SR-FTIR microscopy for the study of residues on Palaeolithic stone tools: looking for a methodological protocol

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we use SR-FTIR microscopy to analyse residues identified on seven lithic artefacts from the Evolved Epigravettian layer 9c2 of the cave site of Grotta Paglicci (Apulia, southern Italy). Synchrotron radiation, thanks to its properties that particularly increase the sensitivity of FTIR microscopy, allows the analysis of samples of microscopic size and the characterisation of even highly degraded compounds, such as the residues of materials worked by Palaeolithic stone tools or complex compounds used for hafting. This pilot study has been carried out in the framework of a project concerning the reconstruction of hunting technologies between the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. The preliminary results allowed us to focus on the issues of our methodological approach and to show the potential of the SR-FTIR microscopy for the analysis of residues on lithic implements.