Wear Traces and the Interpretation of Stone Tools

Abstract Hafting traces integrated within a larger functional analysis can be used to improve our understanding of the dynamic life cycle of a stone tool. Based on the analysis of hide scrapers from the Magdalenian site of Verberie, France, the potential of research that considers macroscopic and microscopic traces from different causes (e.g., production, use, manual grasping, and hafting) is demonstrated. Hafting traces can throw light on a tool’s use and hafting mode, but also on its morphology and reasons for discard, among other things. Most importantly, the principles necessary to analyze experimental hafting traces are shown to be useful for interpreting archaeological hafting modes.