Journal of Lithic Studies
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New records of fishtail projectile points from Brazil and its implications for its peopling
Get PDFAbstract: Fishtail or Fell projectile points constitute a specific design associated with early hunter-gatherers at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary in many parts of South America, especially along the Pacific Coast, Patagonia, and the Argentine-Uruguayan Pampas. In this paper, we present new records of fishtail projectile points, recovered mainly in the southern states of Brazil, including design and metric descriptions, as well as some technological features, which are similar to other South American findings. The pieces are curated in different academic and private collections, some of which have been available a long time for study, but have not been published until now. This record doubles, at least, the known data available for these projectiles within the territory of Brazil. Finally, the importance of this widely distributed record within the context of the peopling of southern Brazil is briefly discussed.Resumen: Las puntas de proyectil denominadas Cola de Pescado o Fell constituyen un diseño específico asociado con los cazadores-recolectores tempranos del límite Pleistoceno-Holoceno en diversas regiones de América del Sur, especialmente a lo largo de la costa del Pacífico sudamericano, la Patagonia y en las Pampas uruguayas y argentinas. En este trabajo, presentamos nuevos registros de estos cabezales líticos, recuperados principalmente en los estados del sur de Brasil. Incluimos además un somero análisis de los diseños presentes, sus propiedades métricas y algunas de las características tecnológicas presentes, las cuales son similares a otros registros sudamericanos. Las piezas se encuentran depositadas en diferentes colecciones académicas y privadas, pero hasta el momento no habían sido publicadas con alguna excepción. Este nuevo registro duplica como mínimo el número de ejemplares conocidos para el territorio brasileño. Finalmente, se discute brevemente la importancia del mismo dentro del contexto del poblamiento del sur de Brasil.Resumo: Neste artigo, apresentamos novas descrições de pontas do tipo “Rabo de Peixe”, recuperadas principalmente nos estados do sul do Brasil. Pontas do tipo “Rabo de Peixe” ou “Fell” apresentam uma forma específica associada a grupos caçadores-coletores da transição Pleistoceno - Holoceno em muitas partes da América do Sul, especialmente ao longo da costa do Pacífico, na Patagônia e nos Pampas da Argentina e Uruguai. No artigo são apresentadas imagens, dados métricos, e a caracterização tecnológica das peças. As pontas encontram-se em diferentes coleções acadêmicas e privadas, algumas delas disponíveis há muito tempo para pesquisa, porém apenas agora estão sendo apresentadas. Essas novas descrições dobram, no mínimo, o número desse tipo de ponta reconhecido em território brasileiro. Finalmente, a importância da ampla distribuição dessas pontas é discutida no contexto do povoamento do sul do Brasil
La tecnología lítica durante el Magdaleniense en la vertiente Mediterránea de la península Ibérica
Get PDFLithic technology during the Magdalenian in the Mediterranean side of the Iberian PeninsulaThis paper analyzes the technical processes of the lithic industry in the Mediterranean side of the Iberian Peninsula during the Magdalenian and the Epimagdalenian (ca. 16500-10000 BP; 20000-11500 cal. BP). The main objective of this paper is to analyze the methods and techniques of lithic production to identify processes of continuity or change in the production during the period under study.The paper begins with a brief review of previous studies in Iberian Magdalenian and a first approach to lithic typology of the studied period. In this section we can see the continuity is the main feature throughout the Magdalenian. Backed points and bladelets, specially the straight backed bladelets, are the link between all the period. However, there are three general aspects for observing some diachronic changes: the different types of backed bladelets (and variation in retouch features), the end-scrapers and the burins.Subsequently, we expose the existing data for each of the phases that Magdalenian and Epimagdalenan have been divided, paying special attention to the data provided by production systems: the operational systems, supports production, technology of retouched tools and maintenance core elements.This technological approach takes into account all existing data in the Iberian Mediterranean, both published