Crossing the Borders: New Methods and Techniques in the Study of Archaeological Materials from the Caribbean

Investigating Stone Bead Drilling Techniques / 87
Figure 6.5. SEM image of partially
drilled calcite tablet. Oval defines polished
area, arrow #1 points to fracture,
arrow #2 to abrasion rings, and arrow
#3 to deeper furrows.
A portion of the end of one of the boreholes has been broken off, allowing direct
imaging of part of the bore wall. Only this limited portion is available for discussion,
as we have not yet produced a satisfactory mold from this artifact. If the
SEM composite is examined (Figure 6.5), a number of characteristics that appear
to be common with calcite are in evidence, including the general texture and the
presence of a fracture (arrow #1). In terms of manufacturing evidence we see numerous
concentric abrasion rings (arrow #2), some of which are quite prominent
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