Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya)

Isabella Caricola; Luigi Germinario; Emma M. Finestone; Claudio Mazzoli; Laura Bishop; James S. Oliver; Rahab N. Kinyanjui; Peter W. Ditchfield; Richard Potts; Cristina Lemorini; Thomas W. Plummer

doi:10.1007/s10816-025-09744-2

Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya)

Isabella Caricola, Luigi Germinario, Emma M. Finestone, Claudio Mazzoli, Laura Bishop, James S. Oliver, Rahab N. Kinyanjui, Peter W. Ditchfield, Richard Potts, Cristina Lemorini, Thomas W. Plummer

Research output: Journal Publication › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive examination of the function of 26 percussive stone tools (PSTs) from Nyayanga, an Oldowan site located on the Homa Peninsula in southwestern Kenya. These artifacts, dating between 3.032 to 2.581 million years ago, were found together with hominin remains and animal fossils with stone tool butchery damage. To determine the function of the PSTs, we adopted a multiscale approach that combines qualitative use-wear analysis using microscopic techniques at low and high power approaches with quantitative analysis, employing 3D surface models generated with profilometry. These analyses indicate that Nyayanga hominins used PSTs to access both plant (e.g., USOs) and animal (bone marrow) nutrients. The inferred multifunctionality of these tools hints at diverse dietary strategies and contributes to our understanding of human technological evolution.

Original language	English
Article number	12
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory
Volume	33
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-025-09744-2
Publication status	Published - Mar 2026

Keywords

Dietary strategies
Oldowan technology
Percussive stone tools
Profilometry
Use wear analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archaeology
Archaeology

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10.1007/s10816-025-09744-2

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Caricola, I., Germinario, L., Finestone, E. M., Mazzoli, C., Bishop, L., Oliver, J. S., Kinyanjui, R. N., Ditchfield, P. W., Potts, R., Lemorini, C., & Plummer, T. W. (2026). Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya). Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 33(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-025-09744-2

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title = "Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya)",

abstract = "This study presents a comprehensive examination of the function of 26 percussive stone tools (PSTs) from Nyayanga, an Oldowan site located on the Homa Peninsula in southwestern Kenya. These artifacts, dating between 3.032 to 2.581 million years ago, were found together with hominin remains and animal fossils with stone tool butchery damage. To determine the function of the PSTs, we adopted a multiscale approach that combines qualitative use-wear analysis using microscopic techniques at low and high power approaches with quantitative analysis, employing 3D surface models generated with profilometry. These analyses indicate that Nyayanga hominins used PSTs to access both plant (e.g., USOs) and animal (bone marrow) nutrients. The inferred multifunctionality of these tools hints at diverse dietary strategies and contributes to our understanding of human technological evolution.",

keywords = "Dietary strategies, Oldowan technology, Percussive stone tools, Profilometry, Use wear analysis",

author = "Isabella Caricola and Luigi Germinario and Finestone, \{Emma M.\} and Claudio Mazzoli and Laura Bishop and Oliver, \{James S.\} and Kinyanjui, \{Rahab N.\} and Ditchfield, \{Peter W.\} and Richard Potts and Cristina Lemorini and Plummer, \{Thomas W.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1007/s10816-025-09744-2",

language = "English",

volume = "33",

journal = "Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory",

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Caricola, I, Germinario, L, Finestone, EM, Mazzoli, C, Bishop, L, Oliver, JS, Kinyanjui, RN, Ditchfield, PW, Potts, R, Lemorini, C & Plummer, TW 2026, 'Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya)', Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, vol. 33, no. 1, 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-025-09744-2

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T1 - Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya)

AU - Caricola, Isabella

AU - Germinario, Luigi

AU - Finestone, Emma M.

AU - Mazzoli, Claudio

AU - Bishop, Laura

AU - Oliver, James S.

AU - Kinyanjui, Rahab N.

AU - Ditchfield, Peter W.

AU - Potts, Richard

AU - Lemorini, Cristina

AU - Plummer, Thomas W.

PY - 2026/3

Y1 - 2026/3

N2 - This study presents a comprehensive examination of the function of 26 percussive stone tools (PSTs) from Nyayanga, an Oldowan site located on the Homa Peninsula in southwestern Kenya. These artifacts, dating between 3.032 to 2.581 million years ago, were found together with hominin remains and animal fossils with stone tool butchery damage. To determine the function of the PSTs, we adopted a multiscale approach that combines qualitative use-wear analysis using microscopic techniques at low and high power approaches with quantitative analysis, employing 3D surface models generated with profilometry. These analyses indicate that Nyayanga hominins used PSTs to access both plant (e.g., USOs) and animal (bone marrow) nutrients. The inferred multifunctionality of these tools hints at diverse dietary strategies and contributes to our understanding of human technological evolution.

AB - This study presents a comprehensive examination of the function of 26 percussive stone tools (PSTs) from Nyayanga, an Oldowan site located on the Homa Peninsula in southwestern Kenya. These artifacts, dating between 3.032 to 2.581 million years ago, were found together with hominin remains and animal fossils with stone tool butchery damage. To determine the function of the PSTs, we adopted a multiscale approach that combines qualitative use-wear analysis using microscopic techniques at low and high power approaches with quantitative analysis, employing 3D surface models generated with profilometry. These analyses indicate that Nyayanga hominins used PSTs to access both plant (e.g., USOs) and animal (bone marrow) nutrients. The inferred multifunctionality of these tools hints at diverse dietary strategies and contributes to our understanding of human technological evolution.

KW - Dietary strategies

KW - Oldowan technology

KW - Percussive stone tools

KW - Profilometry

KW - Use wear analysis

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Qualitative and Quantitative Use-Wear Analysis of Percussive Stone Tools from Nyayanga (Homa Peninsula, Kenya)

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Keywords

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