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Analysis of institutional authors

Marginedas Miró, FrancescAuthorVergès Bosch, Josep MariaAuthorSaladié Ballesté, PalmiraAuthor

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Examining cut mark residue with SEM to identify metal tool use: An experimental study

Publicated to:Micron. 180 103614- - 2024-05-01 180(), DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2024.103614

Authors: Marginedas, F; Vergès, JM; Saladié, P; Rodríguez-Hidalgo, A

Affiliations

Inst Arqueol Merida CSIC Junta Extremadura, Consejo Super Invest Cient, Plaza Espana 15 - Author
Museo Nacl Ciencias Nat, Dept Paleobiol, Unit Associated CSIC, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2 - Author
Univ Rovira i Virgili URV, Area Prehist, Avinguda Catalunya 35 - Author

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.

Keywords

AgeArchaeologyAtapuercaBoneBronze knivesBurgosCopper knivesDualbsdEdsMicroscopic analysisPotteryRemainsStoneTaphonomyTraumaWounds

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Micron due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 2/8, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Microscopy.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-06-28:

  • Scopus: 1

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-28:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 20.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 20 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 16.25.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 26 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Marginedas Miró, Francesc) .