Traceological Analysis of Bone Artifacts in Archeology

Abstract

The paper features the problems of traceological analysis of ancient artifacts made from animal bones. The exceptional importance of bone objects as an archaeological source cannot be overestimated. The authors studied Russian and foreign scientific literature and summarized their own experience of trace examination of bone artifacts from Bronze Age monuments of the forest-steppe Altai. The paper describes some methodological problems that arise during trace examination of archaeological bone collections. It studies the material, technological, functional, and taxonomic features of macro- and micro-surfaces of bone artifacts that make the examination different from analysis of stone artifacts and have to be taken into account. The leading factor is the raw material features of the bone. They cause an accelerated process of formation and destruction of traces on the surface of tools and products, the possibility of using bone material in various physical states, as well as the presence of deformations and traces of a natural (biological) nature. The authors challenge the thesis that the method applied to trace examination of stone objects can be transferred to bone tools and products. They declare that bone artifacts require specialized methods and techniques.

Keywords

• traceological analysis
• organic materials
• bone industry
• bone tools
• traces