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.

Key words: bone tools, micro-focus computed tomography, bone histology, micro-cracks, zooarchaeology