WAC 8 Kyoto, 28th August to 2nd September | Science and Archaeology | Call for papers
Tools and traces: microwear and residues in hunter-gatherer societies
Organisers: Shoh Yamada (Institute of Accelerator Analysis Ltd. / Japan), Atsushi Sawada (Niigata Prefecture Archaeological Research Corporation / Japan), Richard Fullagar (University of Wollongong / Australia) and Alfred Pawlik (University of the Philippines / Philippines)
Type: Symposium
Contact: shohyamada(at)hotmail.com
Abstract:
Recent microwear and residue studies have immensely expanded our knowledge about prehistoric technology, tool use, behaviour since the earliest Palaeolithic. These analytical tools help to identify actual functions of prehistoric tools; provide an alternative approach to techno-typological classifications of tool assemblages with little or no formal character; and, overall, provide numerous insights into the technological advancement, activities and subsistence of hunter-gatherers over more than 2 million years.
The session aims are to (1) document what residues and microwear can tell us about hunter-gatherer behaviour, and (2) understand tool-use, resource exploitation and behavior among early human/hominin groups.
The session organizers welcome papers on the study of wear and residues on Palaeolithic and later artefacts and coming from all origins, including traces caused by use, artefact production, hafting, prehension, incidental contact, maintenance and curation, and on all artefact materials used during this period (e.g. stone, bone, antler, tooth, shell). We especially encourage presentations related to the theme of hunter-gatherers and early humans, but we will consider usewear/residue studies related to other contexts.
Keywords: usewear, hunter-gatherer behaviour, prehistoric technology
