Characteristics of lithic artifact weathering at the Semizbugu surface site complex in semi-arid Central Kazakhstan
Coco E. Schimdt P. Hu B. Rodriguez A. Mamirov T.B. Bromage T.G. Iovita R.
March 2025Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
2025#17Issue 3
Rock surface alterations due to weathering have often been used by archaeologists for creating chronologies, studying climatic conditions, and authenticating artifacts. Rock surface alterations are also important for identifying recycled artifacts through the presence of “double patina.” In the surface archaeological deposits at Semizbugu (Saryarqa, Kazakhstan), rock surface weathering stages are used to chronologically categorize stone tool artifacts based on perceived associations between weathering characteristics and typology. Despite a long history of studying rock surface weathering in geological sciences, the formation of rock coatings on stone tool artifacts is a largely misunderstood process due to its complexity and multi-factored formation process. Given the consistent use of one raw material at Semizbugu, we test for differences in rock coating morphologies, elemental composition, and surface roughness between macroscopically identified weathering stages. Based on our analyses, we identify multiple processes involved in artifact weathering at Semizbugu. We suggest that artifacts at Semizbugu may be relatively chronologically ordered based on a combined assessment of decreased surface roughness and increased surface pitting, both of which are likely related to degree of wind abrasion and dissolution of the artifact surface. We also recommend against using rock varnish color for chronological assessment of artifacts at Semizbugu given the destructive effects of abrasion and the irregularities of varnish formation in semi-arid contexts. Additionally, we suggest this model be validated with rock surface exposure dating via optically stimulated luminescence (OSL-surf). Furthermore, rock surface exposure OSL dating could give us insight into the time-depth between use and recycling events in a more meaningful way than trying to compare differential artifact surface weathering across “double patina.”
Kazakhstan , Lithic artifact weathering , Paleolithic , Relative chronology , Rock varnish , Surface sites
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Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, 10009, NY, United States
Department of Anthropology, Yale University, 10 Sachem Street, New Haven, 06511, CT, United States
Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Burgsteige 11, Tübingen, 72070, Germany
Petrology and Mineral Resources, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 56, Tübingen, 72074, Germany
Division of Biomaterials, Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E 24th Street, New York, 10010, NY, United States
Margulan Institute of Archaeology, Dostyk 44, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Center for the Study of Human Origins
Department of Anthropology
Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology
Petrology and Mineral Resources
Division of Biomaterials
Margulan Institute of Archaeology
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