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