Exploring volume lost in retouched artifacts using height of retouch and length of retouched edge

Abstract Retouched artifacts are one of the most common elements of Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblages. Resharpening of the edges by retouch is integral to key concepts of lithic technology and patterns of site occupation dynamics. This has led to the development of indexes that quantify retouch among artifacts, allowing comparisons according to raw material type, distance to raw material source, archaeological levels, and other factors. Several methods have been proposed for measuring the edge consumed by retouch on each artifact. These indexes are usually scaled, ranging from zero to one or from zero to 100. However, few indexes measure retouch on a nonlimited scale. Here we present a new index that combines height of retouch and length of retouched edge to obtain proxies of volume lost. Advantages and limitations of the index are experimentally explored through three patterns of retouch and then applied to two different levels of Esquilleu Cave. Results show how a two-pronged index that considers consumed edge and total of volume lost by retouch can deliver insights into resharpening strategies among Middle Paleolithic groups.