by other researchers as new information from the research we are currently developing.As can be seen throughout the work, the technology studies for the Magdalenian in the Mediterranean side of the Iberian Peninsula still has not much information in its earliest phases (MI: Ancient Magdalenian and MM: Middle Magdalenian), being the middle phases (MS: Upper Magdalenian and MSF: Final Upper Magdalenian) and the last phases (EPM: Epimagdalenian) those with an acceptable number of studies that allow an approach to lithic production systems.In general, blank production during the Magdalenian has a main goal: the production of backed bladelets to be transformed in projectiles, either as lateral or apical end. In relation with the other blanks, only blades (sometimes, laminar flakes) are also a main objective, although in most cases integrated or subsidiaries of microlaminar productions. Flakes, often have special schemes (discoidal or centripetal) and their exploitation is not too much present, being most of the flake stone tools performed in accidental or not researched flakes.As a general conclusion we can say that there is some continuity throughout all the period, although we can see some differences that help us to understand lithic production objectives in each phase.Undoubtedly, variations in microlaminar stone tools (projectiles) are those will guide the lithic production. And requirements of larger or smaller pieces, blanks more or less pointed, or the final use like lateral or apical projectile, determine the use of different production schemes.If we focus on the period between the Upper Magdalenian and the Epimagdalenian, we have said that there is a major difference, which is the existence of more complex schemes in the Upper Magdalenian, while in the Epimagdalenian these schemes seem to be simplified. Simple schemes exist in all cases, but at the same time, during the Upper Magdalenian, we have observed the existence of other more complex schemes, requiring more preparation and maintenance.En este trabajo se estudian los procesos técnicos de la industria lítica en la vertiente mediterránea de la península ibérica durante el Magdaleniense y Epimagdaleniense (ca. 16500-10000 BP; 20000-11500 cal. BP). El principal objetivo es analizar los métodos y técnicas de producción lítica para determinar si existen procesos de continuidad o de cambio en las formas de producción a lo largo del periodo propuesto.El artículo se inicia con un breve repaso a los estudios previos y a la tipología lítica del periodo estudiado. En este apartado podemos observar como la continuidad es la principal característica durante todo el Magdaleniense. El utillaje microlaminar de dorso, especialmente las laminitas de dorso recto, son el punto de unión. No obstante, hay tres aspectos generales que permiten observar algunas variaciones diacrónicas: los diversos tipos microlaminares de dorso representados (y las variaciones en las características del retoque), los raspadores y los buriles. Posteriormente, se exponen los datos existentes para cada una de las fases en las que se ha dividido el Magdaleniense y el Epimagdaleniense, prestando especial atención a los datos aportados por los sistemas de producción: los esquemas operativos, los soportes, la tecnología del material retocado y los productos de acondicionamiento.Esta aproximación tecnológica tiene en cuenta todos los datos existentes en el Mediterráneo ibérico, tanto los publicados por otros investigadores, como nuevas informaciones provenientes de los trabajos que estamos desarrollando actualmente.Como podremos observar a lo largo del trabajo, a nivel tecnológico, el Magdaleniense de la vertiente mediterránea peninsular posee todavía pocos datos en sus fases antiguas (MI y MM), siendo las fases medias (MS y MSF) y finales (EPM) las que cuentan con un número suficiente de estudios que permiten una aproximación a los sistemas de explotación lítica.Como norma general, la producción de soportes durante el Magdaleniense tiene un claro objetivo: la producción de laminitas para ser transformadas en proyectiles, ya sea como armadura lateral o como extremo apical. Del resto de soportes, únicamente las láminas (a veces, lascas laminares) son también un objetivo principal, aunque en la mayoría de los casos integradas o subsidiarias de la producción microlaminar. Las lascas por su parte, suelen poseer esquemas particulares (discoides o centrípetos) y su explotación, aunque presente en algunos momentos, no es demasiado abundante, siendo la mayor parte de los útiles sobre lasca seleccionados de los desechos del proceso