Formation of Macro- and Micro Use-Wear Traces on Tools from Different Stone Raw Materials: Experiences from a Comparative Analysis

Purpose. The article is devoted to the study of the regularities of the formation of macro and micro use-wear traces on experimental tools made of high-quality stone raw materials from the Altai region. Results. The work is based on a comparative collection of samples (n = 109) obtained within the experimental modelling of different economic operations: scraping of fresh hides, planing, sawing and scraping of moistened bone and fresh wood with end-scrapers, burins, retouched and unretouched flakes and blades. The results of the study revealed the peculiarities of the formation of the main types of use-wear traces on samples from fine-grained volcanic tuffs and jasperoids, including micropolishing, edge damage, grinding and striations. The determinants of trace formation on jasperoid and tuff tools were found to be the duration and type of work, the physical properties of the raw material, including grain size, hardness, toughness and isotropy, and the characteristics of the working material – moisture, hardness and structure. Conclusion. Sequential comparative analysis of similar samples of flint and obsidian allowed the specificity of the Altai material to be revealed in the context of use-wear trace formation against the background of rocks much better studied from the point of view of archaeological traceology.