Late Middle Palaeolithic assemblages with flake cleavers in the western Pyrenees: The Vasconian reconsidered

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe analysis of several lithic assemblages with flake cleavers and bifaces from sites attributed to MIS 5 and 3 in the western Pyrenees provides the basis for a new chronological and typo-technological characterisation of the region's late Middle Palaeolithic record. Previously assigned to the Vasconian based strictly on typological criteria, a certain degree of variability evident between the analysed assemblages likely indicates different occupation types. However, broad typo-technological traits reflecting a common regional tradition can be identified and are discussed against the backdrop of the regional diversity and cultural geography of late Middle Palaeolithic industries dated to around 50 ka BP. This 'regionalisation' of lithic techno-complexes may also have important ramifications for the socioeconomic organisation and demographic dynamics of late Middle Palaeolithic human groups.

Assessing site formation and assemblage integrity through stone tool refitting at Gruta da Oliveira (Almonda karst system, Torres Novas, Portugal): A Middle Paleolithic case study

“…The cave site of Gatzarria (Pyrénées-atlantiques, France), excavated by G. Laplace, is a case in point. Here, the Middle Paleolithic deposit is only known after two test trenches separated by several meters, which hinders the search for refitting links [ 69 – 71 ]. It can also be the case that, when at all re-excavated, old sites are the target of operations limited to the opening of small trenches or the rejuvenation of extant cross-sections, which poses a similar problem (see [ 72 ] for an exception).…”

Techno-functional and 3D shape analysis applied for investigating the variability of backed tools in the Late Middle Paleolithic of Central Europe

“…These two types are overlapping [124] and the similarities with Keilmesser-concept concerning the potential for resharpening is evident, besides the common presence in several sites [12]. Therefore, in contemporary contexts characterized by high and strategic mobility there were possibly different traditions in order to manufacture long-term tools potentially similar, but techno-functionally different: besides Keilmesser there were limaces, Quina scrapers, and possibly other bifacially-shaped tools [48,125].…”

Las cadenas operativas líticas de El Barandiallu (Asturias, España): adaptación y variabilidad tecnológica en el contexto del Musteriense cantábrico

“…Otros casos más clásicos en la región, como El Castillo, El Pendo o Morín -o el yacimiento al aire libre de La Verde-, han aportado numerosas series líticas con un número elevado de hendedores, en sus niveles adscritos al Musteriense ; González-Echegaray y Freeman, 1978;González-Echegaray et al, 1980;Montes, 2003). Los hendedores son piezas que, aunque ya aparecen de manera temprana en el Achelense peninsular, prolongan su presencia hasta momentos muy avanzados, siendo notable y característica su presencia en el Musteriense cantábrico (MIS 5e-3), hasta tal punto que esta circunstancia llegó a derivar en la definición de una facies propia, el "Vasconiense", muy discutida pero que recientemente ha vuelto a ser reconsiderada (Bordes, 1953(Bordes, , 1961Freeman, 1966;Cabrera, 1983;Deschamps, 2009Deschamps, , 2017Álvarez-Alonso et al, 2014).…”

“…En nuestra opinión, y siendo estrictos con los postulados tipológicos y las facies musterienses clásicas, ninguno de los niveles cantábricos -y El Barandiallu no es una excepción-encajan exactamente en la definición tipológica del MTA (Bordes, 1953(Bordes, , 1961Soressi, 2002). Por otra parte, la discutida existencia del Vasconiense cantábrico (Freeman, 1966;Cabrera, 1983) tampoco parece ser una explicación por sí misma a estos conjuntos con bifaces y hendedores, a pesar de recientes reinterpretaciones para el ámbito aquitano y pirenaico (Deschamps, 2009(Deschamps, , 2017 percibidas fruto de la existencia de materias primas diferentes con menor calidad en el Cantábrico -sobre todo en cuanto al sílex-, de aspectos adaptativos o incluso de cuestiones funcionales. En primer lugar, pudiera parecer que es difícil creer que dos fenómenos tan cercanos y coetáneos muestren elementos similares y tan característicos como los aquí presentes, sin existir algún tipo de vínculo o relación.…”