Experimental Traceology of Lithic Assemblages from Laang Spean Cave, Cambodia: Towards a Functional Interpretation

Ruxi Yang1,2* and Hubert Forestier1

Functional analysis of lithic assemblages is essential in understanding prehistoric human behaviours, a process that relies heavily on reference data from controlled experiments. While the Hoabinhian technocomplex is a hallmark of Southeast Asian prehistory, its lithic functions remain insufficiently explored. This study presents a series of traceological experiments and functional analyses of lithic assemblages from Laang Spean Cave (13–5 ka), a key stratified Hoabinhian site in Battambang, Cambodia. We conducted systematic experiments using the site's predominant raw material—a specific type of sandstone—to process both vegetable and animal resources. By establishing a comprehensive reference database, we performed a detailed functional interpretation of the "heavy-duty" unifacial tools characteristic of the Hoabinhian. Our results suggest that their functions may extend beyond the traditional "bamboo or woodworking" hypothesis, providing new insights into how Hoabinhian groups adapted to the tropical rainforest environment during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene.