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    MacDonald - Sanger - 1968 - Same Aspects of Microscopia Litica

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    Luis Flores Blanco

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    Some Aspects of Microscope Analysis and Photomicrography of Lithic Artifacts George F, MacDonald; David Sanger American Antiquity, Vol. 33, No. 2. (Apt.. 1968), pp. 237-240. Stable URL: hitp://links,jstor.org/sie?sici=0002-73 16% 28 196804%2933%3A2%3C237%3ASAOMAA%3E2.0,CO%3B2-X American Antiquity is currently published by Society for American Archacology. ‘Your use of the ISTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR’s Terms and Conditions of Use, available at hhup:/www.jstororg/about/terms.huml. JSTOR’s Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at hup:/www jstor.org/journalysam.huml. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the sereen or printed page of such transmission, JSTOR is an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of scholarly journals. For more information regarding JSTOR, please contact support @jstor.org. hupulwww jstor.org/ Tue Ape 11 19:57:54 2006 FACTS AND COMMENTS SOME ASPECTS OF MICROSCOPE ANALYSIS AND PHOTOMICROGRAPHY OF LITHIC ARTIFACTS Geonoz F. MacDonatn ano Davip SANGER Anstmacr Interest in the use of microscopes for the analysis of lichic technology and functional interpretations as in- creased in recent years, Some minerals and rocks are ‘more suitable than others for these studies, In order © communicate the observations made through the mir scope, the archeeclogist can use the microscope 10 take ‘Photomicrographs using relatively simple and inexpen- Sve equipment ‘THE VALUE 10 the archaeologist of microscopic examn- ration of lithic tools hae been well demonstrated by ‘Semenow's study of peehistrie technology which appeared in English translation in 1964. Thompson, the translater, points out eo aspects in which this study requires Forther attention to improve its applicability. Fst, che materials felected for examination came almost exclusively from sires in the USSR; second, noe enough was said about how the samples selected were related to the overall assemblages. An additional factor, the differences in ‘equipment berween the Soviet Union and the West, prompted Thompson to delete that portion of Semenoy's study dealing with the necessry equipment for micro scopic analysis and phoromicroraph. Since North American archaeologists who wish to tr this technique of analysis muse wlkimately face these prob Tes, thi nore is designed to record the experience of two Investigators using collections epresentative of two diverse North “American lithic industries with particular come ments on (1) the applicability of he technique, (2) the selection of sample, and (3) the types of equipment ued. Avnaras (One study was conducted on a sample of more than 41000 stone artifacts from a singlecomponent uted-point site neat Debert, Nova Scotia (MacDonald 1968). Arti: facts in this collection were of chalcedony (78%), chyo- Tite (1996), and a small residual category (8%) of differ: ‘ent materials, mostly metamorphised sletones. Tt war found that he hardness of che materials, other silicone content, affected directly the types of observations that could be successfully made, ‘The harder materials (rang: ing between 6 and 7 on the Mohs seale) retnined clear ‘races of tool manufacture but only poor evidence of tool use. Tnferences on core preparation (crushing the core fege and grinding sriking platforms), faking techniques (hand and soft hammers, direct and indirect percussion), and hafting modifications (Auting and grinding the bases of tools) were drawn from the clesr microscopic evidence om the chalcedony, bue the resistant nature ofthis mate- til limited the effects of use wear to generalized polish fon the working edge of the tol. All of the observations at Fo. 1 [MacDoxato avo SaNout]. Microscope with ‘comers attached. relating *0 the function of tools hd to be based on examples of each tool type made of softer stone (cange of 4% 5). Since thyoite tools were mainly hammer: snes, anvils, and choppers the classic wear paterns of faceting and’ striations, sich as Semenov described on scraping and cuting tool, didnot occur and such obser- vations could be made only on examples from the small siltone group. In addition, more than half of the siltstone tools had been rejected after litle of no use, Which further reduced the size ofthe stmple, Avs result, only limited functional inferences on cutting and scrap: ing tools inthis collection could be made. Tnially, tools were selected at random from each saraface category and were systematically examined under the microscope, Taking end scrapers aa representative class, it was found dhet, fom a sample of 300 examined (Crom a total of 900 complete specimens), 37% showed clear sharp flaking with no evidence of weston the work ing edge, while 24% showed retouch of « previous edge (marked by stepping of the working edge or fresh Akes overlapping worn surfaces), and 38% showed clest use polish, but no additional det Only 1%, al of slstone, Showed facesng and striations on the edge. The danger Inherent in making functional ieterprentions on the Dass of such a low percentage of any one artifact class is obvious. It may be quite erroneous to Interpret stations fon 1% of a sample of end scrapers, particularly when they are of an atypesl material, and then extrapolate this Fh, 2 [MacDonatp avo Savonn].. Ventral surface of channel fake feom the Debert fluted point site, Nova Scots. The narcow striking platform (Indicated by the arrow) is ground