The Mammoth Tusk Bead: Wear Marks Caused by a Long Period of Use (some statements based on the experimentation)

This paper introduces into scientific discourse results of a two-year experimentation relating to wear marks on a bead made from mammoth tusk. Its aim is to provide a comprehensive view of the bead ‘bio’, its ‘chaîne opératoire’ and use as well as perform analysis of the marks left during a long period of use. This type of analysis is a rare scientific endeavor in controlled experiment practice. Without challenging the statement on historical, cultural and social importance of such items, the authors raise an issue of time limit regarding the existence of this important item in the social and cultural contexts, metamorphoses of its use as well as wear marks left during a long period of use. For observation purposes, we made a wrist bracelet, developed and substantiated the rules of its wear, repair as well as rules for documenting any changes in the intermediate state of its components. We recorded the most salient threshold conditions of the item (phase 0: baseline before use; phase 1: one year of regular wear; phase 2: two full years of regular wear) using three modes: visual analysis using naked eye; macrophotography; and SEM-image recording. The results produced were divided into three categories, namely, technological, use and anthropological, and then analyzed. The most important conclusions of the study are as follows: a need to select optimal areas in the composite material for cutting out the item; intense morphological and mineral metamorphoses of active contact areas; and degradation of the planes of the lowest activity areas. Given the ‘sparing’ use, the bead made of biomineral materials showed the signs of serious degradation. The questions that are asked based on this information is how long the cultural cycle of such items (which is relatively short) can last, and what relevant representative function and distinctive traits characterize such items.