Traceological analysis of stone and bone artefacts

The wear trace analyses of a small number of stone and bone tools from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze age horizons evidence their use in a variety of activities. Hide and wood/bark working are not detectable from other elements gathered on site, but can only be illustrated through micro-wear traces observed on the investigated specimens. A hafting procedure was practised by humans from the Mesolithic and Neolithic period. A few pieces from Neolithic horizon show the clear use of adhesive to fix the tool in the haft. It was most probably birch tar as it was commonly used in Neolithic. In the present case it seems correct to say that the Abri Unterkobel was visited irregularly but continuously by the prehistoric people. They stayed for a while, as seen by presence of fire-places, undertook various, domestic, short-term activities and hunting, alluded to by the occurrence of armatures, and gathering of wild plants. Afterwards they left behind the exhausted, broken tools. Yet, the traceological analysis of those rejected tools has helped us to reconstruct, at least partially, the principals of the economic and technological activities of prehistoric people visiting the surroundings of the Alpine Rhine Valley.