Добірка наукової літератури з теми "Lithic armatures"

Lithic armatures have been widely noted as key evidence for interpreting the role of indigenous Mesolithic traditions in the spread of the Early Neolithic Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culture, and therefore early agriculture, across temperate Europe. Their role as evidence for the continuity of Mesolithic ‘identities’ has been emphasized without the use of a unified, systematic recording methodology of armatures from both Late–Final Mesolithic (LM–FM) and LBK sites that places armatures in their broader context as part of projectile technologies of late hunter-gatherers and early farmers. In this paper, we present the results of recent research in the southern North Sea basin that utilized a systematic and unified recording methodology to analyse armature assemblages from LM–FM and LBK sites on an inter-regional scale. We report that there is much more inter-regional variability in armature assemblages during the LM than traditionally considered in efforts to interpret similarities and possible cultural transmission processes between Mesolithic and LBK populations. This paper calls for a reassessment of inter-regional LM variability in the construction of Mesolithic-LBK contact models and a focus that places armatures in their broader social and technological contexts.

Abstract What determines the choice of a particular lithic solution from among the set of knowledge and skills that are part of the cultural background of a group? The Early Mesolithic of the SW Iberian Peninsula shows a high diversity of lithic solutions considering the various aspects of the manufacturing process. At each site, the group selects the most adequate solution to respond efficiently to the needs. Contemporary sites may document quite different lithic components; there are no recurring patterns. Macrolithic and microlithic technologies were adopted, depending on the site, but the selection of one rather than another seems to be independent of the function of the site. Then, what does dictate the choice? A number of factors come to mind such as environmental contingencies, purpose, ability, and ethnicity. This Early Mesolithic defining trait diverges from the pattern observed for the final Upper Palaeolithic, where the same constellation of tools is systematically represented in the archaeological record, as well as flint, even in regions where flint as a natural resource is absent. Macrolithic technologies directed towards the massive production of cutting edges and heavy-duty tools produced from medium coarse-grained rocks co-exist, in SW Iberian Early Mesolithic, with microlithic technologies focused on the production of small bladelets made from good quality chert types and transformed into tiny armatures. Although contemporaneous, each lithic solution has its own geographical identity. How should we study these distinctive productions while at the same time respecting their diversity? No analytical template is sufficiently comprehensible to enable us to understand the multitude of “memories” that lithics carry. However, some approaches can help us to overcome the impasse by letting us read the hidden histories that lie behind lithic artefacts.

Archaeological systematics, together with spatial and chronological information, are commonly used to infer cultural evolutionary dynamics in the past. For the study of the Palaeolithic, and particularly the European Final Palaeolithic and earliest Mesolithic, proposed changes in material culture are often interpreted as reflecting historical processes, migration, or cultural adaptation to climate change and resource availability. Yet, cultural taxonomic practice is known to be variable across research history and academic traditions, and few large-scale replicable analyses across such traditions have been undertaken. Drawing on recent developments in computational archaeology, we here present a data-driven assessment of the existing Final Palaeolithic/earliest Mesolithic cultural taxonomy in Europe. Our dataset consists of a large expert-sourced compendium of key sites, lithic toolkit composition, blade and bladelet production technology, as well as lithic armatures. The dataset comprises 16 regions and 86 individually named archaeological taxa (‘cultures’), covering the period between ca. 15,000 and 11,000 years ago (cal BP). Using these data, we use geometric morphometric and multivariate statistical techniques to explore to what extent the dynamics observed in different lithic data domains (toolkits, technologies, armature shapes) correspond to each other and to the culture-historical relations of taxonomic units implied by traditional naming practice. Our analyses support the widespread conception that some dimensions of material culture became more diverse towards the end of the Pleistocene and the very beginning of the Holocene. At the same time, cultural taxonomic unit coherence and efficacy appear variable, leading us to explore potential biases introduced by regional research traditions, inter-analyst variation, and the role of disjunct macroevolutionary processes. In discussing the implications of these findings for narratives of cultural change and diversification across the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, we emphasize the increasing need for cooperative research and systematic archaeological analyses that reach across research traditions.

