Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Wood Surfacing

Wood Surfacing

Wood surfacing is a critical finishing process designed to smoothen the wood surface, enhance its dimensional accuracy, and make handling safer. This process compensates for potential shrinkage during the seasoning phase by marginally increasing the wood dimensions before surfacing. It also helps correct some distortions that may occur as the wood dries.
The equipment used in the surfacing process is a plane equipped with rotating blades. This tool efficiently smoothens the wood surface and can...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Experimental Verification of Multicopy Activation of Genuine Multipartite Entanglement.

Physical review letters·2026

Same author

Enamel proteins reveal biological sex and genetic variability in southern African <i>Paranthropus</i>.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025

Same author

Ethnographic toolstone heat treatment reveals distinctive motives and patterns of material transformation.

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

The Marine Isotope Stage 5 (∼105 ka) lithic assemblage from Ga-Mohana Hill North Rockshelter and insights into social transmission across the Kalahari Basin and its environs.

Journal of human evolution·2025

Same author

Correction: A quantitative analysis of Final Palaeolithic/earliest Mesolithic cultural taxonomy and evolution in Europe.

PloS one·2024

Same author

MIS 3 innovative behavior and highland occupation during a stable wet episode in the Lake Tana paleoclimate record, Ethiopia.

Scientific reports·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Characterization of Surface Modifications by White Light Interferometry: Applications in Ion Sputtering, Laser Ablation, and Tribology Experiments

Characterization of Surface Modifications by White Light Interferometry: Applications in Ion Sputtering, Laser Ablation, and Tribology Experiments

Published on: February 27, 2013

Identification of heat-treated lithic artifacts via quantitative surface gloss characterization.

Robert Stárek¹, Yonatan Sahle^2,3, Balemwal Atnafu⁴

¹Department of Optics, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 77900, Olomouc, Czech Republic. starek@optics.upol.cz.

Scientific Reports

|April 2, 2026

Summary

Archaeologists can now easily identify heat-treated stone tools by measuring their glossiness, a result of reduced surface roughness from heat treatment. This simple technique enhances understanding of early hominin technology and raw material use.

More Related Videos

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone ITZ

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone ITZ

Published on: December 16, 2019

Impact of Fabrication Techniques and Polishing Procedures on Surface Roughness of Denture Base Resins

Impact of Fabrication Techniques and Polishing Procedures on Surface Roughness of Denture Base Resins

Published on: January 17, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Characterization of Surface Modifications by White Light Interferometry: Applications in Ion Sputtering, Laser Ablation, and Tribology Experiments

Characterization of Surface Modifications by White Light Interferometry: Applications in Ion Sputtering, Laser Ablation, and Tribology Experiments

Published on: February 27, 2013

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone ITZ

Determination of Aggregate Surface Morphology at the Interfacial Transition Zone ITZ

Published on: December 16, 2019

Impact of Fabrication Techniques and Polishing Procedures on Surface Roughness of Denture Base Resins

Impact of Fabrication Techniques and Polishing Procedures on Surface Roughness of Denture Base Resins

Published on: January 17, 2025

Area of Science:

Archaeological Science
Materials Science
Lithic Technology

Background:

Heat treatment of siliceous artifacts is a sophisticated hominin technology that improves toolstone knapping properties.
This process induces molecular and structural changes, reducing fracture toughness and surface roughness.
Reduced surface roughness results in a characteristic glossy appearance, indicating improved homogeneity and brittleness.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a simple, cost-effective, accurate, and field-ready method for identifying heat-treated siliceous artifacts.
To utilize glossiness, a proxy for reduced surface roughness, as the primary indicator of heat treatment.
To overcome limitations of conventional gloss measurement techniques on varied artifact surfaces.

Main Methods:

Measuring glossiness as a function of reduced surface roughness on siliceous artifacts.
Developing a technique applicable to non-flat and non-opaque surfaces, unlike conventional gloss meters.
Field-ready application for on-site artifact analysis.

Main Results:

A reliable method for identifying heat-treated artifacts based on gloss measurement was established.
The technique demonstrated high accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
The method overcomes previous limitations, enabling analysis on diverse artifact surfaces.

Conclusions:

Gloss measurement provides a reliable and accessible means to identify heat-treated siliceous artifacts.
This advancement aids in understanding early hominin raw material economy and technological capabilities.
The developed technique offers a practical tool for archaeological fieldwork and research.