The use of bone retouchers in a Mousterian context of Discoid lithic technology
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(2020) 12:228
ORIGINAL PAPER
The use of bone retouchers in a Mousterian context of Discoid lithic technology Eva Francesca Martellotta 1,2 & Davide Delpiano 2 & Mirka Govoni 2 & Nicola Nannini 2,3 & Rossella Duches 3 & Marco Peresani 2,4 Received: 3 April 2020 / Accepted: 8 July 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Bone retouchers are an important behavioural marker in the definition of several Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic cultural complexes. However, their relationship with the assemblages of knapped stone artefacts is still to be investigated particularly in specific but not uncommon lithic contexts of the Middle Palaeolithic in Europe. This paper offers insights to evaluate the use of bone retouchers in a context of Discoid lithic technology, a significant cultural expression largely spread in many regions during MIS3. The study case is the lithic and osseous assemblage of unit A9 at Fumane Cave, in north-eastern Italy. A detailed analysis of the bone retouchers is presented for the first time; their technological features are then correlated with the characteristic of the retouch observed on the lithic tools recovered in the same unit. The study contributes to complete a picture of Neanderthal economic behaviour. Keywords Bone tool . Retouching . Discoid technology . Middle Palaeolithic . Italy . MIS3
Introduction Bone retouchers are tools used in manufacturing stone tools, usually obtained by recycling the bones of butchered animals. These retouchers have been the subject of a large number of studies aimed to clarify their definition and using an experimental base, shed light on their function (see Armand and Delagnes 1998; Mozota Holgueras 2012; Hutson et al. 2018, and references therein). Even though they are not always considered in the studies about bone technology, these tools however show strong cross-cultural characteristics. In fact, bone
* Marco Peresani [email protected] 1
Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
2
Sezione di Scienze Preistoriche e Antropologiche, Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
3
MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38123 Trento, Italy
4
Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
retouchers (hereafter, retouchers) have been part of the human tool-kit since the Lower Palaeolithic, e.g. the AcheuloYabrudiuan complex of Qesem Cave (Blasco et al. 2013). Then, they had a massive spread during the Middle Palaeolithic in several Mousterian and other Middle Palaeolithic techno-complexes across Europe and Asia (Mozota Holgueras 2012; Daujeard et al. 2014; Hutson et al. 2018). Finally, their presence stretches until the Upper Palaeolithic, including Aurignacian (Tartar 2012) and Uluzzian (Jéquier et al. 2012) contexts. St
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