laminar.Como conclusión general podemos afirmar que existe una cierta continuidad durante todo el período estudiado, aunque se observan diferencias que nos ayudan a entender los objetivos de la talla en cada una de las fases. Sin duda alguna, las variaciones en el utillaje microlaminar (en los proyectiles) serán las que guiarán los sistemas de talla, y los requerimientos de piezas de mayor o menor tamaño, de soportes más o menos apuntados o de su uso final como armadura apical o lateral y por lo tanto, condicionarán la aplicación de las variaciones en los esquemas de talla.Centrándonos en el período entre el MS y el EPM hemos afirmado que existe una diferencia principal, que es la existencia de esquemas más complejos en el MS, mientras que hacia el EPM estos parecen simplificarse. Los esquemas simples existen en todos los casos, Pero acompañando a estos esquemas, durante el MS se ha observado la existencia de otros más complejos, que requieren una mayor preparación y mantenimiento
Book review: Das Pedras aos Homens: Tecnologia Lítica na Arqueologia Brasileira (From Stones to Men: Lithic Technology Studies in Brazilian Archaeology)
Get PDFThe book is the result of a Brazilian symposium which took place in 2007, entitled Lithic technology in Brazil. Theoretical foundations, problems and research perspectives. The symposium brought together some of the most important lithic studies researchers in Brazil at the time. Each researcher wrote a chapter concerning the aims of the symposium
La anisotropía y el clivaje del cuarzo automorfo y sus posibles efectos sobre la talla: Una revisión bibliográfica
Get PDFAnisotropy and cleavage of automorphic quartz and their potential effects on the knapping: A literature reviewOver the last thirty years, archaeologists have begun to overcome their traditional lack of interest in lithic industries made from quartz, with a growing number of studies dealing with this raw material coming to light. However, most of these approaches have mainly or exclusively focused on the xenomorphic or “vein” quartz. Meanwhile, the automorphic quartz – traditionally called “rock crystal” or “quartz crystal” – has received comparatively less attention. In this paper, two basic characteristics of automorphic quartz are described succinctly: anisotropy and cleavage; with the aim of offering – to those researchers dealing with this raw material – a basis from which to increase their knowledge of the mechanical characteristics of rock crystal. Automorphic quartz shows some specificity during knapping. This is due not only to the peculiar morphology and size of the blanks – single prismatic crystals, usually of small size – but also due to its anisotropic nature (a characteristic by which certain physical properties tend to vary according to the direction in which they are measured) and possibly also due to the presence of cleavage planes (structural weaknesses in the structure of materials along which they tend to break or split more easily). In this sense, the studies carried out by archaeologists and especially by geologists, mineralogists and crystallographers agree that quartz crystals show an uneven mechanical behavior depending on the direction of the forces to which these crystals are subjected. Thus, the mechanical forces (including those generated during knapping by percussion or pressure) tend to propagate more easily in those directions oblique to the longitudinal axis of the prismatic crystal, while their propagation is comparatively more difficult when it takes place in parallel to the aforementioned longitudinal axis. Regarding the presence of cleavage planes, their existence in quartz has been discussed for over a century without reaching any major consensus. Most researchers agree, nonetheless, on the existence of some type of crystallographic control of fractures in automorphic quartz, usually referring to it as an “imperfect” or “low energy” cleavage. The impact of such physical characteristics over the knapping of automorphic quartz is far from being known in detail. The idea of anisotropy as a limiting factor for the exploitation of rock crystal was commonplace among the studies published in the last decade of the past century, this property even being considered as a possible explanation for an alleged residual use of this rock during prehistory. However, the archaeological record clearly contradicts such view of paucity, with automorphic quartz present in assemblages all over the world and even reaching an important percentage in Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleothic sets. Furthermore, the