Usewear on the platform: 'use-flakes' and 'retouch-flakes' from northern Australia and Timor

Authors

Elspeth Hayes, University of WollongongFollow
Richard Fullagar, University of WollongongFollow
Christopher Clarkson, University of Queensland
Sue O'Connor, Australian National University

RIS ID

99974

Publication Details

Hayes, E. H., Fullagar, R. L. K., Clarkson, C. J. & O'Connor, S. (2014). Usewear on the platform: 'use-flakes' and 'retouch-flakes' from northern Australia and Timor. In C. Lemorini & S. Nunziante Cesaro (Eds.), An Integration of the Use-Wear and Residue Analysis for the Identification of the Function of Archaeological Stone Tools: Proceedings of the International Workshop, Rome, March 5th-7th, 2012 (pp. 77-90). England, UK: Archaeopress.

Link to publisher version (URL)

An Integration of the Use-Wear and Residue Analysis for the Identification of the Function of Archaeological Stone Tools

Abstract

Small flakes from stone tools are often detached during use ('use-flakes') and edge modification ('retouch-flakes'). Sometimes traces of use are preserved and indicate use along the external platform edge prior to detachment. Unlike complete tools, which may have been curated and used elsewhere, use-flakes and retouch-flakes potentially provide stronger evidence that the activities identified by use-wear traces on the lithic artefacts took place at the site where the flakes were recovered. This preliminary study examines the nature of hammer wear, usewear and residues on stone tools, 'retouch-flakes' and 'use-flakes' from sites in northern Australia and Timor.