The lacustrine settlement of Dispilio (Lake Kastoria, Northern Greece): An approach to economic and craft activities through a functional study of lithic tools

• Dispilio is a lacustrine Neolithic site with exceptional conservation of archaeological materials. • New researches attest a longer occupation of the site. From early Neolithic to Last Neolithic. • It is one of the most important sites of the Mediterranean to understand the Neolithic expansion towards Europe. • Subsistence activities are approached by means of use-wear analysis on stone tools. The aim of this paper is to examine the economic and craft activities of the Neolithic communities that inhabited Dispilio (Lake Kastoria, Northern Greece) through use-wear and technological analysis of chipped stone tools. Dispilio, an exceptionally well-preserved lacustrine settlement, provides a crucial case study for understanding lithic tool use over time. This study presents the first detailed investigation of chipped stone tools from its Middle and Late Neolithic occupation (second half of the 6th millennium BCE), shedding light on diachronic patterns in tool production and function. By analysing morphology, technology, and use-wear traces, this study explores the role of chipped stone artefacts in subsistence strategies, craft activities, and broader economic practices. The results highlight continuities and changes in tool use over time, offering key insights into the technological choices and adaptive strategies of fully developed Neolithic societies.