From edge to mark. Investigating the relationship between cut marks and lithic raw materials

Understanding the relationship between animal processing practices and stone tool use is essential for interpreting Paleolithic lifeways. These activities leave behind two key forms of archaeological evidence: butchery marks (“cut marks”) and lithic tools. While both faunal and lithic remains are critical to understanding past behaviors, they are rarely studied in an integrated framework. In particular, the characterization of cut marks produced by tools made from different raw materials remains underexplored. This study presents an experimental protocol designed to address this gap by establishing a baseline for identifying cut marks created using dacite, flint, and obsidian tools. Both retouched and unretouched edges were used in controlled cutting actions on bone. The results show that the different raw materials exhibited varying degrees of cutting performance. However, statistical analyses of the resulting cut marks revealed limited patterns that could reliably distinguish between raw material types. These findings highlight the need for more refined analytical approaches capable of linking cut mark features to specific tool types or materials. Such advancements hold significant potential for regions as the southern Caucasus, where diverse raw material use and reduction strategies complicate the interpretation of butchery practices.