Selected recent publications
- Lokker, Anika; Stefanuto, Pierre-Hugues; Cnuts, Dries; Rots, Veerle; Focant, Jean-François. 2026. Towards Robust Identification of Pleistocene Adhesives: A Review of Current Analytical Approaches, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.
- Lokker A, Stefanuto PH, Cnuts D, Rots V, Focant JF. Investigating a Novel Non-Destructive Identification Technique for Prehistoric Adhesives With Dynamic Headspace Coupled to Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. J Sep Sci. 2025 Oct;48(10):e70300. doi: 10.1002/jssc.70300. PMID: 41088499.
- Coppe, Justin & Veerle Rots. 2026. Does point size matter? How morphometric arguments impact evolutionary models of Palaeolithic weaponry, PaleoAnthropology.
- Goffette Q., Devièse T., Ryder C., Bray F., Germonpré M., Bard E., Spanneut L. & Rots V. 2026. Archaeozoological insights into avian exploitation in the Magdalenian of Belgium at the caves of Trou du Frontal and Trou des Nutons, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. 10.1002/oa.70074.
- Touzé, Olivier & Veerle Rots. 2025. When the hammer drops: Identification of knapping techniques in blade production based on a multi-scale study of knapping traces, PLOS One.
- Benjamin Schürch, Veerle Rots, Nicholas J. Conard. 2025. Techno-functional analysis reveals the role of Carinated Artifacts and End-scrapers from the Aurignacian of Vogelherd cave, Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. Special Issue.
- Coppe, J. & V. Rots. 2025, Let’s cut to the chase and rely on fracture mechanics to identify projectile armatures, Anthropological and Archaeological Sciences 17: 3. DOI: 10.1007/s12520-025-02180-z.
- Tydgadt, L. & V. Rots. 2025. Finding your strong points: Exploring the Design and Resilience of Barbed Composite Weapons, Anthropological and Archaeological Sciences 17: 112.
- Rots, Veerle, Dries Cnuts, Justin Coppe, Anika Lokker, Ronè Oberholzer. 2024. No solid foundation for the use of ochre-based compound adhesives at Le Moustier, Journal of Palaeolithic Archaeology.
- Cnuts Dries & Veerle Rots. 2024. Examining the effect of post-depositional processes on preservation and identification of stone tool residues from temperate environments: an experimental approach, PLOS One.
- Goffette Q, Rots V, Abrams G, Pirson S, Di Modica K, Bray F, Cnuts D, Bonjean D, Amos L. 2024. Neanderthal exploitation of birds in north-western Europe: Avian remains from Scladina Cave (Belgium), Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. DOI: 10.3389/fearc.2024.1441926.
- Tomasso, Sonja, Dries Cnuts, Veerle Rots. 2024. Exploring the link between plant minerals and wear formation on stone tools through experimentation: a view from the wetland, Anthropological and Archaeological Sciences.
- Lepers, Christian, Justin Coppe, Veerle Rots. 2024. The propulsion phase of spear-throwers and its implications for understanding prehistoric weaponry, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
- Asryan, Lena & Veerle Rots. 2024. Exploring basalt: A Methodological Framework for Analysing Wear Traces on Basalt Tools, Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory.
- Conard, N.J. & V. Rots. 2024. Rope-making in the Aurignacian of Central Europe 40,000 years ago, Science Advances. 10.1126/sciadv.adh5217.
- Coppe, J., Taipale, N., & Rots, V. (2023 octobre 25). Terminal ballistic analysis of impact fractures reveals the use of spearthrower 31 ky ago at Maisières-Canal, Belgium. Scientific Reports, 13 (1), 18305. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45554-w
- Barham, L., Duller, G. A. T., Candy, I., Scott, C., Cartwright, C. R., Peterson, J. R., Kabukcu, C., Chapot, M. S., Melia, F., Rots, V., George, N., Tai-pale, N., Gethin, P., & Nkombwe, P. (2023) Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago. Nature, 622, 107–111. ISSN: 1476-4687
- Baumann M, Plisson H, Maury S, Renou S, Coqueugniot H, Vanderesse N, Kolobova K, Shnaider S, Rots V, Guérin G, Rendu W. On the Quina side: A Neanderthal bone industry at Chez-Pinaud site, France. PLoS One. 2023 Jun 14;18(6):e0284081. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284081.
