This kind of analysis requires access to comparative reference collections of bones with known causes of modification, so that the marks observed on archaeological specimens can be compared directly with marks produced by known agents.

The development of these reference collections and the methodological frameworks for using them has been one of the significant advances in forensic and archaeological bone analysis over the past two decades.

The distinction between cut marks made by a sharp tool and damage caused by animal teeth turns on specific morphological features.

Cut marks typically have a V-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, while carnivore tooth scoring has a different profile; cut marks made by a metal blade have characteristic features that distinguish them from marks made by stone tools; the directionality and grouping of marks provides information about the direction of tool movement and the specific activity being performed.

For the endocranial marks — the cut marks on the inside of the skull — the specific location and orientation were critical to the interpretation.