Los útiles óseos “poco elaborados” en el Paleolítico inferior y medio y su continuidad en el Paleolítico superior. Una revisión historiográfica

Holgueras, Millán Mozota

doi:10.5209/rev_cmpl.2014.v25.n1.45353

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…With the exception of the complete teeth, metatarsal and proximal phalanx from Gough’s Cave, we are not aware of any other records of complete bones used as knapping tools from a Magdalenian context. The diversity of materials used as knapping percussors during the Magdalenian is illustrated at sites such as Gönnersdorf [ 110 , 111 , 113 , 114 ] and Oelknitz [ 112 ] in Germany, and La Vache, in France [ 100 , 101 ], where bone or ivory as well as pebbles were used for knapping. Evidence from the French sites of Enlène [ 95 ] and Laugerie-Haute [ 1 ] indicates that antlers were also modified to make knapping hammers during the Magdalenian.…”

Section: Interpretation and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knapping tools in Magdalenian contexts: New evidence from Gough’s Cave (Somerset, UK)

et al. 2021

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Our knowledge of the recolonization of north-west Europe at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum depends to a large extent on finds from Gough’s Cave (Somerset, UK). Ultra-high resolution radiocarbon determinations suggest that the cave was occupied seasonally by Magdalenian hunters for perhaps no more than two or three human generations, centred on 12,600 BP (~14,950–14,750 cal BP). They left behind a rich and diverse assemblage of Magdalenian lithic and osseous artefacts, butchered animal bones, and cannibalised human remains. The faunal assemblage from Gough’s Cave is one of the most comprehensively studied from any Magdalenian site, yet new and unexpected discoveries continue to be made. Here, we record previously unrecognized flint-knapping tools that were identified during a survey of the Gough’s Cave faunal collection at the Natural History Museum (London). We identified bones used as hammers and teeth manipulated as pressure-flakers to manufacture flint tools. Most of the pieces appear to be ad hoc (single-use?) tools, but a horse molar was almost certainly a curated object that was used over an extended period to work many stone tools. This paper explores how these knapping tools were used to support a more nuanced understanding of Magdalenian stone-tool manufacturing processes. Moreover, we provide a standard for identifying minimally-used knapping tools that will help to establish whether retouchers and other organic stone-working tools are as rare in the Magdalenian archaeological record as current studies suggest.

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Section: Interpretation and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knapping tools in Magdalenian contexts: New evidence from Gough’s Cave (Somerset, UK)

et al. 2021

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“…Interestingly, bone tools are quite abundant in this upper part of the Mousterian sequence. Among the bone tools, retouchers represent the predominant type, but other tools, such as chisels or polishers, have been also identified (Table S2 ) 26 , 72 . The faunal assemblage in these levels is dominated by red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), large bovids ( Bos/Bison ), Iberian wild goats ( Capra pyrenaica ) and, to a lesser extent, horses ( Equus ferus ) (Tables S3 and S4 ) 36 , 73 .…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years we have also observed the increasing number of evidence for the practice of non-utilitarian activities, such as the burial of dead 11 , 12 , artistic behavior 13 , 14 , the elaboration and display of ornaments 15 – 20 , the use of pigments 21 , 22 or the building up of structures such as the ring from Bruniquel 23 . From a purely technological point of view, Neandertals mastered the use of fire 24 , developed complex technological procedures, such as creating birch glue 25 and started using bone tools more systematically 26 , 27 . In regard to lithic technology, several features interpreted as markers of modern behavior, such as the use of hafted tools 28 , the long distance transport of raw materials 29 , the production and use of small tools 30 , or the development of blade technologies 31 are more common in Neandertal technology than previously thought 32 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First data of Neandertal bird and carnivore exploitation in the Cantabrian Region (Axlor; Barandiaran excavations; Dima, Biscay, Northern Iberian Peninsula)

Gómez‐Olivencia

Sala

Núñez‐Lahuerta

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Neandertals were top predators who basically relied on middle- to large-sized ungulates for dietary purposes, but there is growing evidence that supports their consumption of plants, leporids, tortoises, marine resources, carnivores and birds. The Iberian Peninsula has provided the most abundant record of bird exploitation for meat in Europe, starting in the Middle Pleistocene. However, the bird and carnivore exploitation record was hitherto limited to the Mediterranean area of the Iberian Peninsula. Here we present the first evidence of bird and carnivore exploitation by Neandertals in the Cantabrian region. We have found cut-marks in two golden eagles, one raven, one wolf and one lynx remain from the Mousterian levels of Axlor. The obtaining of meat was likely the primary purpose of the cut-marks on the golden eagle and lynx remains. Corvids, raptors, felids and canids in Axlor could have likely acted as commensals of the Neandertals, scavenging upon the carcasses left behind by these hunter-gatherers. This could have brought them closer to Neandertal groups who could have preyed upon them. These new results provide additional information on their dietary scope and indicate a more complex interaction between Neandertals and their environment.

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“…Indeed, taphonomic analyses revealed that there are natural agents that can produce “pseudo‐artefacts” (Brain, 1980; D'Errico & Giacobini, 1988; Villa & D'Errico, 2001). However, today, we know that undoubtedly bones were sometimes employed as tools after minimal or null prior modification: the digging sticks from Swartkrans are a good example (D'Errico & Backwell, 2003), and other cases have been published for the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic, both in Europe and in Africa (Barham et al, 2000, 2002; D'Errico, 2007; Mozota, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neanderthal use of animal bones as retouchers at the Level XV of the Sopeña rock shelter (Asturias, northern Spain)

Romero,

Yravedra,

Grandal‐d'Anglade

et al. 2023

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Bone retouchers are a technological appliance used to perfect lithic tools efficiently. They are most frequently found in Middle Palaeolithic contexts. In this paper, we present a group of bone retouchers from the Mousterian Level XV of the Sopeña rock shelter (Asturias, Spain). The bone part preferred was the middle part of the shaft of long bones: Most of them are on metacarpals, followed by metatarsals, femurs, and tibias. The most used animal species is adult red deer. These retouchers have either one, two, or three active areas, with a central disposition. The impact marks are close together; oval pits are common, as well as straight, sinuous, and irregular grooves. The surfaces on these marks appear pitted and scaled. There are indications that the bones employed were relatively fresh. The length, width, and thickness of those bone fragments seem to be the determining factor when choosing them to be used as retouchers in the process of finishing lithic tools. The formats documented in Sopeña Level XV are similar to those found in other Mousterian sites in Iberia, although there is a certain variability regarding their width. The Neanderthals of Sopeña acquired the raw material for these retouchers from the faunal remains generated in the process of butchering and eating the animals. These retouchers were used as implements to perfect lithic tools made mainly on quartzite, and they were used repeatedly and maybe for a long time.

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Los útiles óseos “poco elaborados” en el Paleolítico inferior y medio y su continuidad en el Paleolítico superior. Una revisión historiográfica

Abstract: Los útiles óseos "poco elaborados" en el

Cited by 7 publications

References 17 publications

Knapping tools in Magdalenian contexts: New evidence from Gough’s Cave (Somerset, UK)

Knapping tools in Magdalenian contexts: New evidence from Gough’s Cave (Somerset, UK)

First data of Neandertal bird and carnivore exploitation in the Cantabrian Region (Axlor; Barandiaran excavations; Dima, Biscay, Northern Iberian Peninsula)

Neanderthal use of animal bones as retouchers at the Level XV of the Sopeña rock shelter (Asturias, northern Spain)

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