01370nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001653001700042653001000059653002200069653001900091653000800110653001400118100001200132700002100144700001700165245016000182300001900342490000600361520079700367       2015                            d10aflaked stone10aflint10afluvial processes10amicro-abrasion10asem10ataphonomy1 aWei Chu1 aCharlie Thompson1 aRob Hosfield00aMicro-abrasion of flint artifacts by mobile sediments : a taphonomic approach Micro-abrasion of flint artifacts by mobile sediments : a taphonomic approach  a3\textendash110 v73 a<p>Fluvial redeposition of stone artifacts is a major complicating factor in the interpretation of Lower Palaeolithic open-air archaeological sites. However, the microscopic examination of lithic surfaces may provide valuable background information on the transport history of artifacts, particularly in low energy settings. Replica flint artifacts were therefore abraded in an annular flume and examined with a scanning electron microscope. Results showed that abrasion time, sediment size, and artifact transport mode were very sensitive predictors of microscopic surface abrasion, ridge width, and edge damage (p \&lt; 0.000). These results suggest that patterns of micro-abrasion of stone artifacts may enhance understanding of archaeological assemblage formation in fluvial contexts.</p>