Not so unusual Neanderthal bone tools: new examples from Abri Lartet, France

Baumann, Malvina; Ready, Elspeth; Plisson, Hugues; Maury, Serge; Vanderesse, Nicolas; Coqueugniot, Hélène; Колобова, К. А.; Morin, Eugène

doi:10.1007/s12520-022-01674-4

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is also related to a compartmentalization between the fields of expertise necessary for its identification: at Chez-Pinaud site, bone tools other than the retouchers are only highlighted in the part of US22 currently studied. Nevertheless, regardless of the cognitive value attributed to the use of bone material and its transformation techniques [ 169 ], bone tools shed light on related technical registers that are little or not documented through lithic tools and provides complementary information on Middle Paleolithic subsistence strategies. There is thus a promising avenue of research to be further explored.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scraping was used to shape and/or clean the smooth-ended rib, while abrasion was used to shape and/or rejuvenate the tip. Only one specimen from the Chez-Pinaud site is currently available, but other smooth-ended ribs shaped by scraping and/or abrasion have already been reported in Middle Paleolithic assemblages dated between 75 and 45 ka ago, including those from Abri Peyrony and Pech de l'Aze ´ [30], La Quina [41], Axlor [36], Zaskalnaya VI [21] [169]. Within the Quina levels of Chez-Pinaud, direct percussion is widely applied, for shaping or resharpening the lateral edges and bevels and, possibly, for shaping out the prehensile parts.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

On the Quina side: A Neanderthal bone industry at Chez-Pinaud site, France

Baumann

Plisson

Maury³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Did Neanderthal produce a bone industry? The recent discovery of a large bone tool assemblage at the Neanderthal site of Chagyrskaya (Altai, Siberia, Russia) and the increasing discoveries of isolated finds of bone tools in various Mousterian sites across Eurasia stimulate the debate. Assuming that the isolate finds may be the tip of the iceberg and that the Siberian occurrence did not result from a local adaptation of easternmost Neanderthals, we looked for evidence of a similar industry in the Western side of their spread area. We assessed the bone tool potential of the Quina bone-bed level currently under excavation at chez Pinaud site (Jonzac, Charente-Maritime, France) and found as many bone tools as flint ones: not only the well-known retouchers but also beveled tools, retouched artifacts and a smooth-ended rib. Their diversity opens a window on a range of activities not expected in a butchering site and not documented by the flint tools, all involved in the carcass processing. The re-use of 20% of the bone blanks, which are mainly from large ungulates among faunal remains largely dominated by reindeer, raises the question of blank procurement and management. From the Altai to the Atlantic shore, through a multitude of sites where only a few objects have been reported so far, evidence of a Neanderthal bone industry is emerging which provides new insights on Middle Paleolithic subsistence strategies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

On the Quina side: A Neanderthal bone industry at Chez-Pinaud site, France

Baumann

Plisson

Maury³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Disentangling carcass processing activities and the state of worked hide from use-wear patterns on expedient bone tools: A preliminary experiment

Doyon

Zhang

et al. 2023

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

First identification of a Neanderthal bone spear point through an interdisciplinary analysis at Abric Romaní (NE Iberian Peninsula)

Mateo-Lomba,

Ollé,

Fernández-Marchena

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Osseous industry has been observed at an increasing number of Neanderthal sites. Bone fragments were used for practical purposes, and a range of bone shaping techniques were employed. The variability of bone tools observed in different assemblages reflects considerable functional diversity. However, no bone spear points have been reported from these contexts. A comprehensive analysis of a bone spear point from the Middle Palaeolithic site of Abric Romaní (Barcelona, Spain) is presented. Through an interdisciplinary, multi-technique, and multi-scale approach combining technology, taphonomy, and functional analysis, compelling evidence for manufacture, use, and hafting was uncovered. The specimen exhibits clear signs of intentional knapping. The presence of microscopic linear impact marks, an impact fracture at the tip and potential internal stress fractures indicate its use as a spear. Furthermore, the observed wear pattern and a morphological adjustment of the trabecular tissue support the hafting hypothesis. Abric Romaní contributes to our understanding of Neanderthal hunting behaviour and the significance of composite bone tools in their technological repertoire 50,000 years ago. This discovery highlights the flexibility and adaptability of Neanderthal technology, providing evidence of bone technology that is sometimes obscured in the archaeological record and offering valuable insights into their hunting strategies during the Middle Palaeolithic.

show abstract

Not so unusual Neanderthal bone tools: new examples from Abri Lartet, France

Cited by 5 publications

References 49 publications

On the Quina side: A Neanderthal bone industry at Chez-Pinaud site, France

On the Quina side: A Neanderthal bone industry at Chez-Pinaud site, France

Disentangling carcass processing activities and the state of worked hide from use-wear patterns on expedient bone tools: A preliminary experiment

First identification of a Neanderthal bone spear point through an interdisciplinary analysis at Abric Romaní (NE Iberian Peninsula)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About