Bladelet cores as weapon tips? Hafting residue identification and micro-wear analysis of three carinated burins from the late Aurignacian of Les Vachons, France

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe interpretation of Upper Palaeolithic carinated lithic forms as discarded cores from the production of bladelets is now well established and the weight of evidence to support this indisputable. However, it is also clear that the relationships between lithic typology, technology and function are complex. Presented here are micro-wear analyses of three carinated burins from the late Aurignacian level of Les Vachons, France. The remains of birch pitch adhering to the artefacts are clear evidence that they were hafted; the first time this material has been identified on Aurignacian artefacts. Thus, while the techno-morphology of the artefacts is consistent with their role as bladelet cores our results indicate that they functioned as hafted tools. Unlike other Middle and Upper Palaeolithic industries the Aurignacian is not thought to include (non-bladelet) lithic weapon tips. However, due to patterns of use-wear present on two of the artefacts we suggest that this was their most plausible hafted function.

Hard core and cutting edge: experimental manufacture and use of Magdalenian composite projectile tips

“…); it is compatible with the known evidence of the use of ochre and resin in Palaeolithic adhesives (Allain and Rigaud, 1989;Audouin and Plisson, 1982;Lombard, 2005Lombard, , 2007Wadley, 2005Wadley, , 2006. The second type of adhesive was birch-bark pitch, whose use is widely attested from the Mesolithic onwards (Aveling and Heron, 1999) but was recently documented as early as the Middle Palaeolithic (Grünberg, 2002;Koller et al, 2001;Mazza et al, 2006) and the Aurignacian (Dinnis et al, 2009). On the Lower Magdalenian points, the microliths were ranked according to size: the "head bladelet" (the one closest to the tip of the point) was always chosen among the smaller microliths, and the larger ones were set towards the base (second and third ranks).…”

“…4: Ivanovskoye 7 (layer IV), Upper Volga, Russia (after Zhilin, 1998). See also Dolukhanov, 2008. In the few existing projectile experiments with laterally-hafted UP bladelets, the flint artifacts were set directly on the side of pointed wooden arrow shafts (Moss, 1983;Moss and Newcomer, 1982), or hafted as "barbs" on flint-tipped projectiles (Crombé et al, 2001). Almost all projectile experiments with osseous points involved only projectile heads without flint bladelets (see survey in .…”

The Howiesons Poort and MSA III at Klasies River main site, Cave 1A

“…a man-made material, produced by heating rolls of birch bark between 340 and 400 in an oxygen-free atmosphere. Experimental work suggests that pitch could have been produced by placing the lit bark in a narrow pit, causing the removal of oxygen from its immediate surrounding and producing a sticky liquid (Dinnis et al, 2009;Koller et al, 2001). In this case, anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals have come up with equivalent solutions to the same problem.…”

Behavioural Complexity and Modern Traits in the Philippine Upper Palaeolithic

“…Micropolishes can develop diagnostic features that allow the identification of specific contact materials ( keeley 1980;Vaughan 1985). Along with the detection of wear patterns, residues of the contact material adhering to stone tool surfaces are sometimes found, allowing direct evidence of the origin and nature of the worked material and activities conducted by tool users (e.g., Anderson 1980;Christensen et al 1992;dinnis et al 2009;Fullagar 1998;Hardy and Garufi 1998;kealhofer et al 1999;Pawlik 1995Pawlik , 2004bPawlik , 2004crots 2003;rots and williamson 2004;Torrence and Barton 2006).…”

“…Hafted composite tools and the making of hafting mastic for fixing lithic armatures in wooden shafts have been observed in european Micoquien and Aurignacien assemblages ( dinnis et al 2009;Pawlik andThissen 2008, 2011). They are considered components of the european and African package (Ambrose 2010;deacon 2000;keeley 1982;wurz 1999).…”