VISION · Advanced Microscopic Techniques to Reveal Hunter-Gatherer-Fishers' Macrolithic Tool Functions in the Central European Plain

The VISION main goal is to construct a comprehensive understanding of the role of macrolithic tools (henceforth MLTs) among Early Holocene hunter-gatherer-fisher communities in the Central European Plain. The project will take a multidisciplinary approach to analyse Mesolithic MLTs from selected open-air sandy sites of Poland, combining advanced qualitative and quantitative study of use wear and residues. VISION will investigate the raw material selection and procurement, tool preparation and design, action and materials processed, potential secondary uses, and an intra-site spatial analysis of tool distribution among the studied sites. By integrating the life histories of MLTs with available contextual data, VISION will provide a comprehensive reconstruction of the nature of settlement activities and the processing of various resources with MLTs by Mesolithic groups. The project will be conducted at the Diet and Ancient Technology (DANTE) laboratory, an interdisciplinary facility specialising in studying ancient technology, within the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences at the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. The Fellowship will allow the Applicant to develop new theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to Mesolithic MLTs and the application of advanced microscopic techniques in use-wear and residue analyses. The project results will demonstrate the importance of MLTs for early Holocene hunter-gatherer societies, prompting researchers to acknowledge their value. Overall, the research will provide a forward-looking perspective for similar European collections.