Six years of experimental traseology at Klaipėda University: accomplishments and future prospects 

In Lithuanian archaeology experimental-traseology method currently is a very fresh research area. Very first rudiments of this method originates in the last decade of the 20th century, when with the assistance of use-wear method in foreign laboratories, West and East Lithuania Stone Age sites flint material were analysed. Later, this method was applied for a several Stone and Metal periods flint material functional analysis, which due to a lack of technologies and specialists in Lithuania, was also studied in foreign laboratories (Russia and Poland). Since 2010 experimental-traseology studies were launched at the University of Klaipėda (Lithuania).
Systematically studies in this institution are orientated on Stone and Early Bronze Ages economies research. In this laboratory, more than 100 units of experimental tools data base are in store, which helps to determine authentic archaeological tool functional dependence. This paper seeks to represent during the period of six years obtained data of experimental- traseology research of Stone and Bronze Ages flint tools, and to summarize executed experimental results. The research includes archaeological data from major Stone Age and Early Bronze Age settlements and cemeteries from West and South Lithuania sites.
Author - PhD Rimkus, Tomas, Institute of Baltic region history and archaeology, Klaipėda, Lithuania (Presenting author)