The Quantification of Use-Wear Polish Using Image Analysis. First Results

This paper deals with the quantification of use-wear polish, using image analysis as a means to increase the objectivity of use-wear analysis. The three elements which characterize polish (texture, pattern and degree of development) are measured. Our first results are promising, showing that, if we isolate the degree of development of the polish, the characteristics of pattern and texture enable us to consistently group together polishes from different worked materials (wood, bone, hide, etc.). Image analysis can be used to improve the use-wear methodology.

[1]  John V. Dumont,et al.  The quantification of microwear traces: a new use for interferometry , 1982 .

[2]  Roger Grace,et al.  Interpreting the function of stone tools : the quantification and computerisation of microwear analysis , 1989 .

[3]  Patrick C. Vaughan,et al.  Use-Wear Analysis of Flaked Stone Tools , 1985 .

[4]  Annelou van Gijn,et al.  The wear and tear of flint : principles of functional analysis applied to Dutch Neolithic assemblages , 1989 .

[5]  L. Reimer,et al.  Scanning Electron Microscopy , 1984 .

[6]  María Estela Mansur-Franchomme.  Scanning electron microscopy of dry hide working tools: The role of abrasives and humidity in microwear polish formation☆ , 1983 .

[7]  L. Hurcombe.  Some criticisms and suggestions in response to Newcomer et al. (1986) , 1988 .

[8]  W. James Stemp,et al.  UBM Laser Profilometry and Lithic Use-Wear Analysis: A Variable Length Scale Investigation of Surface Topography , 2001 .

[9]  E. H. Moss.  A review of “Investigating microwear polishes with blind tests” , 1987 .

[10]  Robert M. Haralick,et al.  Textural Features for Image Classification , 1973, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern..

[11]  Lawrence H. Keeley,et al.  Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses: A Microwear Analysis , 1979 .

[12]  Irene Levi-Sala.  Processes of polish formation on flint tool surface , 1988 .

[13]  J. Dumont.  A Microwear Analysis of Selected Artefact Types from the Mesolithic Sites of Star Carr and Mount Sandel, Parts i and ii , 1988 .

[14]  A. Bietti.  Image processing in microwear studies on flint artifacts , 1996 .