Use wear analysis on splintered pieces from Holley Shelter

Up until today little is known about the function of the splintered pieces from Holley Shelter. Previous suggestions imply that they might have been intermediate wedges, woodworking tools or bipolar cores. In order to gain more information on the different aspects of those pieces, we intend to perform a non-invasive use wear and residue analysis on selected pieces from the layers AVA and BIB using high power microscopy. The pieces will be handled only with nitrile gloves and treated with great care. For the purpose of this analysis, we apply for a temporary export permit for 18 pieces (see list below) to the Traceolab in Liège, Belgium. The pieces will be analyzed under the supervision of Dr. Veerle Rots.