Diversité des outils et des activités de percussionà la fin du MIS 9 dans le niveau 6 d’Orgnac 3(Ardèche, France)

Abstract

Layer 6 of Orgnac 3 corresponds to a cave occupation, dated to the end of MIS 9. It yielded numerous lithic and paleontological remains, and witnesses of diverse hominin activities. This paper aims to consider percussive activities from both lithic material and fauna, according to a technological and traceologicalological analysis. Knapping activities are dominant, based on the presence of hammerstones and retouchers (from bone and lithic materials). Recycling phenomena were also highlighted, with cores used as hammerstones. A flake-bulb presents also typical wear marks due to its use as retoucher (“éclat à bulbe piqueté”). These phenomena are usual during the Middle Palaeolithic and are here presented from the first stages of these lithic techno-complexes. Among the shaped pieces, a chopper bears macro-wear marks typical of use in launched percussion on a non-mineral hard material (bone?). Herbivorous remains present anthropic fractures for marrow extraction, diaphysis fragments being further punctually used as retouchers. Percussive activities have an important role in prehistoric lifeways (knapping activities, acquisition and transformation of raw materials linked to subsistence). The diversity of the percussive tool-kit testifies to a technological specialisation, while recycling shows the hominins adaptive skills to their environment.

Bone tools, carnivore chewing and heavy percussion: assessing conflicting interpretations of Lower and Upper Palaeolithic bone assemblages

“…These include sites with osseous knapping tools associated with final Acheulean and 'transitional' Middle Palaeolithic lithic industries, the latter including early prepared core (Levallosian) technologies. Well-studied examples include Atapuerca (Gran Dolina, TD10), Bolomor Cave and Cueva del Angel in Spain [47][48][49][50], as well as Cagny-l'Epinette, Orgnac 3, and Terra Amata in France [50][51][52][53][54][55]. The osseous knapping tools from these sites predominantly consist of long-bone shaft fragments.…”

Rethinking Orgnac 3 in Time and Space: Implications for Reconstructing Neandertal Origins

“…More recent work has continued to examine the evidence at Orgnac 3 for the emergence of Levallois core technology (Moncel et al 2020), and technological and traceological analysis of percussion activities on both lithic and faunal material (Mathias et al 2021).…”