Tracing individuality and hand preference in Upper Palaeolithic engraving: experimental and traceological insights

In the context of Palaeolithic archaeology, identifying traits of individual creators of prehistoric art remains a formidable challenge. This study introduces innovative traceological methods employed to analyze engraved stone plaquettes from the 15,800-year-old Late Upper Palaeolithic site of Gönnersdorf, Germany. Utilizing advanced techniques such as confocal microscopy, alongside manual and robotic experimentation, we investigate the hand preferences of individual engravers. Preliminary results reveal discernible patterns in tool positioning and tool angle variations, providing insights into engravers’ lateralities. By integrating experimental findings with archaeological data, this study enhances our understanding of prehistoric engraving practices and contributes to the growing research on lateralized cognitive and motor processes in prehistoric art creation.