TITLE: Traces referential on raw material from Foz do Chapecó (Brazil)
AUTHORS: Lou Igier, Lilla Tamara Jakab, Vikram SHRESTHA

[DESCRIPTION]
Quite a few lithic use-wear referentials on raw materials from Brazil exist. To further develop use-wear analysis in the country and especially in the region of Foz do Chapecó, new referentials must be created to better understand trace formation on these specific raw materials. 
This protocol aims to use pieces in a sequential experiment to observe the initial development of wear traces. Given the short duration of the experiment, we do not expect to fully characterize the worked materials. Instead, our goal is to have a better understanding of the use-wear aspect on these raw materials, enabling us to identify relevant traces on archaeological artifacts.

[BEFORE_START]
Numerous flakes were produced on a volcano-sedimentary material from Foz do Chapecó. We then selected four pieces that looked appropriate for the experiment in term of size, prehension and edge sharpness. 

[STEPS]
SECTION: Documentation of the experimental flakes before use
1. Macroscopic and microscopic observation and documentation of the state of the flakes before use with naked eye, with a camera
 
 and a Dino-lite microscope.
 

 

 


1. 
SECTION: Washing of the used experimental flakes
5. Wash for 20 minutes in an ultrasound tank
 
 in a neutral soap solution diluted in distilled water (2%) to remove the residues.
SECTION: Documentation of the used experimental flakes after washing
6. Macroscopic and microscopic observation and documentation of the used experimental raw flakes after washing with naked eye, a camera and a Dino-lite microscope.
SECTION: Documentation of the used experimental flakes after washing
7. Casting of the used experimental raw flakes after washing to keep record of the state development of the traces. 
SECTION: Sequential experiment : second session of use of the experimental flake
8. Session of scraping with one flake on soaked reed for 5000 strokes each (document the time, the motion, the experimenter).
SECTION: Documentation of the experimental flake after use and before washing
9. Macroscopic and microscopic observation and documentation of the used experimental raw flakes with naked eye, with a camera and a Dino-lite microscope.
SECTION: Washing of the used experimental raw flakes
10. Wash for 20 minutes in an ultrasound tank in a neutral soap solution diluted in distilled water (2%) to remove the residues.
SECTION: Documentation of the experimental flakes after washing
11. Macroscopic and microscopic observation and documentation of the used experimental raw flakes after washing with naked eye, a camera and a Dino-lite microscope.
SECTION: Documentation of the experimental flakes after use and before washing
4. Macroscopic and microscopic observation and documentation of the used experimental raw flakes before washing with naked eye, a camera and a Dino-lite microscope.
SECTION: Sequential experiment : first session of use of the experimental flakes
3. Session of scraping with two flakes on soaked reed and with two other flakes on fresh bone for 5,000 strokes each (document the time, the motion, the experimenter).
SECTION: Documentation of the experimental flakes before use
2. Casting of the used experimental raw flakes after washing to keep record of the raw surface.