Revision of Neanderthal Activity Zones at Kůlna Cave: Use-Wear Analysis of the Micoquian Lithic Industry

Abstract Investigating the spatial organisation of Neanderthal sites offers critical insights into their behavioural patterns, adaptive strategies, and site use. Studying how different lithic tools are organised in space and linked to specific functions is therefore essential. Kůlna Cave provides evidence of multiple occupation areas characterised by distinct activity patterns, making it a particularly suitable Neanderthal site for investigating spatial organisation and testing related hypotheses. Previous interpretations, based primarily on techno-typological analyses, proposed that the cave surface was divided into clearly defined zones for activities such as tool production, carcass processing, or serving as a “central place” for interactions. However, the actual function of tools, essential for verifying such models, remained undetermined. In our study, we applied use-wear analysis to the lithic artefacts, dated to approximately 50,000 BP (Layer 7a), to assess their function and evaluate previously proposed spatial zones. Microscopic examination of artefacts excavated between 1955–1977 focused on identifying worked materials and performed tasks, aiming to clarify the use of artefacts from different cave areas and refine interpretations of site use. The results revealed a variety of functional types and materials, correlating with distinct spatial zones. While the analysis confirmed the organised spatial structuring, it also led to a revised interpretation of functional areas, showing a more nuanced division of tasks across the cave. This research confirms that use-wear analysis is essential for evaluating spatial organisation in archaeological contexts, and it provides robust proxy data that significantly enhances interpretations of Middle Palaeolithic site use and Neanderthal behavioural complexity.