Identification and quantification of projectile impact marks on bone: new experimental insights using osseous points.

ABSTRACT: Shifts in projectile technology potentially document human evolutionary milestones, such as adaptations for different environments and settlement dynamics. A relatively direct proxy for projectile technology is projectile impact marks (PIM) on archaeological bones. Increasing awareness and publication of experimental data sets have recently led to more identifications of PIM in various contexts, but diagnosing PIM from other types of bone-surface modifications, quantifying them, and inferring point size and material from the bone lesions need more substantiation. Here, we focus on PIM created by osseous projectiles, asking whether these could be effectively identified and separated from lithic-tipped weapons. We further discuss the basic question raised by recent PIM research in zooarchaeo

SUBMITTER: Yeshurun R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10884158 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature