ABSTRACT A profound examination of lithic artefacts at the Late Palaeolithic settlement of Rekem (Belgian Limburg) reveals clear distinctions on technological, functional, and spatial levels between the two most representative tool types of this site: burins, and laterally modified points and blade(let)s. A substantial part of the variability observed for both these tool categories can be explained in terms of specific intra-site human behaviour (manufacture, use, maintenance, discard). The insights caution for unwarranted employment of formal tool types for establishing regional fades within the Federmesser groups. On the other hand, the article presents numerous observations on tool dynamics that may be useful for future comparative work.