Solutrean laurel leaf production at Maîtreaux: an experimental approach guided by techno-economic analysis

Abstract

International audienceLarge-sized Solutrean laurel leaf typology has been defined on the basis of the exceptional pieces found at Volgu, France, in 1874. The geographical distribution of this rare type of large bifacial piece is limited to the border of the French Massif Central. Located at the northern limit of this distribution area, the Maıˆ treaux site provides new data on the reduction schemes of these pieces. Refitted sequences indicate that the Solutrean presence was motivated by the exploitation of local flint resources to produce reserves of lithic tools and/or blanks, elements for composite projectiles and preforms for exportation and later finishing and use/retouch elsewhere. Results of technoeconomic and spatial analyses are compared with those of an experimental project, mostly centred on laurel leaf techno-economy. This integrated experimental approach strongly contributes to the on-going social interpretation of the Maıˆ treaux group, allowing us better to characterize and quantify the remains of laurel leaf reduction processes. Also produced were in situ ‘undisturbed' knapping features for taphonomic reference and interpretation. At the site scale, experimental work coupled with spatial and techno-economic analysis is relevant for the interpretation of different geoarchaeological, technical and social aspects of the archaeological record. At a regional scale, experimental work on the available raw materials in each geographic zone is required to clarify issues related to raw-material procurement, exploitation and circulation, such as regional lithic resource exploitation strategies and inter-site discontinuities of production

Still Bay Point-Production Strategies at Hollow Rock Shelter and Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter and Knowledge-Transfer Systems in Southern Africa at about 80-70 Thousand Years Ago

“…The proposed sequence is in line with what has been described for the similarly thin, leaf-like point-production ‘stages’ for the European Solutrean [57]. Hence, the approach is applicable to invasively retouched point-production sequences regardless of context.…”

The Still Bay points of Blombos Cave (South Africa)

“…Failure rates of 37% are reported for the final phase of manufacturing of Folsom points (Sellet, 2004). Manufacturing breaks and unfinished pieces are common at the Solutrean site of Maitreaux (Aubry et al, 2008; counts not yet available). The proportion of production rejects and broken specimens at Blombos is higher but still comparable to those occurring at much later sites on easier-to-flake materials used by the skilled Solutrean and Paleoindian stone knappers.…”

“…It is likely that some of the finished points were taken out of the site and used for hunting elsewhere, as at Paleoindian sites (Sellet, 2004), Solutrean sites (Aubry et al, 2008) and even in earlier times, at some Maastricht-Belvé dè re localities where Mousterian points and other wellmade tools were made in situ and then transported away (De Loecker, 2004;Villa, 2006). This may be an example of long-term planning and of producing hunting weaponry in anticipation of future needs.…”

Elongation as a factor in artefacts of humans and other animals: an Acheulean example in comparative context

“…These were made in many regions and at many times. Best known are the Solutrean points of France and Spain (ca 20 000 years ago), made on large blade blanks [61]. Replication studies of these intensely worked bifacial tools demonstrate the complexities of manufacture and show that one challenge for the maker was to maintain the length of the piece while narrowing it from the sides in the final flaking process.…”