Pages: 169-184

Comparative traceological analysis makes it possible to discern between natural (pathological, invasive) and artificial modifications (sawing, cutting, drilling, abrasion) seen on the hard tissues of mammals and other organisms. The cuneiform defects not infrequently observed on the dentin and tooth enamel of cattle and produced by the action of rough particles contained in the plants eaten by animals, can look like traces of sawing. The traces left by parasites attaching themselves to the spines of sea hedgehogs also can be taken as a result of intentional working. The holes drilled by the Natica mollusks in some shells are almost indistinguishable from artificially made holes. Long-term studies of macro- and microtraces have made it possible to create a collection of reference specimens that can be used to differentiate between truly artificial and pseudo-artificial (natural) modifications.

Keywords: East Europe, Caucasus, Palaeolithic, Bronze Age, art objects, naturally modified objects, use-wear analysis.

Information about authors:

Valentin Pankovskiy (Kiev, Ukraine). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Geroev Stalingrada Pr., 12, Kiev, 04210, Ukraine
E-mail: [email protected]

Evgeny Girya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]

Mihail Sablin (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Universitetskaya Emb., 1, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]