Born again: Multiple biographies of ground and abrasive stone tools in the Neolithic of Serbia

Abstract

Ground and abrasive stone tools had a long, dynamic and complex life during which they could repeatedly pass through different segments of the operational chain until their final disposal. Those tools would wear out slowly and could be used for a long time with constant renewal. Even after being damaged, they would start a new life cycle through various recycling processes or in a secondary context. The aim of this paper is to consider the transformative processes within the ground and abrasive stone industry in the Neolithic of Serbia and clarify their use in terms of maintenance, secondary use, and recycling, as well as to show the most frequent examples of such technological practices. The focus is primarily on tools for everyday use and the ways in which they were rerouted through various segments of the operational chain.