There is little doubt that the small lithic assemblage from the Isles of Scilly is totally different to that from any other Mesolithic site in Britain. As the authors correctly state, the general resemblances to trapeze-dominated assemblages from the continent, in particular to the Late and Final Mesolithic industries from northern France, Belgium and the southern Netherlands, are very obvious. Typologically, the majority of armatures relate to continental rhombic trapezes, called ‘trapèzes à bases décalées’. Upon closer examination, however, several armatures display morphological or technical features that deviate from continental trapezes, making the Scilly assemblage both unique and enigmatic within north-west Europe. In particular, the presence of a dorsally or ventrally retouched base between both truncations on at least 20 of the armatures (p. 962, fig. 5) is remarkable. This is a feature that does not occur on continental trapezes, not even on the evolved rhombic trapezes known as flèches de Dreuil. The latter are particularly numerous in assemblages from the Somme valley (Ducrocq 1991), near the coast where the Channel crossing is narrowest. The combination of a length–width ratio typically <1 and the general use of flakes as blanks prompts us to interpret these implements as transverse arrowheads rather than standard trapezes. Pursuing this interpretation, the basal retouch might have been applied in order to facilitate their hafting, while the irregular small ‘splinters’ on the unretouched opposite end, visible on several of the drawings, might correspond to damage resulting from use.

Projectile technology is commonly viewed as a significant contributor to past human subsistence and, consequently, to our evolution. Due to the allegedly central role of projectile weapons in the food-getting strategies of Upper Palaeolithic people, typo-technological changes in the European lithic record have often been linked to supposed developments in hunting weaponry. Yet, relatively little reliable functional data is currently available that would aid the detailed reconstruction of past weapon designs. In this paper, we take a use-wear approach to the backed tool assemblages from the Recent and Final Gravettian layers (Levels 3 and 2) of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France). Our use of strict projectile identification criteria relying on combinations of low and high magnification features and our critical view of the overlap between production and use-related fractures permitted us to confidently identify a large number of used armatures in both collections. By isolating lithic projectiles with the strongest evidence of impact and by recording wear attributes on them in detail, we could establish that the hunting equipment used during the Level 3 occupations involved both lithic weapon tips and composite points armed with lithic inserts. By contrast, the Level 2 assemblage reflects a heavy reliance on composite points in hunting reindeer and other game. Instead of an entirely new weapon design, the Level 2 collection therefore marks a shift in weapon preferences. Using recent faunal data, we discuss the significance of the observed diachronic change from the point of view of prey choice, seasonality, and social organisation of hunting activities. Our analysis shows that to understand their behavioural significance, typo-technological changes in the lithic record must be viewed in the light of functional data and detailed contextual information.

The end of the Palaeolithic represents one of the least-known periods in the history of western Africa, both in terms of its chronology and the identification of cultural assemblages entities based on the typo-technical analyses of its industries. In this context, the site of Fatandi V offers new data to discuss the cultural pattern during the Late Stone Age in western Africa. Stratigraphic, taphonomical and sedimentological analyses show the succession of three sedimentary units. Several concentrations with rich lithic material were recognized. An in situ occupation, composed of bladelets, segments, and bladelet and flake cores, is confirmed while others concentrations of lithic materials have been more or less disturbed by erosion and pedogenic post-depositional processes. The sequence is well-dated from 12 convergent OSL dates. Thanks to the dating of the stratigraphic units and an OSL date from the layer (11,300–9,200 BCE [13.3–11.2 ka at 68%, 14.3–10.3 ka at 95%]), the artefacts are dated to the end of Pleistocene or Early Holocene. Palaeoenvironmental data suggest that the settlement took place within a mosaic environment and more precisely at the transition between the open landscape of savanna on the glacis and the plateau, and the increasingly densely-wooded alluvial corridor. These humid areas must have been particularly attractive during the dry season by virtue of their rich resources (raw materials, water, trees, and bushes). The Fatandi V site constitutes the first stratified site of the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary in Senegal with both precise geochronological and palaeoenvironmental data. It complements perfectly the data already obtained in Mali and in the rest of western Africa, and thus constitutes a reference point for this period. In any case, the assemblage of Fatandi V, with its bladelets and segments and in the absence of ceramics and grinding material, fits with a cultural group using exclusively geometric armatures which strongly differs from another group characterized by the production of bifacial armatures, accompanied in its initial phase by ceramics (or stoneware) and grinding material.

