No Reliable Evidence for a Neanderthal-Châtelperronian Association at La Roche-à-Pierrot, Saint-Césaire

Abstract

The demise of Neanderthals and their interaction with dispersing anatomically modern human populations remain some of the most contentious issues in palaeoanthropology. The Châtelperronian, now generally recognized as the first genuine Upper Palaeolithic industry in Western Europe and commonly attributed to the Neanderthals, plays a pivotal role in these debates. The Neanderthal authorship of this techno-complex is based on reported associations of Neanderthal skeletal material with Châtelperronian assemblages at only two sites, La Roche-à-Pierrot (Saint-Césaire) and the Grotte du Renne (Arcy-sur-Cure). The reliability of such an association has, however, been the subject of heated controversy. Here we present a detailed taphonomic, spatial and typo-technological reassessment of the level (EJOP sup) containing the Neanderthal skeletal material at Saint-Césaire. Our assessment of a new larger sample of lithic artifacts, combined with a systematic refitting program and spatial projections of diagnostic artifacts, produced no reliable evidence for a Neanderthal-Châtelperronian association at the site. These results significantly impact current models concerning the Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic transition in Western Europe and force a critical reappraisal of who exactly were the makers of the Châtelperronian.

Aspects of human physical and behavioural evolution during the last 1 million years

“…Results from Canaule II (France) and Arcy-sur-Cure suggest that the Châtelperronian layers are distinct from the Mousterian and Aurignacian layers and are therefore a unique entity, innovation or example of cultural succession, rather than the result of a mix of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic traditions (Bachellerie et al, 2007;Villa and Roebroeks, 2014;Rocca et al, 2017), although Ruebens et al (2015) provide interesting discussions on the emergence of the Châtelperronian out of the Mousterian tradition. Gravina et al (2018) further demonstrate through a detailed taphonomic, spatial and typo-technological reassessment of the Neanderthal skeletal layers from Saint-Césaire that there is no reliable evidence for a Neanderthal Châtelperronian at the site. It would therefore seem that there is still uncertainty as to the true nature of the Châtelperronian in Europe, as well as its authorship.…”

“…Gravina et al . () further demonstrate through a detailed taphonomic, spatial and typo‐technological reassessment of the Neanderthal skeletal layers from Saint‐Césaire that there is no reliable evidence for a Neanderthal Châtelperronian at the site. It would therefore seem that there is still uncertainty as to the true nature of the Châtelperronian in Europe, as well as its authorship.…”

Lithic techno-complexes in Italy from 50 to 39 thousand years BP: An overview of lithic technological changes across the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary

“…Harvati et al, 2019), very few of the assemblages composing them are associated with diagnostic human remains (e.g. Hublin, 2015;Gravina et al, 2018).…”

Middle Paleolithic complex technology and a Neandertal tar-backed tool from the Dutch North Sea

“…Examples are recent advances in our understanding of Neandertal pyrotechnology (4) and the use of multicomponent tools that rely on hafting and adhesives (5,6). However, despite this mounting evidence, the degree of Neandertal technological innovation is still under debate (7,8). This discussion is complicated, as it is not always specified why a certain behavior or technology is considered complex.…”