Combination of petrological, geochemical and non-use-wear for the traceological analysis of the most representative raw materials from Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)

Abstract

The traceological discipline has been characterised by a constant theoretical and practical revisionism, which has led to the application of increasingly precise methods and techniques that allow for more integrated analyses and interpretations to be developed from both reference collections and archaeological material. The progressive incorporation of a wide lithological variety in the study of use-wear traces, such as quartzite, quartz and volcanic rocks, has contemplated new methodological and technical challenges for their traceological analysis. The lithological variability recorded from the lithic industry found in the archaeological deposits of Olduvai Gorge, presents a favourable scenario for the combination of different analyses that allow a more detailed understanding of the formation and development of use-wear. In this communication we present, in a preliminary way, the experimental results obtained from the most representative raw materials (Naibor Soit quartzite and basalts) of the Bed II archaeological sites after the integration of petrological, geochemical and non-use-wear traces analyses to our experimental traceological study. The combination of these analytical methods permit us to characterise the micro-topography of each lithology and determine the degree of influence that the structural and mineral variability of each raw material has on the formation and development of the use-wear traces. In order to characterize more precisely the structural and geochemical influence on the formation and development of the use-wear traces, a wide range of activities as well as organic materials (wood, non-woody plants, animal carcasses and bone) have been included in the experimental reference collection. This organic variety in different states of preservation and under the exercise of different actions presents an important challenge for the characterisation of the formation and development of use-wear traces. Seeking a more concise characterisation of the use-wear traces, the incorporation of analytical methods such as petrology, presents significant advantages for the traceological interpretations.