Abstract The use of weapons, and therefore of arrowheads, contributed to structuring the technical, economic, social and cultural domains. In the technical sphere, emblematic projectile armatures are often considered to be loaded with cultural values and to embody the expression of human group identity. The study of their variability, in time and space, can shed light on mechanisms of mutation and innovation stemming from adaptative strategies and cultural choices. During the seventh and sixth millennia, the renewal of arrowheads corresponds to major changes in lithic equipment. Between the Late Mesolithic and the Early Neolithic, we observe a diversification of arrowhead shapes and the evolution of represented types. These observations enhance interpretative scenarios, especially questions concerning the transfer of know-how, techno-economic renewal and neolithisation. This article proposes to study these changes at the sequence of the Baume de Montclus site, a key site in Southern France. The selected sequence covers 1.5 millennia of occupation, roughly from 6500 to 5000 cal. BCE, with a corpus of geometric bitruncations of about 650 pieces. The combined study of microwear and technological and typological data leads to a comprehensive interpretation of manufacturing processes, hafting methods and function. These analyses provide valuable information on the diversity of arrowheads, the identification of specific technical traditions and the characterisation of techno-functional ruptures throughout this sequence. These results will subsequently be integrated into a wider, regional and extra-regional context, with a particular focus on the emergence of blade and trapeze complexes (BTC) and the neolithisation of the western Mediterranean basin.

This Ph.D thesis focuses on manufacturing modalities of lithic armatures during the Late Glacial and the first part of the Early Holocene in two specific areas: North-Eastern Italy and South-Western France. Since the earliest studies between the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the typological variability of lithic armatures and other specific traits in lithic and osseous technology have allowed establishing a cultural separation between the Western-Atlantic and Mediterranean-Balkan regions after the Gravettian period. According to the latest studies the former is characterized by the Solutrean-Badegoulian-Magdalenian-Azilian-Laborian sequence, whereas the second one attests to the development of the Early and the Late Epigravettian. Both regions analysed are then characterized by evidence referring to the Sauveterrian. The aim of this project was to contribute to the definition of the cultural framework in these two regions and to verify if this clear typological specificity corresponds to a difference in production modalities, especially on manufacturing methods and retouch techniques. To answer this question, armatures from six sites located in South-Western France and North-Eastern Italy have been analysed. For the Italian area we selected Late Epigravettian and Sauveterrian sites from Friuli and the Venetian Pre-Alps and Alps spanning from the latest part of the Oldest Dryas (GS-2a) to the beginning of the Early Holocene (17.000-10.000 cal BP). For the French area we choose two multi-layered sites covering approximately the same chronological span of the Italian ones and referred to the Upper Magdalenian, Early and Late Azilian and Early Laborian. Any Late Laborian and Sauveterrian French sites have been analysed. Armatures were examined by applying a specifically designed methodology. This is based on two complementary approaches, an experimental and a technological one. Both were aimed at reconstructing the whole chaîne opératoire of armatures manufacture. Three main experimental sessions were carried out: the 1st experimentation was dedicated to the investigation of retouch techniques, the 2nd one was aimed at examining the microburin blow technique and the 3rd was focused on other fracturing techniques effective to achieve a controlled fracture. The experimental sample was then analysed by combining a low and high magnifications analysis and a quantitative approach creating a new protocol for the study of lithic backed armatures. Such a combined approach is often used in use-wear analysis but has rarely been applied to the production of lithic artefacts. Applying this type of analysis at a large scale allowed observing the variability of Late Glacial armatures in a new light. Despite the considerable morpho-functional divergences among armatures from the two territories analysed, common transformations concerning blanks selection and both retouch methods and techniques were recorded. Although the reason to such a trend can be research into the similar environmental transformations occurred in both areas along the Late Glacial and the beginning of the Early Holocene which may similarly affect different human groups, the occurrence of analogous technical practise over a large territory suggests the presence of important social networks linking Eastern and Western societies across time.
