Neanderthal technological variability: A wide-ranging geographical perspective on the final Middle Palaeolithic

Romagnoli F, Chabai V, Gravina B, Hérisson D, Hovers E, Moncel MH, Peresani M, Uthmeier T, Bourguignon L, Chacón MG, Modica KD, Faivre JP, Kolobova K, Malinsky-Buller A, Neruda P, Garaizar JR, Weiß M, Wiśniewski A, Sykes RW (2022)

Publication Type: Authored book

Publication year: 2022

Publisher: Elsevier

ISBN: 9780128214282

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821428-2.00012-3

Abstract

This chapter presents the first collective synthesis of Late Middle Palaeolithic lithic technology (MIS 4-3, ≈ 70-40ka) from the Altai mountains to the Atlantic coast of Western Europe and the Mediterranean regions of Europe and the Levant. As early as the first half of the 20th century, archaeological debates focused on characterising and interpreting Mousterian techno-typological variability. In recent decades, new data concerning several specific aspects of this question have modified our understanding of Neanderthal technology in terms of lithic economy. This chapter presents the main characteristics of Late Middle Palaeolithic lithic technologies, raw material management, tool forms, and artefact transport patterns. This extensive overview reveals that it is still largely unclear whether spatio-temporal trends in the mosaic of reduction strategies exist, at least during MIS 4-3. Furthermore, disparities in available data from the different geographical areas currently preclude exhaustive interregional comparisons and introduce biases for identifying which variables reflect local adaptations or potentially more general trends. Currently, the degree to which lithic assemblage variability, including retouched stone tools, results from adaptations to different factors remains difficult to reliably assess. These factors include environmental constraints and the influence of local contexts, including the characteristics and accessibility of raw materials and the duration of site occupation. Stone tools assemblages may equally reflect specific traditions of certain Neanderthal populations or groups and communities of practice. Differences in assemblage composition and tool types most likely result from the combined influences of these aspects in association with subsistence strategies and other ecological factors, as well as social structure and other cognitive and behavioural features. Finally, the possibility that the specific dynamics between different Neanderthal populations and between Neanderthals and other human groups affecting aspects of technology cannot be ruled out.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thorsten Uthmeier Lehrstuhl für Ur- und Frühgeschichte Marcel Weiß Lehrstuhl für Ur- und Frühgeschichte

Involved external institutions

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) ES Spain (ES) Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine UA Ukraine (UA) Musée national de Préhistoire FR France (FR) University of Paris 10 - Nanterre / Université Paris Nanterre La Défense FR France (FR) Hebrew University of Jerusalem IL Israel (IL) Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) FR France (FR) Università degli Studi di Ferrara IT Italy (IT) Scladina Cave Archaeological Centre (SCAC) / Centre archéologique de la grotte Scladina BE Belgium (BE) Université de Bordeaux FR France (FR) Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences RU Russian Federation (RU) Moravian Museum / Moravské zemské muzeum (MZM) CZ Czech Republic (CZ) Arkeologi Museoa Bilbao ES Spain (ES) University of Wroclaw / Uniwersytet Wrocławski PL Poland (PL)

How to cite

APA:

Romagnoli, F., Chabai, V., Gravina, B., Hérisson, D., Hovers, E., Moncel, M.H.,... Sykes, R.W. (2022). Neanderthal technological variability: A wide-ranging geographical perspective on the final Middle Palaeolithic. Elsevier.

MLA:

Romagnoli, Francesca, et al. Neanderthal technological variability: A wide-ranging geographical perspective on the final Middle Palaeolithic. Elsevier, 2022.

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