis of entire lithic assemblages is necessary to fully understand the specific activities associated with basalt tools, BaTEx concluded that basalt was integral to hominin behavioural, technological, and adaptive strategies at the studied sites.
The BaTEx project has produced several impactful outcomes with the potential to advance both academic research and practical applications across multiple fields. One of the key impacts is the creation of a comprehensive experimental reference collection for basalt wear, which serves as a benchmark for future functional studies of basalt and other lithic materials. This collection, combined with the development of a multi-technique microscopic analytical approach, has significantly enhanced the accuracy and reliability of micro-wear studies on basalt tools. The methodology was successfully tested on archaeological basalt assemblages, demonstrating its adaptability to other complex raw materials and archaeological contexts, regardless of chronology, location, or geoarchaeological context conditions.
Additionally, the project generated a substantial volume of high-resolution basalt micro-wear images from various microscopic techniques, which can be consulted not only by researchers studying micro-wear on basalt and other volcanic rocks but also by geologists, petrologists, and volcanologists interested in examining basalt from a variety of microscopic perspectives. Moreover, the project’s successful testing of basalt micro-wear quantification and the collection of detailed surface measurements opens up numerous possibilities for quantitative studies, not only of basalt but also of other volcanic materials. This advancement has broad implications, benefiting not only traceologists and archaeologists studying tool function but also material scientists seeking to understand the properties and wear patterns of volcanic rocks.
The project also provided a detailed characterisation of different basalt types, with particular focus on their chemical properties. Based on these characteristics, a multi-step cleaning protocol was developed, specifically tailored for basalt and other volcanic rocks. This scientific contribution holds significant potential for a wide range of applications. For example, the enhanced understanding of volcanic rock properties can benefit industries involved in material science, construction, and heritage conservation, where the durability and preservation of materials are critical.
Finally, the successful organisation of the INSTONE workshop in September 2024 stands out as a pivotal achievement for the BaTEx project, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing knowledge on the use of non-flint raw materials in prehistory. This workshop provided a dynamic platform for exchanging innovative ideas and methodologies, solidifying the project’s role in advancing the field. The forthcoming Special Issue in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports will further amplify the workshop’s impact by sharing cutting-edge research findings with a global audience. This publication will further enhance the project's visibility and advance methodologies in wear studies of diverse non-flint raw materials, offering groundbreaking insights that will drive future functional research and foster cross-disciplinary applications.
Additionally, the project generated a substantial volume of high-resolution basalt micro-wear images from various microscopic techniques, which can be consulted not only by researchers studying micro-wear on basalt and other volcanic rocks but also by geologists, petrologists, and volcanologists interested in examining basalt from a variety of microscopic perspectives. Moreover, the project’s successful testing of basalt micro-wear quantification and the collection of detailed surface measurements opens up numerous possibilities for quantitative studies, not only of basalt but also of other volcanic materials. This advancement has broad implications, benefiting not only traceologists and archaeologists studying tool function but also material scientists seeking to understand the properties and wear patterns of volcanic rocks.
The project also provided a detailed characterisation of different basalt types, with particular focus on their chemical properties. Based on these characteristics, a multi-step cleaning protocol was developed, specifically tailored for basalt and other volcanic rocks. This scientific contribution holds significant potential for a wide range of applications. For example, the enhanced understanding of volcanic rock properties can benefit industries involved in material science, construction, and heritage conservation, where the durability and preservation of materials are critical.
Finally, the successful organisation of the INSTONE workshop in September 2024 stands out as a pivotal achievement for the BaTEx project, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing knowledge on the use of non-flint raw materials in prehistory. This workshop provided a dynamic platform for exchanging innovative ideas and methodologies, solidifying the project’s role in advancing the field. The forthcoming Special Issue in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports will further amplify the workshop’s impact by sharing cutting-edge research findings with a global audience. This publication will further enhance the project's visibility and advance methodologies in wear studies of diverse non-flint raw materials, offering groundbreaking insights that will drive future functional research and foster cross-disciplinary applications.