Questa tesi di dottorato analizza le modalità di fabbricazione delle armature litiche durante il Tardoglaciale e l’inizio del primo Olocene in due aree specifiche: l’Italia nord-orientale e la Francia sud-occidentale. Fin dai primi studi della fine del XIX e l’inizio del XX secolo, la variabilità tipologica delle armature litiche dopo il Gravettiano ha permesso di stabilire una divisione culturale tra le regioni atlantico-occidentali e quelle mediterraneo-balcaniche. La prima ha visto il susseguirsi di diverse culture (Solutreano, Badegouliano, Maddaleniano, Aziliano e Laboriano), mentre la seconda è caratterizzata da una maggiore continuità culturale che ha portato allo sviluppo dell’Epigravettiano antico e recente. All’inizio dell’Olocene entrambe le aree studiate presentano evidenze riferibili al Sauveterriano. L’obiettivo di questo progetto di ricerca è di contribuire alla definizione del quadro culturale di queste due regioni è di verificare se a questa chiara diversità morfo-tipologica corrisponde una differenza nelle modalità di produzione e in particolare nella selezione dei supporti e nei metodi e nelle tecniche di ritocco. Per raggiungere questo obiettivo sono state analizzate le armature di due siti della Francia sud-occidentale e di quattro dell’Italia nord-orientale. Per l’area italiana sono stati selezionati siti dell’Epigravettiano recente e del Sauveterriano localizzati in Friuli e nelle Prealpi e Alpi venete datati tra la fine del Dryas antico (GS-2a) e l’inizio dell’Olocene (17.000-10.000 cal BP). Per quanto riguarda l’area francese, invece, abbiamo scelto due siti pluristratificati che coprono approssimativamente lo stesso arco cronologico di quelli italiani e si riferiscono al Magdaleniano superiore, all’Aziliano antico e recente e al Laboriano antico. Non è stato possibile analizzare armature riferibili al Laboriano recente e al Sauveterriano francese. Le armature sono state studiate tramite una metodologia appositamente elaborata. Quest’ultima si basa su due approcci complementari, uno sperimentale e uno tecnologico. Entrambi mirano a ricostruire l’insieme delle catene operative che portano alla produzione delle armature. Sono state realizzate tre principali sessioni sperimentali: la prima dedicata alle tecniche di ritocco, la seconda alla tecnica del microbulino e la terza all’identificazione di altre tecniche utili ad ottenere una fratturazione controllata del supporto. In seguito, il campione sperimentale è stato esaminato combinando un’analisi a basso e alto ingrandimento e un analisi quantitativa. Si è quindi elaborato un approccio integrato spesso utilizzato nell’ambito dell’analisi funzionale, ma raramente applicato per la ricostruzione delle modalità di fabbricazione di strumenti litici. L’applicazione di questa metodologia ha permesso di osservare la variabilità delle armature sotto una nuova luce. I risultati delle analisi effettuate indicano che nonostante le notevoli differenze da un punto di vista morfo-funzionale tra le armature delle due aree prese in esame, molteplici sono i punti in comune. Questi riguardano soprattutto le modalità di selezione dei supporti, i metodi e le tecniche di ritocco, che in diversi periodi del Tardoglaciale sembrano seguire un evoluzione simile. Sebbene i motivi di queste affinità tecnologiche potrebbero essere ricondotti alle dinamiche climatico-ambientali che colpiscono entrambe le regioni durante il Tardoglaciale e l’inizio dell’Olocene, la presenza degli stessi comportamenti tecnici su ampia scala non può che essere il risultato di un’importante rete di connessioni tra i gruppi umani delle regioni atlantico-occidentali e quelle mediterraneo-balcaniche.

