Analyzing tools of the first Neolithic early farmers
Fiona Pichon and Andrea Zupancich
The IMF (Institució Milà i Fontanals) belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and was founded in 1968. Nowadays, the IMF is focused on doing research on 5 areas of the humanities: anthropology, archaeology, medieval studies, history of science, and musicology.
By studying microscopic wear patterns, we can identify the materials the tools interacted with, how they were used, and the condition in which these materials were processed.”
Studying how tool technologies evolved to meet changing environmental and social needs is one of the most effective ways to understand past human behavior and economies. Stone tools are key evidence, as their surfaces preserve microscopic traces associated with their use. These wear patterns, especially the micro-polishes visible under high-power microscopes, reveal what materials the tools were used on, plants, animals, or minerals, how they were used, and the state in which the materials were processed (e.g., dry, moist, etc.). This analysis provides valuable insights into the daily life, technology, and environments of prehistoric communities.
Over the past decade, texture analysis of 3D topographies obtained through Confocal profilers has been increasingly involved in the study of ancient stone tool function. This provides a highly accurate method for quantifying use-wear texture.
This approach has yielded promising results in characterizing polish formation on experimental and archaeological stone tools, providing unique insights into human behavior in prehistory. Notably, it has been instrumental in determining how, when, and where cereals were domesticated in the Near East around 11.000 years ago.
In our research, we integrate traditional archaeological methods with advanced surface analysis techniques to reconstruct how Neolithic communities in Southwest Asia used plants, particularly in food gathering (e.g., cereal harvesting) and processing (e.g., grinding grains and legumes) as well as in crafting (e.g., hide working) and other activities. For the first time, we applied quantitative analysis to both ground stone and obsidian tools using the 3D optical profilometer PLu neox.
This approach enables us to differentiate wear patterns generated by various contact materials and motions, strengthening our interpretations while improving the repeatability and reproducibility of our findings, key aspects for ensuring reliable archaeological research.
In two recently published studies, we focused on the analysis of obsidian knapped tools and ground stone tools. On the one hand, obsidian knapped tools, highly valued in ancient times for their sharpness and brilliance, were widely transported across Southwest Asia, sometimes over hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from Anatolian sources. Their circulation reflects the development of more complex socioeconomic systems and social networks during the Neolithic.
By studying use-wear traces on these tools, we aim to understand their function better and explore the drivers behind the extensive trade of obsidian in prehistoric societies. Our study represents the first attempt to assess the potential of Confocal microscopy and 3D texture analysis to quantitatively distinguish use-wear on obsidian tools, overcoming the limitations of conventional optical methods. Controlled cutting and scraping experiments were conducted to test this method across various worked materials.
Through this controlled ad-hoc experimental program, we were able to establish a reference database of surface roughness textures on unused and used obsidian, focusing on materials such as animal hide, vegetal matter, and minerals processed through longitudinal and transversal motions. The results confirm that Confocal technology offers exceptional precision in identifying use-wear traces and distinguishing materials that traditional methods struggle to differentiate due to equifinality. This method enhances traceological studies with a standardized, repeatable, and reproducible framework by accurately measuring surface microroughness.
Ground stone tools provide key evidence for exploring behaviors related to plant exploitation and processing. By examining their function through use-wear analysis, we can reconstruct how early farmers processed different plant foods such as cereals, legumes, tubers, and fruits and understand the techniques and gestures they employed. By analyzing these tools, we can trace ancient dietary practices and the evolving relationship between humans and plants.
Our present study explored the potential of Confocal microscopy and 3D surface texture analysis to study ground stone tools, aiming to integrate the qualitative information obtained from optical microscopy with the quantitative data gathered from 3D Confocal images.
We developed an ad-hoc experimental program using a set of modern ground stone replicas to process a range of cereals and legumes. We then captured 3D images of the micro-polishes generated by each plant species and extracted texture parameters that were statistically treated. These analyses demonstrated the potential of this method to distinguish between different types of plant processing and activities.
MEASUREMENTS
Topographic images (Figure 2) were acquired using a Sensofar PLu neox equipped with a 20X and 50X brightfield objectives. Confocal technology was used to investigate surface modifications on stone tools. Specifically, texture analysis was applied to differentiate use-wear patterns on obsidian tools and ground stone tools quantitatively.
The conclusions and methodologies presented in our research were successfully applied using the PLu neox 3D optical profiler, which enables high-resolution imaging and surface metrology of stone tools. The PLu neox, operating in Confocal mode, proves to be a highly useful, precise, fast, and non-invasive tool for analyzing archaeological tools. This technology allows the acquisition of relevant data regarding the nature and characteristics of surface wear processes affecting archaeological materials.
The different surface topographies obtained through the 3D profiler provide valuable insights into using ground stone and obsidian tools. These observations help us to further explore dietary practices and the evolution of human-plant interactions over time, as well as trace the development of more complex socioeconomic systems and social networks.
Overall, the results confirm that Confocal technology, particularly with the PLu neox system developed by Sensofar, offers exceptional precision in identifying and quantifying use-wear traces. This approach provides new perspectives on tool function and material processing in prehistory, exemplifying how cutting-edge surface metrology can illuminate the behaviors and diets of ancient societies, bridging science and history in unprecedented ways.
References
[1] Pichon, F., Ibàñez Estevez, J. J., Astruc, L., Gassin, B., Rodrìguez Rodrìguez, A., & Lugliè, C. (2025). Shining light on dark matter: Advancing functional analysis of obsidian tools with confocal scanning microscopy. Journal of archaeological method and theory, 32(1).
[2] Zupancich, A., Cristiani, E., Di Fazio, M., Medeghini, L., Gopher, A., & Ibàñez, J. J. (2025). Beyond the surface: Exploring ancient plant food processing through confocal microscopy and 3D texture analysis on ground stone tools. Journal of archaeological method and theory, 32(1), 1-34.
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