'Durable Residues': Addressing the use of microwear, a case study from March Hill

Abstract

Different cultural and research traditions have led to distinctively different approaches tolithics analysis. An integration of different approaches can often give new ´ways ofseeing´ artefact assemblages and distribution patterns and provide valuable insights intopast activities. Here we present the preliminary results of a project integrating detailedanalytical techniques, focused on processes of production and consumption and socialdynamics in ethnarchaeological contexts in Tierra del Fuego with existing detailed lithicanalysis at Mesolithic sites in the Central Pennines. Such methods, taken fromArgentina (Álvarez) and Spain (Briz), that were developed in ethnoarchaeologicalcontexts employed detailed edge morphological analysis and use wear. When appliedto site A at March Hill, these techniques yielded interesting new insights about activitiesat the site, and provided a test case for such techniques.