Cette thèse de doctorat porte sur les modalités de fabrication des armatures lithiques au Tardiglaciaire et au cours de la première partie de l’Holocène dans deux régions spécifiques: le nord-est de l’Italie et le sud-ouest de la France. Depuis les premières études une séparation culturelle après le Gravettien entre ces deux régions, et en général entre la zone ouest-atlantique et méditerranéenne-balkanique, a été mise en évidence. L’objectif de ce projet est de contribuer à la définition du cadre culturel de ces deux séquences en soulignant les variations d’un point de vue diachronique et les éventuelles tendances communes. Pour la zone italienne, nous avons sélectionné trois sites de l’Épigravettien récent et un du Sauveterrien qui s’étendant du GS-2a au début de l’Holocène. Pour la zone française, nous avons choisi deux sites que se réfèrent au Magdalénien moyen et supérieur, à l’Azilien ancien et récent ainsi qu’au Laborien ancien. La méthodologie appliquée pour l’analyse des armatures lithiques est basée sur une approche expérimentale et une technologique. Les deux ont comme objectif la reconstruction de l’ensemble des chaînes opératoires pour la production des armatures, depuis la sélection des supports jusqu’aux méthodes et techniques de retouche. Pour la reconnaissance de ces dernières nous avons développé une analyse qualitative à haut et bas grossissement et une quantitative. L’application de ce type d’analyse a permis d’observer la variabilité des armatures sous un jour nouveau. Les résultats indiquent que malgré les divergences morpho-fonctionnelles considérables entre les armatures des deux territoires analysés, des transformations communes concernant la sélection des supports et les méthodes et techniques de retouche ont été enregistrées, en confirmant un important réseau social entre les groupes de l'Europe du Sud
This Ph.D thesis focuses on manufacturing modalities of lithic armatures during the Late Glacial and the first part of the Early Holocene in two specific areas: North-Eastern Italy and South-Western France. These two regions and more generally the Western-Atlantic and Mediterranean-Balkan areas are characterized, after the Gravettian period, by a clear cultural separation. The aim of this project was to contribute to the definition of the cultural framework in these two regions trying to emphasise variations and/or continuity into each chrono-cultural sequence and possible common trends between the two analysed territories. To answer this question, armatures from six sites located in South-Western France and North-Eastern Italy have been analysed. For the Italian area we selected three Late Epigravettian sites, and a Sauveterrian one, spanning from the latest part of the Oldest Dryas (GS-2a) to the beginning of the Early Holocene. For the French area we choose two multi-layered sites referring to the Upper Magdalenian, Early and Late Azilian and Early Laborian. Armatures were examined by applying a specifically designed methodology. This is based on two complementary approaches, an experimental and a technological one. Both were aimed at reconstructing the whole chaîne opératoire of armatures manufacture, from blanks selection to retouch methods and techniques. The latter were identified by combining a low and high magnifications analysis and a quantitative approach creating a new protocol for the study of lithic backed armatures. Applying this type of analysis allowed observing the variability of Late Glacial armatures in a new light. Despite the considerable morpho-functional divergences among armatures from the two territories analysed, common transformations concerning blanks selection and both retouch methods and techniques were recorded, suggesting the presence of important social networks linking Eastern and Western societies across time
