Contribution à la reconnaissance d’une microproduction au Paléolithique moyen : les industries de la grotte des Ramandils (Port-La Nouvelle, Aude, France)Contribution to the definition of Middle Paleolithic micro-production. The lithic assemblage from Ramandils Cave (Port-La Nouvelle, Aude, France)

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Publication Date

January 2009

Abstract

The Ramandils Cave is a key archeological site located on the Mediterranean coast. The importance of this site derives not only from its geographical and chronological position, but also from the density of the artefacts left by Neandertal populations who settled there on several occasions as early as isotopic stage 5. This study concerns 29,997 lithic objects from five stratigraphical units . The industries, mainly in flint, are all small sized (< 30 mm). The Ramandils Cave lithic assemblage fits within the variability of Middle Paleolithic sites, however differing by a characteristic size reduction in knapping economy, in matrix and resulting products production. How might we interpret this small size characteristic: as a purely cultural factor or as a result of circumstances? Results show that this micro-production does appear to be predetermined. The characteristics of the lithic assemblage from Ramandils Cave give them a special status in the debate regarding the definition of micro-Mousterian and in the identification of technocomplexes geared towards micro-production.

Keywords

Prehistory, Middle Paleolithic, Lithic Industries, Micro-Debt, Microlithic, Micromoustérien, Eemien

Document Type

Article

Notes

L'Anthropologie, Vol. 113, no. 2 (2009).

Identifier

SFS0071309_00001

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