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oai:keep.lib.asu.edu:node-2010382025-05-14T23:30:15Zoai_pmh:alloai_pmh:repo_items

201038 https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.201038 http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0 2025-05 12 pages Hoelzel, Chloe Marean, Curtis Murray, John Barrett, The Honors College School of Human Evolution & Social Change Silcrete used to make stone tools in South Africa ~70ka shows signs of being heat treated. There are debates over the type of heat treatment used, and unfortunately, there are minimal approaches to identifying different heating methods. Three methods have been proposed for this ancient heat treatment: (1) direct (2) ember and (3) sand-bath heat treatment. Since some methods require temperature management and others are relatively simple it would be useful to differentiate the methods as they have varying implications for human cognition and technological complexity. Raman Spectroscopy can analyze the chemical composition and the molecular stress/strain in silcrete that may assist differentiating the three methods. Results from a preliminary study of silcrete experimentally heat-treated using each proposed method of heat treatment are presented and show promise in contributing to this research question. Raman spectroscopy Middle Stone Age Experimental archaeology Raman Spectroscopy as an Identification Tool for Heat Treated Silcrete