Questa tesi di dottorato si concentra sulle modalità di fabbricazione delle armature litiche durante il Tardoglaciale e l’inizio del primo Olocene in due aree specifiche: l’Italia nord-orientale e la Francia sud-occidentale. Fin dai primi studi della fine del XIX e l’inizio del XX secolo, la variabilità tipologica delle armature litiche dopo il Gravettiano ha permesso di stabilire una divisione culturale tra le regioni atlantico-occidentali e quelle mediterraneo-balcaniche. La prima ha visto il susseguirsi di diverse culture (Solutreano, Badegouliano, Maddaleniano, Aziliano e Laboriano), mentre la seconda è caratterizzata da una maggiore continuità culturale che ha portato allo sviluppo dell’Epigravettiano antico e recente. All’inizio dell’Olocene entrambe le aree studiate presentano evidenze riferibili al Sauveterriano.L’obiettivo di questo progetto di ricerca è di contribuire alla definizione del quadro culturale di queste due regioni è di verificare se a questa chiara diversità morfo-tipologica corrisponde una differenza nelle modalità di produzione e in particolare nella selezione dei supporti, nei metodi e nelle tecniche di ritocco. Per raggiungere tale obiettivo sono state analizzate le armature di due siti della Francia sud-occidentale e di quattro dell’Italia nord-orientale. Per l’area italiana sono stati selezionati siti dell’Epigravettiano recente e del Sauveterriano localizzati in Friuli e nelle Prealpi e Alpi venete datati tra la fine del Dryas antico (GS-2a) e l’inizio dell’Olocene (17.000-10.000 cal BP). Per quanto riguarda l’area francese, invece, abbiamo scelto due siti pluristratificati che coprono approssimativamente lo stesso arco cronologico di quelli italiani e si riferiscono al Magdaleniano superiore, all’Aziliano antico e recente e al Laboriano antico. Non è stato possibile analizzare armature riferibili al Laboriano recente e al Sauveterriano francese.Le armature sono state studiate tramite una metodologia appositamente elaborata. Quest’ultima si basa su due approcci complementari, uno sperimentale e uno tecnologico. Entrambi mirano a ricostruire l’insieme delle catene operative che portano alla produzione delle armature. Sono state realizzate tre principali sessioni sperimentali: la prima è stata dedicata alle tecniche di ritocco, la seconda alla tecnica del microbulino e la terza all’identificazione di altre tecniche utili ad ottenere una fratturazione controllata del supporto. In seguito, il campione sperimentale è stato esaminato combinando un’analisi a basso e alto ingrandimento e un analisi quantitativa. Si è quindi elaborato un approccio integrato spesso utilizzato nell’ambito dell’analisi funzionale, ma raramente applicato per la ricostruzione delle modalità di fabbricazione di strumenti litici.L’applicazione di questa metodologia ha permesso di osservare la variabilità delle armature sotto una nuova luce. I risultati delle analisi effettuate indicano che nonostante le notevoli differenze da un punto di vista morfo-funzionale tra le armature delle due aree prese in esame, molteplici sono i punti in comune. Questi riguardano soprattutto le modalità di selezione dei 3 supporti, i metodi e le tecniche di ritocco, che in diversi periodi del Tardoglaciale sembrano seguire un trend simile. Sebbene i motivi di queste affinità tecnologiche potrebbero essere ricondotti alle dinamiche climatico-ambientali che colpiscono entrambe le regioni durante il Tardoglaciale e l’inizio dell’Olocene, la presenza degli stessi comportamenti tecnici su ampia scala non può che essere il risultato di un’importante rete di connessioni tra gruppi umani appartenenti a diverse culture

Les données acquises dans le cadre de l'ANR MAGDATIS sur la période 19-18 Ky calBP permettent des soulever un certain nombre de questions relatives à la mise en place du Magdalénien classique dans le sud-ouest français. En outre, de nombreux résultats de datations C14 offrent un nouveau cadre plus précis pour cette période synchrone avec les débuts de l’événement climatique d’Heinrich 1 et ses conséquences sur l'environnement (paysages et disponibilités en gibier). Parallèlement, cette période est marquée par d'importantes transformations sociales et symboliques visibles dans différents registres : sépultures primaires richement dotées, sculptures pariétales, développement de la figuration humaine et sexuelle, recomposition des équipements lithiques et osseux. L'objectif de cette thèse est de confronter les comportements techniques et économiques à partir de l’examen de séries lithiques du Magdalénien moyen ancien (19-18 Ky calBP) à ces changements suscités afin d'en inférer sur les transformations sociétales des groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs de cette période charnière. Plusieurs séries lithiques sont disponibles pour mener à bien ce projet dans le cadre d'analyses taphonomiques (numérisation des carnets de St Germain ou Roc de Marcamps disponibles). Une révision des séries de Marcamps, St Germain, Moulin Neuf, Combe Cullier, Petit Cloup Barrat couche 3, mais également l'apport de nouvelles fouilles (Laa2 et Ste Colome dans le Béarn) permettront d'appréhender sous un nouveau jour les premiers temps du Magdalénien moyen. L'espace géographique est circonscrit au sud-ouest de la France et centré sur la façade atlantique, participant ainsi également à des réflexions sur le peuplement, les territoires et les interactions sociales développées par ces groupes
