Analysis of Chalcolithic Age lithic points from the cemetery of Torre Della Chiesaccia (Rome) (IV-III Millennium BCE): an integrated application of experimental archaeology, morphological and chemical analyses of use-residues

Abstract

Abstract: Residue analysis plays an important role in determining the function of stone tools. Torre Della Chiesaccia is a Chalcolithic cemetery located in the south-eastern part of Rome, Italy and is dated to the second half of the 5th millennium BP. In the current study, foliate points from this site were analysed in-situ for use-residues with the help of non-destructive techniques. Digital reflected light microscopy (RLM) was used as part of the preliminary assessment for the identification and mapping of the residues on the surface of the tools. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in environmental mode, was applied as a second step to further characterise the morphological features of the residues and obtain clearer images. For the chemical characterisation of the artefacts, SEM coupled with an X-Ray detector (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR-M) were used. The results of this study suggest that tools acquired from burial settings have lasting use-residues, and the combined use of instruments can be a feasible method for identification and in-situ analysis. The use of additional chemical analysis methods like FTIR-M shows that it is useful for identifying organic residues, even though some of the morphological properties of the residues aren't preserved very well.