Use-wear analysis
![Acheulean hand-axes from Kent. The types shown are (clockwise from top) cordate, ficron, and ovate.](/Images/godic/202502/17/Acheuleanhandaxes4915.jpg")
Use-wear analysis is a method in archaeology to identify the functions of artifact tools by closely examining their working surfaces and edges. It is mainly used on stone tools, and is sometimes referred to as "traceological analysis" (from the neologism traceology).