The data acquired within the framework of the MAGDATIS RNA for the period 19-18 Ky calBP allow us to raise a certain number of questions concerning the establishment of the Classic Magdalenian in southwestern France. In addition, numerous C14 dating results offer a new and more precise framework for this period, synchronous with the beginning of the Heinrich 1 climatic event and its consequences on the environment (landscapes and availability of game). At the same time, this period is marked by important social and symbolic transformations visible in different registers: richly endowed primary burials, parietal sculptures, development of human and sexual figuration, recomposition of lithic and bone equipment. The objective of this thesis is to compare technical and economic behaviors based on the examination of lithic series from the Early Middle Magdalenian (19-18 Ky calBP) with these changes in order to infer about the societal transformations of hunter-gatherer groups during this pivotal period. Several lithic series are available to carry out this project within the framework of taphonomic analyses (digitization of the St Germain or Roc de Marcamps notebooks available). A revision of the series from Marcamps, St Germain, Moulin Neuf, Combe Cullier, Petit Cloup Barrat layer 3, but also the contribution of new excavations (Laa2 and Ste Colome in Béarn) will allow us to apprehend the early Middle Magdalenian period in a new light. The geographical area is limited to southwestern France and centered on the Atlantic coast, thus also contributing to reflections on the settlement, territories and social interactions developed by these groups

Since Dorothy Garrod (1926) coined the term ‘Creswellian’ to describe the British Late Upper Palaeolithic archaeology and in doing so emphasized its differences from the contemporary Late Magdalenian, the degree of connectedness of British Late Glacial hunter-gatherers with those of the continental mainland has been debated. Garrod pointed to the robust local tradition of single and double obliquely truncated backed pieces—Creswell and Cheddar Points respectively—and emphasized their dissimilarity, warranting in her opinion a separate taxonomic classification for the ‘provincial’ archaeology of Britain. Jacobi (1991) was the first to realize the problems with such a ‘splitting’ perspective, noting how the main type fossils of the Creswellian could be found among continental assemblages. While to a certain degree the problem can be seen as deriving from the specific culture-historical paradigm that Garrod was working within (Charles 1999), the degree of connection or distance between hunter-gatherer groups operating in Late Glacial Britain and those on the continent has remained a contentious issue. It is certainly difficult to find contemporary assemblages on the continent that contain all of the type fossils of British Late Glacial assemblages (Barton et al. 2003), and the few that exist are still undated (Jacobi 2004: 66). Consequently, the date and process by which the British assemblages became distinct remain to be established. The relative paucity in the UK of art mobilier and the total lack until April 2003 of parietal art of any form seemed to reinforce the distinction between Late Glacial Interstadial sites in Britain and on the continent. Engravings on bone, antler, and stone plaquettes and blocks are ubiquitous on continental sites, and the paucity of such materials on British sites could be seen in the context of Garrod’s regional emphasis to suggest a cultural difference. The discovery of the art, however, and its clear formal parallels with continental examples throw the issue of connectedness into sharp focus. Unlike sagaies, lithic armatures, and other tools, cave art is not a portable artefact. Whereas therefore design similarities between portable artefacts may result from exchange between far-flung and perhaps culturally distinct groups, formal similarities between rock art must suggest formal similarities of design and execution in the minds of artists; it is the concept that is portable.