A traceological and quantitative assessment of the function of the bone bi-pointed tools from the Late Neolithic of the Cueva del Toro (Antequera, Malaga)

This study presents a traceological analysis of bi-pointed bone tools from the Late Neolithic layers of Cueva del Toro (Málaga, Spain). The tools, previously hypothesized as arrowheads, were re-examined using traceological methods combined with confocal microscopy. The analysis refutes their classification as hunting implements. Polished surfaces on the tools, indicative of interaction with fibrous materials, suggest their use in weaving tasks involving wool or similar materials. This study highlights the early use of sheep wool for textiles at Cueva del Toro, dated between 4250 and 3950 cal BCE. This study also emphasizes the significance of craft activities in the Neolithic, with a diverse toolkit for processing fibers and animal materials. By applying quantitative methods to distinguish use-wear traces, the study contributes to the development of use-wear analysis techniques and opens the way for future research in ancient human-material interactions.