Presentation

TraceoLab is a research centre in prehistory with a strong focus on functional studies of wear traces and residues on stone tools combined with systematic experimentation. Our research focuses mainly on the Palaeolithic period in the Old World. The study of hafting is one of the key research topics, next to projectiles and methodological developments. TraceoLab was created in 2012 by Veerle Rots, largely thanks to the attribution of an ERC starting grant in 2011. The ERC project focused on the Evolution of Stone Tool Hafting in the Palaeolithic.

Thanks to funding from the European Research Council, the University of Liège, and the Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS), a fully equipped microscope lab could be developed in combination with a lab for residue extraction and processing and a lab for experimentation. TraceoLab also houses a large experimental reference collection for wear traces related to production, use and hafting, as well as a reference collection for residues, including residues on stone tools. The reference collection received the name TRAIL (Traces in Liège). It mainly consists of flint tools, but also includes stone tools made from other raw materials such as quartz, dolerite, hornfels, quartzite, obsidian and basalt. Projectiles form an important part of the collection. 

TraceoLab has several unique characteristics in terms of its focus and the type of research performed. The lab employs a full-time prehistoric technologist, which allows for the systematic integration of experimental approaches in research programs.

We sincerely thank our funders for their support in creating this research centre.

In 2022, Veerle Rots was awarded the prestigious Francqui prize for her innovative research. Several members of TraceoLab have contributed to these developments.

Expertise and focus

• Functional analysis of stone tools, including both wear traces and residues. Attention is devoted to traces of production, use, prehension, hafting, etc. Specific attention is given to stone tool life cycles to improve our understanding of assemblage variability.
  • Focus mainly on flint tools, but coarser-grained raw materials are examined as well (e.g., experience with quartz).
  • Focus on Palaeolithic assemblages, with additional expertise in the analysis of Mesolithic, Neolithic, and younger material.
• Integration of both wear traces and residues within a broader technological framework.
• Combination of different microscopic techniques: stereomicroscopes, metallurgical reflected-light microscopes, metallurgical transmitted-light microscopes, scanning electron microscope.
• Methodological work on wear trace formation, residues, fracture mechanics, etc.
• Special attention to the identification of projectiles and approaches addressing the evolution of hunting technology in the Palaeolithic.
• Special attention to the evolution of hafting technology
• Systematic integration of experimental archaeology

Training & Commissioned research

TraceoLab may be contacted for occasional contract work and training possibilities regarding use-wear and residue analysis of stone tools using optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. Please contact Veerle ROTS directly.