Though stone can weather, it is inherently stable compared to organic materials used for basketry and tools. Artifacts made of wood, papyrus, and bone, for example, are perishable and prone to rapid d...Though stone can weather, it is inherently stable compared to organic materials used for basketry and tools. Artifacts made of wood, papyrus, and bone, for example, are perishable and prone to rapid decomposition (rot and decay), making them difficult to recover.
Stone tools dating back more than 2.5 million years have been found in archaeological sites and many are so well preserved that microscopic wear analysis can determine how the stones were used and eve...Stone tools dating back more than 2.5 million years have been found in archaeological sites and many are so well preserved that microscopic wear analysis can determine how the stones were used and even the dominant hand of the tool maker.
