Flake production strategies in archaic lithic industries of first inhabitants in Europe

Barranco Leon and Fuente Nueva 3 sites at Orce in the South of Spain, and Vallonnet cave in the south of France, are some of the oldest sites in Europe, testimonies of the first settlements of these territories. The Orce sites, dated around 1.3-1.2 Ma, have given away numerous lithic artifacts principally issued from all important debitage activity. The beginning of flake production processes is few represented into these two consummation sites. In return, full debitage flakes are in high proportion, with generally short dimensions, in consequence of which, in some case all intense core reduction. Two percussion methods are identified: with direct percussion or oil anvil. Sometimes, there was debitage oil flake, taking advantage of the interior face natural convexity of the core-flake, permitting the maximal exploitation and the economy of the best raw materials. The bipolar percussion on anvil permitted the maximal exploitation of the short dimensions supports, often in naturally Cubic or sub-cubic form. A lot of the producted flakes, sometimes called pieces esquillees, show some scales on the distal and/or proximal transversal edges, issued from this bipolar knapping method. In the Vallonnet cave, where the occupation levels are dated around I Ma, the lithic industry show a lot of percussion tools and hammerstone flakes, but also some core reduction flakes and some very rares cores, especially in flint. This good raw material was chosen for the (debitage, and the flakes Show Oil Superior face several anterior removals, and a butt which could reveal a striking platform preparation. At the gates of Europe, in Georgia, Dmanisi site give away all abundant lithic industry associated with faunal and human remains, dated around 1.81 to 1.77 Ma. Amid the lithic assemblages, cores are rather frequent and are characterized by a poor degree of exploitation, most often unifacial, and high frequency of cortical striking platforms. Raw materials, essentially volcanic cobbles, were from local origin, and the knapped supports were often chosen for their angular morphology adequate to begin the debitage in easier way, debitage which was essentially by direct percussion. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.