Acheulean technical behaviors in Aldène cave (Cesseras, Hérault, France)

Rossoni-Notter, Elena; Notter, Olivier; Simone, Suzanne; Simon, Patrick

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.016

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Further implications concerning the increasing complexity highlighted in core technology management for this period (especially regarding the length of the reduction sequences and surfaces' centripetal conception) are now at the centre of an important debate regarding the genesis of more predetermined method (i.e. Levallois and Discoid; Ollé et al, 2013;Moncel et al, 2014;2020b;Rossoni-Notter et al, 2016). We suggest that the opportunistic debitage could be the starting point for this process, carrying within itself a great methodological and cultural potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

Carpentieri

Arzarello

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The opportunistic debitage, originally adapted from Forestier’s S.S.D.A. definition, is characterized by a strong adaptability to local raw material morphology and its physical characteristics and it is oriented towards flake production. Its most ancient evidence is related to the first European peopling by Homo sp. during Lower Pleistocene starting from 1.6 Ma and gradually increasing around 1 Ma. In these sites a great heterogeneity of the reduction sequences and raw materials employed is highlighted, bringing to the identification of multiple technical behaviours. However, the scientific community does not always agree on associating the concepts of opportunism and method to describe these lithic complexes. The same methodological issues remain for the Middle Pleistocene where, simultaneously to an increase of the archaeological evidence and the persistence of the opportunistic debitage, the first bifacial complexes are attested. Further implications concerning the increasing complexity highlighted in core technology management are now at the centre of an important debate regarding the genesis of more specialized method (Levallois and Discoid) especially during MIS 12 and MIS 9. We suggest that the opportunistic debitage could be the starting point for this process, carrying within itself a great methodological and cultural potential.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

Carpentieri

Arzarello

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

Carpentieri¹,

Arzarello²

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The opportunistic debitage, originally adapted from Forestier’s S.S.D.A. definition, is characterized by a strong adaptability to local raw material morphology and its physical characteristics and it is oriented towards flake production. Its most ancient evidences are related to the first European peopling by Homo sp. during Lower Pleistocene starting from 1.6 Ma and gradually increasing around 1 Ma. In these sites a great heterogeneity of the reduction sequences and raw materials employed is highlighted, bringing to the identification of multiple technical behaviours. However, the scientific community does not always agree on associating the concepts of opportunism and method to describe these lithic complexes. The same methodological issues remain for the Middle Pleistocene where, simultaneously to an increase of the archaeological evidences and the persistence of the opportunistic debitage, the first bifacial complexes are attested. Further implications concerning the increasing complexity highlighted in core technology management are now at the centre of an important debate regarding the genesis of more specialized method (Levallois and Discoid) especially during MIS 12 and MIS 9. We suggest that the opportunistic debitage could be the starting point for this process, carrying within itself a great methodological and cultural potential. Its flexibility and capability to be adopted through different chronological and cultural phases are the principles outlining a flaking method by definition.

show abstract

“…But new behaviors are also apparent, reflected by more complex prepared core technologies, first evident from MIS 12. Multiple origins are suggested by the variety of methods from re-purposing of bifaces at Cagny-la-Garenne in MIS 12 (France; Lamotte and Tuffreau, 2001) to Levallois technology at Guado San Nicola in late MIS 11 (Italy; Peretto et al, 2016) and sites such as Orgnac, Aldène (both France), Cave Dall'Olio (Italy), Nor Geghi 1 (Armenia) and Purfleet (UK) in MIS 9 (White and Ashton, 2003;Moncel et al, 2011Moncel et al, , 2012Moncel et al, , 2020bScott, 2011;Scott and Ashton, 2011;Fontana et al, 2013;Turq et al, 2013;Adler et al, 2014;Rossoni-Notter et al 2016). Both debitage and façonnage was increasingly used to produce standardized products, although many other sites maintained bifacial technology in association with simpler core reduction methods (i.e., Herisson et al, 2012;Moncel et al, 2015;Davis and Ashton, 2019).…”

Section: In the Context Of Late Middle Pleistocene Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Acheulean variability in Western Europe: The case of Menez-Dregan I (Plouhinec, Finistère, France)

Ravon

García-Medrano

Moncel

et al. 2022

Journal of Human Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The establishment of the Acheulean in Europe occurred after MIS 17, but it was after the harsh glaciation of MIS 12 and during the long interglacial of MIS 11 that human occupation of western Europe became more sustained, with an increased number of sites. Menez-Dregan I (Brittany, France) is one of the key sites in western Europe that dates from this threshold, with an alternating sequence of 16 occupation levels and four marine deposits, from MIS 12 to 8. The large lithic assemblages of over 154,000 artifacts from knapping (cores, flakes) and shaping (macro-tools and shaping flakes) show the varying use of raw materials and activities at the site through the sequence. This work focuses on the study of the handaxes and cleavers using technological and metrical methods with multivariate analysis, in combination with geometric morphometrics, and places these analyses within the context of other technological changes at the site. Collectively, results show the persistent use through the sequence of the same lithic raw materials and technologies, including fire-use and the import of glossy sandstone from 20 km away, but with variation in activities at the site. These findings suggest that Menez-Dregan I shows the development of a specific material culture that reflects the local resources and environment. Results further indicate that the site shows the sustained hominin occupation of the area, despite varying climate and environment, with strong traditions of social learning that were maintained through flexibility of site-use, deep understanding of the local territory and the innovation of new technologies, such as the use of fire. Evidence from the site is placed within the wider context of Europe, and contrasted with areas to the north, such as Britain, where hominin occupation was more sporadic and driven by cyclical climate change.

show abstract

Acheulean technical behaviors in Aldène cave (Cesseras, Hérault, France)

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

Acheulean variability in Western Europe: The case of Menez-Dregan I (Plouhinec, Finistère, France)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About