Amorphous Silica, Soil Solutions, and Archaeological Flint Gloss

Abstract

Natural chemical processes in soils produce glossy conditions on artifacts of flint and chert that mimic, modify, or destroy ancient use-wear traces, thus making affected artifacts difficult or unacceptable for microwear studies. These glosses include general gloss patina or soil sheen, and intensely brilliant specular spots. The information presented suggests that this enigmatic “bright spot” phenomenon is the result of deposition and solidification of silica gel precipitated from soil colloids in the artifact's in situ environment and should not be confused with ancient use-wear evidence.

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