Abstract：
In this manuscript, we explore the potential of studying metal residues in cut marks generated by copper and bronze knives. The method was developed in the forensic sciences for use with modern metals in order to identify microscopic particles of metal tools on bone surfaces. However, the study of residues in archaeological materials can be challenging due to the ways in which the bone remains may have been manipulated, both in the past and in more recent times. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), we detected microscopic fragments of bronze and copper knives along with contamination both inside and outside of the cut marks made by those knives. Copper and bronze residues were identified embedded in the bone inside the incisions and, in two cases, they left greenish stains caused by metal oxidation. In contrast, modern contamination of undetermined origin was found unattached to the bone and had a chemical composition not compatible with that of the knives. The amount of residue was influenced by the quantity of soft tissue between the bone and the knife during the butchering tasks. Bone cooking does not seem to influence the preservation of the residues. We anticipate that the approach used in this first exploratory study will emerge as a promising method for identifying the use of metal tools in archaeological bone remains.
摘要：
在这份手稿中,我们探索了研究铜和青铜刀产生的切割痕迹中金属残留物的潜力。该方法是在法医学中开发的，用于现代金属，以识别骨骼表面上金属工具的微观颗粒。然而,考古材料中残留物的研究可能是具有挑战性的，因为骨骼残留物可能被操纵的方式，无论是过去还是最近。使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM），我们检测到青铜刀和铜刀的微观碎片，以及这些刀切割痕迹的内外污染。确认铜和青铜残留物嵌入切口内的骨骼中，在两种情况下，他们留下了金属氧化引起的绿色污渍。相比之下,发现来源不明的现代污染物未附着在骨骼上，其化学成分与刀的化学成分不相容。在屠宰任务期间，残留物的数量受到骨骼和刀之间软组织数量的影响。骨头烹饪似乎不会影响残留物的保存。我们预计，这项首次探索性研究中使用的方法将成为一种有前途的方法，用于识别考古骨骼遗骸中金属工具的使用。
