The identification of the use of stone tools through use-wear analysis was one the major methodological advances in Prehistoric Archaeology during the second half of the 20th century. Studies of use-wear analysis have decisively contributed to a better understanding of the cognitive capacities and the socio-economic organization of Prehistoric societies. Among use-wear traces, microwear polish is the most relevant evidence, as it allows the identification of the worked materials (i.e. wood, antler, hide, bone, stone…). This identification is currently carried out through the qualitative and visual comparison of experimental and archaeological tools. During the last decade, confocal microscopy is allowing the quantitative identification of the worked material through the texture analysis of microwear polish. Previous tests have accounted for the variability of use-wear traces as caused by different types of worked material. However, how the intensity of use, which is widely recognized as an important factor conditioning microwear polish characteristics, affects our capacity to identify the worked materials is poorly understood. This research addresses the dynamic nature of microwear polish through confocal microscopy and texture analysis. This research shows that use-wear polishing is a dynamic process and surface texture evolves continuously during the working time. The evolution fits a logarithmic function, so most texture modification takes place during the first phases of work. The way in which polish texture evolves through time differs from one contact material to the other. We demonstrate that, despite the dynamic nature of use-wear polish, different worked materials can be discriminated. However, some overlapping between used and unused surfaces and between worked materials occurs in the first stages of use. Moreover, polishes of similar characteristics (i.e. bone and antler) can show similar texture at advanced stages of use. These problems in identification can be in good measure overcome by creating dynamic models of polish texture in which not only the worked material but also the time of use is considered.

中文翻译：

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石材工具的定量使用磨损分析：测量使用强度如何影响加工材料的识别。

通过使用磨损分析确定石器的使用是 20 世纪下半叶史前考古学的主要方法学进步之一。使用磨损分析的研究决定性地有助于更好地理解史前社会的认知能力和社会经济组织。在使用磨损痕迹中，微磨损抛光是最相关的证据，因为它可以识别加工材料（即木材、鹿角、皮革、骨头、石头……）。这种识别目前是通过实验和考古工具的定性和视觉比较来进行的。在过去的十年中，共聚焦显微镜允许通过微磨损抛光的质地分析对加工材料进行定量识别。以前的测试已经说明了由不同类型的加工材料引起的使用磨损痕迹的可变性。然而，人们对使用强度（被广泛认为是调节微磨损抛光特性的一个重要因素）如何影响我们识别加工材料的能力知之甚少。这项研究通过共聚焦显微镜和纹理分析解决了微磨损抛光的动态特性。这项研究表明，使用磨损抛光是一个动态过程，表面纹理在工作时间内不断演变。演化符合对数函数，因此大多数纹理修改发生在工作的第一阶段。抛光纹理随时间演变的方式从一种接触材料到另一种接触材料不同。我们证明，尽管使用磨损抛光剂具有动态特性，可以区分不同的加工材料。然而，在使用的第一阶段，使用过的和未使用过的表面之间以及加工过的材料之间会出现一些重叠。此外，具有相似特征（即骨头和鹿角）的抛光剂在使用后期会显示出相似的质地。这些识别问题可以通过创建抛光纹理的动态模型来很好地克服，其中不仅考虑了加工材料，还考虑了使用时间。