A MULTI-VARIATE APPROACH TO THE FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF STONE TOOLS GRACE R*, ATAMAN K.*, FABREGAS R*. and HAGGREN C.M.B.* ABSTRACT : ‘This paper presents a new approach to the interpretation of the function of stone tools. The assumption that micro-wear polishes are distinetive according to worked material is rejected in favour of a multi-variate approach. This approach looks at the relationships between the morphology of tools, the macro- and miero- edge wear and the distribution and level of development of polish. ‘A set of defined variables with specific values has been developed that allows the analyst to make observations in a systematic way. This scheme makes the observations consistent between tools and between different analysts, rather than using subjective descriptive terms that vary according to each analyst’ s perception. The interpretation of the function of the tools is based on the ‘climination of possible functions until the most probable function can be isolated The efficacy of this ‘method is demonstrated by the results of a multi-analyst blind test, and examples are given from the ‘test which illustrate the methodology employed. RésuME: Cet article présente une nouvelle approche de T'interprétation de la fonction des outils de pierre. Lihypothése que les polis de micro-usure sont distinets selon la matiére travaillée est rejetée en faveur d'une approche multivariée. Cette approche considere les rapports entre morphologic des outils, macro- et micro-usure des bords et répartition et niveau de développement de poli. On a développé un ensemble de variables déterminées de valeurs spécifiques qui permet & Tanalyste de faire des observations d'une maniére systématique. Ce projet rend les observations consistantes entre outils et entre différents analystes, plutot que utiliser des termes deseriptifS subjectifs qui varient selon la perception de chaque analyste. Liinterprétation de la fonction des outils est fondée sur I’élimination des fonctions possibles jusqu’a ce qu'on isole la fonetion la plus probable. Lefficacité de cette méthode est démontrée par les résultats dun test aveugle multi Bnalystes, et lon donne des exemples tirés du test qui Mlustrent Ia uiéthodulogie employée. Within the last few years a good deal of research in the field of stone tool studies has focused on the development of techniques for the determination of stone tool function through the microseopic examination of wear traces on the surfaces of stone tools. This technique is generally referred to as microwear analysis. The practitioners of this technique have claimed to be able to determine the function of stone tools by the characterisation of polished areas and striations on the working edges of the tools and to be able to reconstruct aetivities such as butchering, fresh wood whittling, dry hide scraping etc. (Keeley 1980, Moss 1983, Vaughan 1981). The basic assumption behind this technique of high power microwear analysis is that contact between the flint tool and a specific material like wood, will produce a polish which is distinet from that produced by contact with some other material like bone. This assumption has recently come into question (Neweomer, Grace and Unger-Hamilton 1986). The failure to identify specific wood, bone, antler ete. polishes in blind tests has demonstrated that, rather than being * Institute of Archaeology, 3&-24 Gordon Square, London WCIH, England 217distinctive, these polishes overlap to the extent that they represent a continuum, not discrete recognisable entities. This lack of distinctiveness has been further demonstrated by texture analysis, using image processing techniques, which involves the measurement of the differences between the polishes created on the tools by contact, with various materials by mathematically characterising the textures of the polishes (Grace, Graham and‘Neweomer 1985). In response to the fundamental doubts that have been raised about the accuracy and usefulness of microwear analysis as it is currently practised, a new approach which attempts to standardise the methodology of microwear analysis and to test the limits of its interpretations has recently been developed at the Institute of Archaeology, University of London, This project was carried out over two academic terms and involved several people with varying degrees of experience in microwear. The development of this method involved many hours of discussion on theoretical as well as practical issues and resulted in a method which could be used successfully by all the participants. The usefulness of the method was confirmed by the results of blind tests administered by an independent experimenter. ‘The method involves the systematic recording of the functionally diagnostic variables of a tool. These variables are described using a standard vocabulary and the descriptions can be replicated, so that different analysts can learn to describe the same tools in similar ways. Combinations of the variables then allow the analyst to eliminate some of the possible functions of a tool until the most probable function is isolated. In some cases the elimination of possible functions leaves only one that is consistent with all the wear traces on the tool. This means that in some cases functional reconstructions which include the specific material the tool was used to work can be postulated with some confidence. ‘The variables can be divided into five groups : raw material characteristics, edge morphology, macroscopic edge damage, microscopic edge damage, and polish distribution and characteristics. These variables and the recording sheet developed in the course of this project are illustrated in figure 1. As the method is being constantly revised and developed, a full detailed description cannot be included here, but such a description is in preparation. Variables are being tested for their diagnostic value by using them in blind tests, which also reveal other factors helpful in making functional reconstructions more reliable. The main purpose of this paper is to present the results of blind tests based on this multi-variate approach. These results improve on those from previous tests where identifications were made on the assumption that polishes are distinctive according to worked material (Newcomer, Grace and Unger-Hamilton 1986, Unrath et al. 1986). Though it may be considered premature to report the results of tests before presenting a detailed description of the method employed, we believe that it is important that this more positive comment on microwear research should be made available in order to demonstrate our approach to solving some of the problems of functional analysis. The observation sheet used in this method enables the analyst to record the variables in a systematic way and to keep the observations consistent between one tool and another. The presentation of information in this form also provides primary data which can be referred to by other analysts when assessing any functional interpretations made from the data. Most microwear reports provide polish descriptions using subjective terms which may be interpreted in different ways by different analysts reading the reports. In addition the cost of publishing often restricts the number of photographs which can be published in a report, thus further limiting the primary data available to the 2EDGE MORPHOLOGY EDGE ANGLE 40 LENGTH 45 THICKNESS 5 PROFILE, 0.08 (Profile value represents an almost straight line, O=straight) SHAPE, 224 (Shape is a measure of the length/breadth ratio of the tool in its working attitude) 1 1 2 or < 0.5 of the diameter of the field of view through the microscope at 200 magnifications. Fig. 1 : Observations. Tool no. 50, type Truncated blade