exploitation of automorphic quartz implies the use of relatively complex techniques, such as indirect percussion and pressure flaking. Thus, it seems reasonable to assume that either anisotropy or cleavage would have been an obstacle hindering the knapping of automorphic quartz. However, it is also true that the preponderance, among the cores of automorphic quartz, of knapping strategies exploiting those planes along which the fracture would be easier, suggests that prehistoric knappers were aware of the mechanical characteristics of automorphic quartz and that they used them to their advantage.En los últimos treinta años, los arqueólogos han comenzado a superar su tradicional desinterés por las industrias líticas realizadas en cuarzo, con un número creciente de trabajos centrados en esta materia prima. Sin embargo, la mayor parte de estas aproximaciones se han centrado fundamental o exclusivamente en el cuarzo xenomorfo o “cuarzo de filón”. En cambio, la variedad automorfa de esta materia prima – tradicionalmente conocida como “cristal de roca” o “cuarzo hialino” – ha recibido una atención comparativamente menor. En este artículo se describe sucintamente el estado de la investigación sobre dos de las características básicas del cuarzo automorfo: la anisotropía y el clivaje, con el objetivo de ofrecer, a aquellos investigadores que traten frecuentemente con este material, una base a partir de la cual poder aumentar su comprensión sobre el comportamiento mecánico del cristal de roca. El cuarzo automorfo presenta características o comportamientos específicos durante la talla, derivados no sólo de la peculiar morfología y tamaño de sus soportes – monocristales de hábito prismático, generalmente de dimensiones reducidas – sino también de su naturaleza anisótropa (característica por la cual ciertas propiedades físicas de un material tienden a variar en función de la dirección en la que se midan) y quizás por la existencia de planos de clivaje (debilidades en la estructura del material por las que éste tiende a partirse o separarse con mayor facilidad). En este sentido, las investigaciones llevadas a cabo tanto por arqueólogos como – sobre todo – por geólogos, minerálogos y cristalógrafos coinciden en señalar un desigual comportamiento mecánico de los cristales de cuarzo en función de la dirección en la que se propaguen las fuerzas a las que éstos son sometidos. Así, las fuerzas mecánicas (incluidas las generadas por percusión o presión durante la talla lítica) tienden a progresar más fácilmente en aquellas direcciones oblicuas al eje longitudinal del prisma, mientras que su avance es comparativamente más dificultoso cuando se produce en paralelo a dicho eje mayor. En cuanto a los planos de clivaje, su presencia en el cuarzo ha sido objeto de debate durante más de un siglo, sin que los especialistas hayan podido lograr un consenso. La mayoría de los investigadores coinciden, sin embargo, en aceptar la existencia de algún tipo de control cristalográfico de las fracturas en esta materia prima, refiriéndose frecuentemente a un clivaje “imperfecto” o de “baja energía”.El impacto que dichas características físicas tendrían sobre la talla del cuarzo automorfo están aún lejos de ser conocidas en detalle. Durante la última década del siglo pasado, se instaló entre los especialistas una cierta visión de la anisotropía como un elemento limitador de la talla del cristal de roca, quizás un factor detrás de su uso aparentemente residual a lo largo de la Prehistoria. Sin embargo, un vistazo al registro arqueológico contradice esa visión de escasez, con conjuntos en cuarzo automorfo repartidos por yacimientos de todo el mundo y con este material llegando a alcanzar un importante peso porcentual en contextos del Paleolítico Superior o Epipaleolítico. Además, en no pocas ocasiones, su explotación ha implicado el uso de técnicas relativamente complejas, como la percusión indirecta y la presión. Así pues, parece evidente que ni la anisotropía ni la posible presencia de planos de clivaje habría sido un obstáculo insalvable para la explotación del cuarzo automorfo. Sin embargo, también resulta cierto que una presencia mayoritaria, entre los conjuntos arqueológicos con presencia de cristal de roca, de estrategias de talla en las que se explotaron preferentemente aquellos planos en los que los estudios consultados indican que se produciría una menor resistencia del material a la progresión de las fracturas, sugiere que los talladores prehistóricos probablemente estaban al tanto de estas características de la materia prima y que las usaron en su beneficio.
