Analyzing tools of the first Neolithic early farmers

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.