研究论文

显微CT技术和骨组织学观察在动物考古学研究中的应用

  • 侯沂杉 ,
  • 张乐 ,
  • 张双权
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  • 1.中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所,北京 100049
    2.中国科学院大学,北京 101499
    3.中央民族大学民族学与社会学学院,北京 100081
侯沂杉,硕士研究生,主要研究旧石器时代动物考古学和埋藏学。E-mail: houyishan@ivpp.ac.cn
张双权,研究员,主要研究脊椎动物埋藏学与旧石器时代动物考古学。E-mail: zhshq@ivpp.ac.cn

收稿日期: 2024-09-30

  修回日期: 2025-01-07

  网络出版日期: 2026-04-17

基金资助

国家自然科学基金(42472036)

Micro-CT techniques and bone histology in zooarchaeology

  • HOU yishan ,
  • ZHANG Yue ,
  • ZHANG Shuangquan
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  • 1. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 101499
    3. School of Ethnology and Sociology, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081

Received date: 2024-09-30

  Revised date: 2025-01-07

  Online published: 2026-04-17

摘要

骨角制品是考古遗址中发现的重要动物遗存,可能蕴含着有关过去社会文化和技术能力的重要信息。过去对于骨角制品功能的研究主要是根据形态来对功能进行推测,缺乏具体直观的证据。另外,多数骨角制品的材料来源难以通过外观鉴定,影响对古人类行为信息的判断。目前,国外有学者将组织学方法与显微CT技术应用到考古研究中。显微CT技术结合组织学方法可以在不破坏标本的情况下获取骨骼内部信息。在表面没有明显破裂或使用痕迹时,骨骼内部的微裂纹可能会揭示其使用期间所受应力类型,为研究骨角制品制作和使用方法带来更多的信息。另外,通过对骨角制品的组织学观察,可以探究古人类对于骨骼材料选择的规律性,反映出对特定动物的偏爱程度。本文将对两种技术方法的研究成果进行详细梳理,系统介绍骨骼内部微裂纹与所受应力的关系以及组织学属种鉴定的方法,进而探讨新方法在考古学研究中的适用性和发展潜力。

本文引用格式

侯沂杉 , 张乐 , 张双权 . 显微CT技术和骨组织学观察在动物考古学研究中的应用[J]. 人类学学报, 2026 , 45(02) : 280 -295 . DOI: 10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2025.0058

Abstract

Osseous artifacts are significant faunal remains discovered in archaeological sites, providing important understanding of the economic and social behavior of Palaeolithic hominins. Over the past decades, research on bone tools has primarily focused on identifying use-traces to infer their past function, using the principle of tribology. Although use-wear can develop relatively quickly, this method has certain limitations. Most tools pass through a stage of indistinct polish before sufficient use-wear traces build up to allow for accurate identification of contact material or function. Moreover, tools with the same function and contact material may look different depending on use time. Many bone points for example, including awls and hunting points, may develop rounding along the tip and edges making identification of specific function difficult. Additionally, little attention paid to ascertaining the type of bone tissue and animal taxa represented by the bone implements, beyond the general size class of animal. This is because most bone tools recovered from archaeological excavations are so pervasively modified that it is impossible to identify the type of animal from which they were made based on standard skeletal morphological markers. These limitations have, to some extent, restricted deeper insights into prehistoric human behavior, culture development, and the functional interpretations of bone and antler artifacts. In recent years, researchers have begun integrating histological analysis with micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) into the study of osseous artifacts, leading to significant advancements. The combination of Micro-CT and histology allows for non-destructive examination of internal bone microstructures, offering new perspectives on stress-related damage occasioned through use in various activities. Particularly in cases where surface fractures or use-wear are absent, internal stress-related damage such as microcracks and fatigue fractures can be detected, offering new evidence for identifying the function of bone tools, particularly those potentially used for high-impact activities like hunting. Furthermore, histological analysis enables a deeper investigation into prehistoric material selection strategies in bone tool manufacture. This includes determining whether animal species were preferred, or whether bones with varying hardness and density were selected for different functional purposes. Such insights not only reflect the cognitive and resource management strategies of prehistoric humans but also provide evidence for the cultural, symbolic, and economic significance of particular animal species within their cultural contexts. This study systematically reviews recent applications of Micro-CT technology and histological methods in osseous artifacts, providing a detailed discussion of the formation mechanisms of internal bone microfractures and their relationship to stress responses. The combination of micro-CT and histological techniques not only enhances the accuracy of functional interpretations of bone artifacts but also opens new avenues for understanding prehistoric technological practices and resource selection strategies.

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