Aproximación al estudio arqueopetrológico de la industria lítica procedente del abrigo de La Roureda (Vilafranca, Els Ports, Castelló, País Valencià)
Get PDFArchaeopetrological study of the lithic industry from “La Roureda” rockshelter (Vilafranca, Els Ports, Castellón, Valencian Country)Roureda’s (La Roureda) rockshelter is an Epimagdalenian site located in Vilafranca (northern Valencian Country) in the east of the Iberian Peninsula.The site was discovered by Dr. F. Arasa in the late 1970s. More recently, two vertical trenches were dug at this site to determine the sequence of occupations over time: a 2 m2 trench on the rock shelter floor and a 1 m2 trench on the eroded area under the platform. The excavation of the 2 m2 in the rock shelter outlined an Early Epimagdalenian level dated to 11350 ± 50 BP (13373-13122 cal. BP).One of the main features in this site is the abundant lithic industry recovered (4639 pieces), all of it made exclusively from chert. In recent years, the typology and technology of these materials has been studied but this is the first archaeopetrological study, not only for this site but for this region of Iberia.Among the stone tools, backed bladelets are the most significant typological group, followed by the truncated bladelets and the group of notched-denticulates. End-scrapers and pieces with retouched edges are also important. The remaining groups represent less than 3%.The archaeopetrological study has been divided into two parts. Firstly, a macroscopic approach (petrographic and micropalaeontologic) was developed for all the retouched tools (286), the production blanks (2459) and cores (20). It should be note that during the excavations, 4639 elements were recovered, but about 45% of these being debris.Secondly, geological surveys were developed, which allowed for the identification of several outcrops with cherts within a 100 km area around the site. Several samples of those cherts were microscopically compared to some of the archaeological lithic samples.The results of these analyses allow for the identification of the presence of 4 different varieties of chert, with a primarily brackish or lacustrine origin. Two of them (Types A & B) corresponding to a palustrine environment formation, one (Type D) related to a marine environment formation, and finally, one (Type C) being undefined.Two of these varieties, the most abundant in the site (Types A and B) may be related to several outcrops located both in a local and regional distance. Meanwhile, Types C and D are much less abundant.The nearest varieties of chert to the site (Types A & B), which are of high quality for knapping and relatively homogenous, were the most common in the Epimagdalenian level. These types showed all stages of the “Chaine Opératoire Lithique” (C.O.L.) within the site. Nevertheless, a distinction can be observed between them. While Type A was used mainly for projectiles and in a lesser way for domestic tools, Type B was mainly used in the opposite way (mainly having been used for domestic tools). The explanation will likely be related to the homogeneity of their textural differences.On the other hand, neither Type C nor Type D showed the complete sequence of the C.O.L. The first was probably introduced into the site mainly as knapped blades or bladelets, while Type D, the lowest in quality, was mainly used for domestic purposes. It was not possible to locate the outcrop of type C. Nevertheless, the outcrops of Type D are relatively abundant and in spite of its quality for knapping, this chert was frequently used. Outcrops of this type of chert can be found throughout the region.The aim of this project in the near future is to enlarge this study to other Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites and develop a deeper knowledge of the siliceous outcrops used by hunter-gatherer populations in this region. This is a project of great relevance, not only for understanding the economy of raw materials at the Roureda rockshelter, but also for knowing the possibilities of chert trade in northern Valencian Country.El abrigo de la Roureda es un yacimiento epimagdaleniense situado en la comarca de Els Ports, al este de la Península Ibérica.El yacimiento fue descubierto en la década de los años 70, aunque no fue hasta el año 2007 cuando la excavación de un sondeo de 2m2 permitió definir una ocupación del Epimagdaleniense antiguo, datado en el 11350±50 BP (13373-13122 cal. BP).Una de las principales características del yacimiento es la abundante industria lítica, toda ella sobre sílex. La colección de 4.639 restos ha sido objeto de diversos estudios (tipología, tecnología), siendo este trabajo la primera aproximación arqueopetrológica. El estudio se divide en dos partes; en primer lugar se ha procedido al análisis macroscópico, conjugando análisis petrológicos y micropaleontológicos de la totalidad de material retocado