Traceological analysis of “unusual” wear traces on lithic artefacts from the Middle Palaeolithic site Inden-Altdorf and the functional context of the site

Inden-Altdorf in western Germany revealed the first open-site habitation features with associated hearths and stone tools for the Middle Palaeolithic in Central Europe. Various dating methods place the site into an earlier phase of MIS 5, between ca. 120-100 ka, and the time of early Neanderthals in Europe. Use-wear and residue analysis demonstrated that various activities using different materials were undertaken at the camp, including hafting/retooling, multiple tool use and complex, multi-stage tasks. Numerous lithic artefacts were implements attached to hafts. Residues found on those implements were identified as remains of an organic adhesive, likely birch pitch, that was used for the fixation of the lithic implements. This report describes and discusses selected artefacts from the Micoquian camp site of Inden-Altdorf that underwent microwear analysis. In addition to more commonly observed use-wear traces on Middle Palaeolithic artefacts like those deriving from the working of hides, bone, wood or antler, several artefacts from Inden-Altdorf exhibited some rather 'unusual' traces which are rarely reported from such contexts in central Europe. Several activity zones could be identified by combining the spatial distribution data of artefacts with microwear analysis giving further evidence to the function of Inden-Altdorf as a camp. The results of the study indicate a high cognitive level and the ability for constructive planning of the hominins of Altdorf, ca. 100 ka.