Functional analysis of mesolithic groundstone tools

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Ground stone tools play a key role in the reconstruction of prehistoric diet, land use and settlement behaviour. They were used for food preparation, manufacturing of tools, building material or as heat conductor. The project investigates the function of ground stone tools from selected find inventories. Analysis focus on raw material, morphology, use wear and residues as well as on experiments on tool use. Intra-site spatial investigations contextualize the results. The project aims on reconstructions of function and economy of these commonly and multifunctionally used stones, which still receive little attention. They will improve our knowledge about land use, resource management, food preparation, processing of organic materials like wood, bone and antler, utilization of fire and settlement organisation. Worldwide these behavioural patterns are characterized by profound changes within the early Holocene that which remain barley documented for the Mesolithic in Europe.