Jade treatment: results of experimental and traceological studies of Transbaykalian raw material

Russian specialist literature is not abundant in research investigating the technologies for jade treatment. Foreign historiography explores this aspect much better. Researchers describe their experiments, apply use-wear analysis and more broadly traceology (studies of both aspects, not only use-wear but also technological evidences). However, these studies tend to concentrate on the features of processing found on certain archaeological items. Basic techniques and possibilities for modifying such raw material as jade, which is quite difficult to process, are not described in details even in special research involving experiment. This paper gives some results of experimental and traceological studies of Transbaikalian raw material, in particular jade, from the deposit Ulan-Khada. We recorded characteristics of traces on the experimental pieces processed by us stage by stage. This information allows us to understand the ways and mechanisms of jade surface treatment in a macro- and micro scale. Such approach can help explain the major principles of processing such raw material as jade, which is rigid enough and difficult to transform, and to identify the simplest tools used for jade processing in ancient times. During our experiments we used different techniques, such as grinding, polishing, sawing and drilling with different tools, movements and supplementary means, such as abrasive. In every case of the experimental series we registered not only every change of the general form of the item but also traceological features in a macro- and micro scale. Another aim was to register labor costs at every stage of treating the raw material. With such information available, we can talk about different phases of processing the material and the degree of effectiveness of the simplest tools that could be used for jade treatment from the Neolithic period onwards or, maybe, even earlier. Our research makes it possible to compare the archaeological items available with our traceological samples at different stages of the process. Purpose. The purpose of the present research is to show the simplest ways of jade treatment. It is important for understanding the techniques used for producing the items discovered at the sites of Transbaikalia and the Far East during the period from Neolithic to Middle Age. This work helps to reveal different stages of treating raw material and to estimate approximately the amount of time spent on one jade piece. Results. During the series of experiments we realized that certain operations in jade treatment, such as making wide holes, required the use of special instruments. On the other hand, simpler operations, such as sawing, drilling, grinding and polishing, could be done with the simplest tools. The latter operations do not require special skills. Conclusion. Our experiments show that even without special mechanisms or sophisticated instruments people could process such special and hard raw material as jade as early as the Neolithic period. Most operations could be performed in a short time, for example, not more than one day of continuous work, and resulted in a finished product.