smooth prior to fake detachment Information to asifacts of very different materials inthis class and assume chat chey served similar Functions The microscope has been particularly useful in the analysis of microblades and microblade cores from south- Central British Columbia, Under magnification the sequence of stept involved in the core preparation and tachment of ‘microblades can be determined. With such techniques it has recendly been posible to distin fuish more than one microblade core preparation tech- nique in the Pace Northwest (Sanger, i pees) “A masoe problem of quantifying the observations arises from the dificuley of adequately measuring wear or other microscopic atibutes. We would like to think chat eyte- ‘matic seudy will eventually resule in a sves of unequivo cal and welldefined atrbutes, but phoromirourapbs may currently be the best method of communicating the analyst's observations quran A Binocular microscope facilitates the viewing of coved sinfaces of mote lithic tools with «minimum of eye stain. Although this type of instrument is limited in its range of magnfcation, the upper limie (160 power ‘or more depending on the model) is more than adequate The microscope (Fig. 1) is ‘mounted on a swing arm stand which is preferable to 2 fixed stage mount when the surfaces of large pieces are to be viewed. During the inital examination, the artifact fan be hand-held and rotated #9 locate the optimum lewing angle. For extended study, the arfact can be tet into modeling cay for mot obvervations Prtoroxnenoonariry Several prerequisites have guided the development of techniques described in thie section, Whenever posible, wwe have ateempeed to ule only equipment likely to be fn most archaeological laboratories, of equipment which can be purchased st a moderate cost. We have avoided staining and coating techniques, thin sections, and special AMERICAN ANTIQUITY [Vor 33, No.2, 1968 fm processing, All of these techniques may be useful under cerain cicumstances, but they are not considered ‘essential for photomicrograph of lithic artifacts. Miniarure cameras using 35mm. film are now wide spcead in North American archaeology, Admittedly, view-type camera utilizing a4 by 5 in. negative or larger will Frequently produce superior enlargements and a negative less suscepible 10 damage due to rough han dling, but the scarcity of such cameras in archaeological laboratories today, plus the necessity of having to impro- vise custom microscope coupling, devices, introduces certain limitations, Singlelens refex-ype cameras with inverchangeable lenses ste probably bet suited to photo- ricrography, but rangefinder cameras with removable Tenses can alo be wsed with an auxiliary viewing system. Archaeologists using rangefinder cameras may find the acquistion of an inexpensive singlelens reflex camera box (minus lens) less of a financial iovestment than an susillary viewing system, Cameras with waist level view: finders (ceveral makes have interchangeable eye-level — Wwalstlevel finders) offer certain advantages but are not ‘essential Most camera manufacturers preduce inexpen- sive adaptors which couple the lensless camera t0 the ‘microscope, utilising the microscope optics which are computed fr this type of work ‘Types of microscopes and the powers available vary considerably. For most projets, we find that 24-power isthe most useful seting for photomicrography of faking etal and wear polish paterns (Fig. 2 and 3). Increased power results in a darker image, which is more difficult to focus, and simultaneously introduces another prob- Jem limited depth of feld. The archaeologist stodving Fa, 3 [MacDonAto ano Savor). Photomicrograph of sound ares on etking pleform of channel Gake. Mage Bifleation is approximately 32 times linear FACTS AND COMMENTS Fo, 4 [MacDoxatn ao Sasoes). Low power photo- micrograph of distal end of « modified microblade from the Lehman site, British Columbia. Magnification is spproximately 7 mes liner. lithic techniques is primarily interested in photographing ‘hree-dimensional subjects. At high magnifications the depth of field, or zone of acceptable sharpness, decreases s0 that only a very minute portion of the arifact is in sharp focus. In order to increase the depth of field it may be necessary to compromise and reduce the degee of rmagnifcarion. Preliminary results suggest chat the Zeles Laminar micro lenses with builtin diaphragms may par- tally alleviate the depthof eld problem, but, with care” fol technique, adequate photographs can be taken hrouh the microscope, Lighting requires some attention, and we frequently find that some balancing of lights is desirable if overly strong contrasts Berween highlights and shadows are to be avoided. Often a carefully positioned white card will hounee” or reflect back enough light to illuminate the shadow areas, but a second light source may also be needed. “Any standard lightsource is adequate for Black and white photography although special high intensity lamps available from microscope manufacturers ae eaiet to manipulate. Standard lighting frequently has the undesirable effect of creating a pate off stone and bone objects, We have experimented with various light filtration techniques and have sandardied on the use of a single polarizing filter placed between the light source and the object being photographed, Additonal 29 control of glare can be gained by placing a second polar- ining iter on the microscope. Electron fash can consi tute the lishtsource, bur problems with controlling light direction and glare tend to increase Length of exposure depends on several variables, in-

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