Use-wear experiment: Functions of impact rock flake tools from Bukit Bunuh, Perak

702001-101812-1635-B
Author : Siti Khairani Abd Jalil, Jeffrey Abdullah, Mokhtar Saidin, Shyeh Sahibul Karamah Masnan
Publication : Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia
Page : 45-55
Volume Number : 68
Year : 2019
DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm68201904

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 68, December 2019, pp. 45 – 55

Use-wear experiment: Functions of impact rock flake tools from Bukit Bunuh, Perak

Siti Khairani Abd Jalil*, Jeffrey Abdullah, Mokhtar Saidin, Shyeh Sahibul Karamah Masnan
Pusat Penyelidikan Arkeologi Global, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
* Corresponding author email address: sitikhairanijalil@gmail.com

Abstract: The Old Stone Age or known as the Palaeolithic Age, a flake stones have been used as a tool for light work. This tool is known as a flake tool. However, the actual function of the tool is unknown. This kind of shape is not only found in Bukit Bunuh but on all Palaeolithic sites in Souteast Asia. Due to amorphous characteristic of the flake tools, this study has classified the flake tools into four main groups based on their edge’s morphology which are concave, convex, straight, and pointed. The study attempted to link the morphology or the shape of its edge by its function through the experimental method. Some of the usewear attributes such as polish, fracture, linear and rounded type are important indicator for identifying the function of the flake tools. Thus, result from the comparison between the usewear attributes produce by flaking experimental with flake tool artefacts shows a relation between the function and edge’s morphology of the flake tools. Those flake tools have been used by the Palaeolithic society for whittle, scraping, sawing, sliced and drilled activities. This proves the flake tools at Bukit Bunuh are used for various functions according to their nomadic way of life. Generally, the results of this study have been successfully determine the classification and function of flake tools in Malaysia. Thus, it provides an understanding of the exploitation and adaptation of the environment in Bukit Bunuh. Indirectly the flake tools study at Bukit Bunuh has provided new data to Palaeolithic in Southeast Asia.
Keywords: Palaeolithic, usewear, experiments, flake tool, morphology

https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm68201904


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