Abstract It has long been appreciated that there are many applications of tribology in the geological sciences. These range in scale from microscopic levels to those of intercontinental tectonic processes. Some of the key aspects of geotribology are briefly discussed to illustrate the advantages of such an interdisciplinary approach, before exploring the even greater benefits of applying tribological methods to many aspects of archaeology. That discipline comprises a vast array of physical evidence that derives from tribological processes and cannot be credibly explained by traditional archaeology. Many of these processes are briefly described, and the methodology required to define and elucidate them is discussed. The paper concludes that, for the further development of archaeology and the study of rock art, it is essential to establish a sub-discipline of archaeotribology.

中文翻译：

---

考古摩擦学：考古学中相对运动的表面相互作用

摘要 摩擦学在地质科学中有很多应用，这早已被人们所认识到。这些范围从微观水平到洲际构造过程。在探索将摩擦学方法应用于考古学的许多方面的更大好处之前，我们简要讨论了地质摩擦学的一些关键方面，以说明这种跨学科方法的优势。该学科包含大量来自摩擦学过程的物理证据，传统考古学无法对其进行可信的解释。其中许多过程都被简要描述，并讨论了定义和阐明它们所需的方法。论文的结论是，为了考古学和岩画研究的进一步发展，