考古标本微磨痕初步研究

PRELIMINARY MICROWEAR STUDIES ON ARCHAEOLOGICALSTONE ARTIFACTS

从周口店第1地点和马鞍山遗址选取了20件燧石制品,以微磨痕的实验研究为基础,以扫描电子显微镜(简称电镜)为主要手段,通过对比分析,尝试了不同遗址间考古标本的微磨痕分析。结果表明,周口店第1地点和马鞍山遗址的石制品的功能都具有多样性;“楔”的功能见于马鞍山遗址,并为周口店第1地点“使用石片较多”的说法提供了微磨痕方面的新证据。

This article describes a series of trial microwear studies on some archaeological flint artifacts from the Peking Man site and the Ma'anshan site in south China. 20 pieces were chosen for observation under the scanning electron microscope and preliminary results are discussed here. Except 3 specimens, on which no use-wear traces were observed, and which were probably not utilized, 10 artifacts including 6 flakes and 4 retouched tools from the Peking Man site were observed to have been utilized, Among 14 edges, some of them were retouched; there are 6 cases of multiple uses. For 7 specimens from the Ma'anshan site which belongs to the upper paleolithic period in south China, none of them appear to have been put to multiple uses. Concerning activities and worked-materials that these tool were used on, a comparison from microwear analysis shows similarities and differences between the two sites: Common Activities: scraping, whittling, cutting. Common Worked-material: wood, bone, antler, meat. Differences: Peking Man Site Ma'anshan Site Activities: sawing chopping, wedging, carving. Worked-materials: fish(?), hide, fat, antler…… Analysis of the stone artifacts from the two sites suggests that wood working is a common activity at both sites, moreover, artifacts from the Peking Man site show evidence of having been used to work all types of material also seen at the Ma'anshan site. But the latter site shows more kinds of activities. On the basis of microwear analysis, some preliminary conclusions can be reached: no matter whether the artifacts are primary flakes or retouched pieces, they are not limited to unitary forms of utilization. The fact that use-wear was observed on all flakes chosen from the Peking Man site gives further evidence to surpport the statement that flakes were heavily utilized at the site. Some stone artifacts of one type appear to have been put to multiple uses by 'Peking Man'. Whereas, there seems to have been a tendency towards division of artifacts into specialized types at the Ma'anshan site.