Microwear analysis on Pinctada margaritifera tattooing combs from Central East Polynesia

Pearl shell tattooing combs form a small corpus in the material culture in Central East Polynesia, providing evidence for traditional methods of tattooing and body modification, and represent a significant form of cultural practice in ancient island communities. Three combs were analysed with microwear analysis, shedding light on manufacturing techniques and use, with an additional four combs analysed macroscopically. This is the first microwear study on pearl shell artefacts in the Pacific, and the results contribute to the wider corpus on microwear traces on pearl shell artefacts and tattooing implements, shedding new light on their chaîne opératoire.