recuperado en el abrigo (286), de los restos de talla (2.753) - la totalidad de 4639 restos incluía también esquirlas, por lo que el análisis se ha centrado solo en los soportes (2459) incluyendo sólo las esquirlas más grandes de 1 cm (294), rebajando el número a un total de2753 restos analizados- y de los núcleos (20), procedentes de los cuadros C3 y E3. En segundo lugar se han llevado a cabo análisis microscópicos de las variedades de sílex identificadas macroscópicamente así como prospecciones geológicas en la región, lo que nos ha permitido documentar diversos afloramientos de material sedimentario silíceo.El análisis comparativo entre la materia prima de los afloramientos y la del yacimiento nos ha permitido aproximarnos a las posibles fuentes de abastecimiento de los grupos epimagdalenienses que ocuparon el abrigo. Se trata de un primer análisis en el marco de un proyecto más amplio que pretende analizar otros yacimientos del Paleolítico superior al Mesolítico y conocer las fuentes de abastecimiento de materias primas líticas en la Prehistoria de la zona norte del País Valenciano, lo que le confiere una gran relevancia no únicamente para conocer la economía de las materias primas del abrigo de la Roureda, sino también para empezar a conocer las posibilidades del abastecimiento del sílex de este amplio territorio
Flint economy in the Pyrenees: A general view of siliceous raw material sources and their use in the Pyrenean Gravettian
Get PDFThe aim of this article is to present a very general view of siliceous raw material sources in the central Pyrenees, with support from recent bibliographic references. To illustrate the use of these materials in the Upper Paleolithic, we chose the example of the Gravettian occupation of Gargas Cave (Hautes-Pyrénées, France). Finally, we describe a few economic characteristics of the Pyrenean region, which are distinct from the Perigordian context in several ways
Book review: Lithic Materials and Paleolithic Societies
Get PDFLithic Materials and Paleolithic Societies is an edited volume of research papers that provides perspectives on the study of lithic technological organization from around the world. The book contains 20 chapters organized into four thematic sections focused on stone procurement, tool-stone use, the role of tool-stone subsistence and settlement systems, and the clues about social interaction that are gleaned from the study of lithic materials
Book review: The Emergence of Pressure Blade Making (Pierre M. Desrosiers)
No full textThis is a book review on the co-edited volume dedicated to the manufacture of pressure blade making entitled "The Emergence of Pressure Blade Making"
Arran pitchstone (Scottish volcanic glass): New dating evidence
Get PDFIn the present paper, the author offers new absolute and contextual dating evidence for Scottish archaeological pitchstone. Much archaeological pitchstone from the Scottish mainland is recovered from unsealed contexts of multi-period or palimpsest sites, and pitchstone artefacts from radiocarbon-dated pits therefore provide important dating evidence for this material group and its associated exchange network. In Scotland, all archaeological pitchstone derives from outcrops on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, and on the source island pitchstone-bearing assemblages include diagnostic types from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age period. Off Arran, pitchstone-bearing assemblages never include Mesolithic types, such as microliths, suggesting a post Mesolithic date. This suggestion is supported by worked pitchstone from radiocarbon-dated pits, where all presently available dates indicate that, on the Scottish mainland, Arran pitchstone was traded and used after the Mesolithic period, and in particular during the Early Neolithic period
Pattern recognition of universal mathematical constants in Acheulean biface formats
Get PDFThe similar design formats of many Acheulean bifaces has prompted several studies into the use of ‘mental templates’, leading to controversial claims that there may be a relation between length and width equal to the Golden Ratio. To avoid subjectivity, these studies have used aggregate data from assemblages that, by definition, mask the individuality of each tool, its material, any retouching and the original imposed design. Visual pattern recognition is widely used in psychological research and some branches of engineering and a similar technique is presented to highlight the formats of two samples of the Boxgrove assemblage (one random) and examine the presence of universal mathematical constants. A probabilistic analysis suggests that the repeated use of the numbers 2, Pi and Phi and the relationship between them could not have been produced by chance. These relationships appear to be constant over very long time periods and are still used today in modern gemstone design.