- Taipale, N., & Rots, V. (2023) Functional Perspectives on Lithic Standardization. Lithic Technology, 1-24. ISSN: 0197-7261
- Coppe J., Lepers C. & Rots V., 2022 – Projectiles under a new angle: a ballistic analysis provides an important building block to grasp Paleolithic weapon technology. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory
- Taipale N., Chiotti L. & Rots V., 2022 – Why did hunting weapon design change at Abri Pataud? Lithic use-wear data on armature use and hafting around 24,000–22,000 BP. PLoS ONE 17(1): 0262185
- Tomasso S., Cnuts D., Coppe J., Geerts F., Van Gils M., De Bie M. & Rots V., 2021 – A closer look at an eroded dune landscape: first functional insights into the Federmessergruppen site of Lommel-Maatheide. Peer Community Journal
- Rots V., Coppe J. & Conard N.J., 2021 ‒ A leaf point documents hunting with spears in the Middle Paleolithic at Hohle Fels, Germany. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte 2021: 1-28
- Taipale N. & Rots V., 2021. Every hunter needs a knife: Hafted butchering knives from Maisières-Canal and their effect on lithic assemblage characteristics. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 36: 102874
- Tomasso A. & Rots V., 2021 – Looking into Upper Paleolithic gear: The potential of an integrated techno-economic approach. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 61: 101240
- Lepers C. & Rots V., 2020 – The important role of bow choice and arrow fletching in projectile experimentation. A ballistic approach. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 34: 102613
- Conard N.J., Serangeli J., Bigga G. & Rots V., 2020 ‒ A 300,000-year-old throwing stick from Schöningen, northern Germany, documents the evolution of human hunting. Nature Ecology and Evolution 4: 690-693
- Michel M., Cnuts D. & Rots V., 2019 – Freezing in-sight: the effect of frost cycles on use-wear and residues on flint tools. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 11: 5423-5443
- Coppe J., Lepers C., Clarenne V., Delaunois E., Pirlot M. & Rots V., 2019 – Ballistic study tackles kinetic energy values of Palaeolithic weaponry. Archaeometry 61: 933-956
- Hayes E., Cnuts D. & Rots V., 2019 – Integrating SEM-EDS in a sequential residue analysis protocol: benefits and challenges. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 23: 116-126
- Hayes E. & Rots V., 2019 – Documenting scarce and fragmented residues on stone tools: an experimental approach using optical microscopy and SEM-EDS. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 11: 3065-3099
- Taipale N. & Rots V., 2019 – Breakage, scarring, scratches and explosions: understanding impact trace formation on quartz. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 11: 3013-3039
- Tomasso A., Rots V., Purdue L., Beyries S., Buckley M., Cheval C., Cnuts D., Coppe J., Julien M.A., Grenet M., Lepers C., M’hamdi M., Simon P., Sorin S. & Porraz G., 2018 – Gravettian weaponry: 23,500-year-old evidence of a composite barbed point from Les Prés de Laure (France). Journal of Archaeological Science 100: 158-175
- Cnuts D., Tomasso S. & Rots V., 2018 – The role of fire in the life of an adhesive. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory 25: 839-862
- Cnuts D. & Rots V., 2018 – Extracting residues from stone tools for optical analysis: towards an experiment-based protocol. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 10: 1717-1736
- Coppe J. & Rots V., 2017 – Focus on the target. The importance of a transparent fracture terminology for understanding projectile points and projecting modes. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 12: 109-123
- Hayes E., Cnuts D., Lepers C. & Rots V., 2017 – Learning from blind tests: determining the function of experimental grinding stones through use-wear and residue analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 11: 245-260
- Rots V., Lentfer C., Schmid V.C., Porraz G. & Conard N.J., 2017. Pressure flaking to serrate bifacial points for the hunt during the MIS5 at Sibudu Cave (South Africa). PLoS ONE 12: e0175151
- Tomasso S. & Rots V., 2018 – What is the use of shaping a tang? Tool use and hafting of tanged tools in the Aterian of Northern Africa. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 10: 1389-1417
- Rots V., Hayes E., Cnuts D., Lepers C. & Fullagar R., 2016 – Making sense of residues on flaked stone artefacts: learning from blind tests. PLoS ONE 11: e0150437
- Rots V., Hardy B.L., Serangeli J. & Conard N., 2015 – Residue and microwear analyses of the stone tools from Schöningen. Journal of Human Evolution 89: 298-308
- Rots V. & Plisson H., 2014 – Projectiles and the abuse of the use-wear method in a search for impact. Journal of Archaeological Science 48: 154-165
- Rots V., 2013 – Insights into early Middle Palaeolithic tool use and hafting in Western Europe. The functional analysis of level IIa of the early Middle Palaeolithic site of Biache-Saint-Vaast (France). Journal of Archaeological Science 40: 497-506
- Rots V., 2010 – Prehension and hafting traces on flint tools: a methodology. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 298 p., 204 fig.
updated on 2/23/26
