TraceoLab ULiege

26/06/2026

Even the heatwave can't stop us! 🔥 Today, experiments are underway testing heat treated silcrete projectiles with different hafting orientations. 👀

12/06/2026

Take a look at the new INSTONE Special Issue in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, dedicated to advancing research on non-flint stone tools and integrated trace analysis approaches! This special issue brings together innovative methodological and experimental studies exploring wear formation, raw material variability, and functional analysis in archaeology and beyond.

We are especially proud to highlight contributions from current TraceoLab team members and external colleagues:

‘Blind’ perspectives on microwear formation on southern African lithic raw materials by Noora Taipale, Christian Lepers, and Veerle Rots

Heated-weaponry, a pilot study on trace formation on heat-treated silcrete by Rone Oberholzer and Veerle Rots

The application of quartzite petrogenesis in Palaeolithic research: Methodological basis, ongoing narratives, future directions by Alejandro Prieto, Noora Taipale, David Álvarez-Alonso, Esteban Álvarez-Fernández, Javier Baena-Preysler, Dries Cnuts, Ronè Oberholzer, Andreas Pastoors, and Veerle Rots

These papers reflect ongoing efforts to better understand how raw material properties, heat treatment, and geological variability influence trace formation and functional interpretation of stone tools.

Congratulations to all authors and editors involved in this collaborative achievement!

Read the full special issue here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/10FVBC2L0X7

22/05/2026

More exciting research coming out of TraceoLab! A new publication by Justin Coppe and Veerle Rots explores how morphometric interpretations influence evolutionary models of prehistoric weaponry and challenges long-standing assumptions about projectile technology.

Read the article here:

Does Point Size Matter? How Morphometric Arguments Impact Evolutionary Models of Paleolithic Weaponry Article Sidebar pdf Published: May 8, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.48738/2026.iss1.3865 Keywords: Palaeolithic hunting technology, TCSA/TCSP, Bow, Long range weaponry, Spear-thrower, Spear Main Arti...

06/05/2026

We are excited to share a recent publication in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry by Anika Lokker, Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto, Dries Cnuts, Veerle Rots, and Jean-François Focant:
“Towards robust identification of Pleistocene adhesives: A critical review of current analytical approaches.”

In this review, the authors examine key challenges and recurring pitfalls in the chemical analysis of prehistoric adhesives, while offering methodological recommendations for improving analytical reliability and interpretation.

Access the article here:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-026-06354-z

21/04/2026

We are honored to extend a warm (and slightly belated) congratulations to Dr. Anika Lokker! On March 19, Anika successfully defended her PhD thesis titled Scents of the Past: Investigating non-destructive prehistoric adhesive identification via dynamic headspace-multidimensional gas chromatography. Her PhD was completed under the dual supervision of Dr. Jean-François Focant and Dr. Veerle Rots.