An application of micro-wear analysis to bone experimentally worked using bronze tools

The recognition of the metal tools used to work bone in archaeological sites can aid in the reconstruction of patterns of bone artifact production. Moreover, when metal tools are rare as a result of past curation practices or preservation conditions, the analysis of the manufacturing traces on bone is essential for ascertaining the presence and specific uses of these tools. This paper presents research on the application of experimentation and high-power optical microscopy to the identification and description of the manufacturing traces created on bone by bronze knife-blades and burins, and focuses on two activities, scraping and grooving. Analytical data suggest the presence of distinctive micro-wear patterns associated with the use of these tools.