石英製石器の機能に関する実験的研究 An Experimental Research on Quartz Tool

This paper is based on experimental research into functional traces of prehistoricquartz tools. Although use-wear analysis of lithic artifacts undertaken withmicroscope has been conducted by traceologists in all over the word, quartz toolshas been non-applicable in functional study because of their unsuitable quality.The authors used 22 quartz tools experimentally for cutting, sawing, perforating,shaving and scraping to several worked substances and recognized use-wear polisheson them. The characteristics of use-wear polishes are more similar to those onobsidian tools than those on siliceous shale, flint and chert tools because of theirsimilarities on lithic surfaces and transparency. It is also checked that high powerapproach is more suitable than low power method for use-wear analysis of quartztools.After recognizing use-wear in experimental research, the authors observed 11lithic artifacts made of quartz. They belonged from Late Upper Palaeolithic to JomonPeriod. Finally, the authors found out a quartz tool with use-wear polish.It is important to develop use-wear analysis on quartz tools that experimental andpractical approach carry out more frequently.