Current archaeological paradigm proposes that the first peopling of the Americas does not exceed the Last Glacial Maximum period. In this context, the acceptance of the anthropogenic character of the earliest stone artefacts generally rests on the presence of projectile points considered no more as typocentric but as typognomonic, since it allows, by itself, to certify the human character of the other associated artefacts. In other words, without this presence, nothing is certain. Archaeological research at Piauí (Brazil) attests to a Pleistocene human presence between 41 and 14 cal kyr BP, without any record of lithic projectile points. Here, we report the discovery and interpretation of an unusual stone artefact in the Vale da Pedra Furada site, in a context dating back to 24 cal kyr BP. The knapping stigmata and macroscopic use-wear traces reveal a conception centred on the configuration of double bevels and the production in the same specimen of at least two successive artefacts with probably different functions. This piece unambiguously presents an anthropic character and reveals a technical novelty during the Pleistocene occupation of South America.
Les nouvelles recherches menées à Atella sont financées par l'École française de Rome, dans le cadre de l'axe 2 du projet quinquennal PALEO. Les recherches sur place sont soutenues par la Commune d'Atella et la région Basilicate. L'autorisation de fouille et d'étude du matériel nous est confiée par la Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio della Basilicata, concession MIBACT, DGABAP n o 17811 du 27/06/2019. Les cahiers de fouilles, ainsi que les anciennes collections, sont conservés au Museo archeologico nazionale del Melfese, et accessibles grâce à la bienveillance du Professeur E. Borzatti von Löwenstern. Les analyses et missions de terrains sont prises en charge par les institutions des chercheurs qui collaborent au projet : Jean-Jacques Bahain (UMR
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