Cut above the Rest: a Multi-disciplinary Study of Two Slate Knives from Forager Contexts in Coastal Norway.

Abstract

Slate was a prominent tool material in the Scandinavian Stone Age.However, details of tool function have relied on morphology and have added littleto our understanding of their role in hunting and processing. Here, wedemonstrate that it is possible to identify both the use-wear traces and residuesfrom slate knives from northern Norway. By applying a multi-disciplinaryapproach incorporating experimentation, use-wear and organic residue analyses,we identified residues, including seal hair, and use-traces which indicate the toolswere used to process fresh marine mammals.