Shell artefacts and microwear patterns: Experimental and archaeological analysis of shell and lithic tools from the Lower Paraná Basin, Argentina

Abstract

Malacological remains are one of the most abundant materials that characterize deposits occupied by hunter gatherers groups in the Lower Paraná Basin (Pampean Region, Argentina) during late Holocene times. This is relevant in technological terms since assemblages are defined by a low number of lithic artefacts, abundant and diverse bone tools, and pottery. In a previous work, we proposed that malacological remains functioned as an alternative source of raw material in the lower Paraná wetland, analyzing and comparing experimental cut marks produced by shell and lithic tools on bones. To explore this idea in the archaeological record, we need an experimental local database to test directly the use of shells as tools. In this paper we analyze the microwear produced in experimental shell tools used to scrap and cut bones; and the use of lithic tools to manufacture shell artefacts. As a result, we noted that a particular microwear on shell edges can be seen following our experiment, and that lithic tools developed a characteristic microwear pattern of shell use. While lithic analysis is useful, nonetheless, to distinguish shell artefacts in the archaeological record poses some extra challenges, especially when considering the taphonomic factors.