Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m... more Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m thickness within geological horizons (GH) 6-8. The deposition of the layers took place during mild and cold phases between at least 42 ka (GI 10) and 36 ka calBP (GI 7). We present below a technological study of blade and bladelet production from AH IV (GH 7) at Hohle Fels. Our analyses show that blade manufacture is relatively constant, while bladelet production displays a high degree of variability in order to obtain different blanks. Knappers used a variety of burins as cores to produce fine bladelets. The results reveal a new variant of the Aurignacian in the Swabian Jura primarily characterized by the production of bladelets and microliths from burin-cores. The artefacts from the Swabian Aurignacian are technologically and functionally more diverse than earlier studies of the Geißenklö sterle and Vogelherd sequences have suggested. The technological analyses presented here challenge the claim that the typo-chronological system from Southwestern Europe can be applied to the Central European Aurignacian. Instead, we emphasize the impact of technological and functional variables within the Aurignacian of the Swabian Jura.
Hohle Fels Cave near Schelklingen in the Ach Valley (Swabian Jura) has yielded a rich archaeologi... more Hohle Fels Cave near Schelklingen in the Ach Valley (Swabian Jura) has yielded a rich archaeological sequence with Magdalenian, Gravettian, Aurignacian and Middle Palaeolithic horizons. One meter of deposits preserve the Aurignacian archaeological horizons AH IIIa to Vb (Conard et al. 2015; Miller 2015). Bladelet production from AH IIIa (GH 6a) and AH IV (GH 7) document the importance of formal burins as bladelet cores (Bataille & Conard 2016 & 2018). These cores deliver small and narrow blanks, often with straight as well as on- and off-axis twisted profiles. Lamellar burin spalls with intentional modifi-cations and use wear traces are characteristic for AHs IIIa and IV (Bataille & Conard 2018). Here we examine technological and typological features of these archaeological horizons. Specific lihic tools seem to have played an important role in the production of the large number of ornamental and symbolic organic artefacts produced on site (e.g. Conard 2009; Conard & Malina 2006 & 2009; Wolf 2015). In this context, the presence of lamellar burin spalls with distal use traces in the Hohle Fels assemblages was interpreted as tools for the incision of tiny holes into perforated beads (Bataille & Conard 2018). While characteristic Aurignacian types constitute one part of burin-cores, such as carinated and busked burins, another part is comprised by burin-cores with multiple lamellar scars on the small and lateral edges preferentially produced on straight blades, such as dihedral burins and burins on truncation. The potential core-character of different burin types is discussed. Among them are carinated, busked, dihedral, simple burins and burins on truncation. Carinated and nosed endscraper-cores with small reduction faces are also present in AH IIIa with only three pieces. In contrast, burin-cores dominate the bladelet core category. We discuss the technological and morphological variability of burin-cores as well as burins with less than three lamellar negatives from AHs IIIa and IV. The potential function of burin-core reduction in the context of activities in Hohle Fels Cave is discussed. The application of specific concepts of bladelet production in the Aurignacian assemblages is likely the result of functional demands. The paper highlights the importance of regional studies to understand the choice of specific reduction processes in the context of varying economical and socio-cultural settings.
Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m... more Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m thickness within geological horizons (GH) 6±8. The deposition of the layers took place during mild and cold phases between at least 42 ka (GI 10) and 36 ka calBP (GI 7). We present below a technological study of blade and bladelet production from AH IV (GH 7) at Hohle Fels. Our analyses show that blade manufacture is relatively constant, while bladelet production displays a high degree of variability in order to obtain different blanks. Knappers used a variety of burins as cores to produce fine bladelets. The results reveal a new variant of the Aurignacian in the Swabian Jura primarily characterized by the production of bladelets and microliths from burin-cores. The artefacts from the Swabian Aurignacian are technologically and functionally more diverse than earlier studies of the Geißenklösterle and Vogelherd sequences have suggested. The technological analyses presented here challenge the claim that the typo-chronological system from Southwestern Europe can be applied to the Central European Aurignacian. Instead, we emphasize the impact of technological and functional variables within the Aurignacian of the Swabian Jura.
In this paper the author addresses the technological definition of the Protoaurignacian by examin... more In this paper the author addresses the technological definition of the Protoaurignacian by examining the archaeological horizons of the lower section of the Aurignacian stratigraphy of Siuren I (Crimea). These horizons are associated with the Protoaurignacian (“Early Aurignacian of Krems-Dufour type industry”). A Working Stage Analysis was chosen to study the operational sequence and the reduction “history” of the artifact assemblage in order to attain high-resolution insight into bladelet production strategies. In a further step, these results were compared with results from a technological attribute analysis of the complete Aurignacian sequence. Accordingly, lamellar and laminar production strategies were investigated. The focus here is to examine whether the Protoaurignacian horizons of Siuren I are characterized by a succession of blades and bladelets within one single operational sequence, which is seen as a distinctive feature of the Protoaurignacian facies. The results clearly indicate two distinct, sometimes intercalated, production sequences for blades and bladelets, which coincide with recent technological investigations of the Protoaurignacian assemblages of Labeko Koba and Arbreda (Spain). The results highlight the problematic and sometimes contradictory criteria used for defining the different Aurignacian facies. Moreover, together with more recent absolute dates of Protoaurignacian and early Aurignacian assemblages, the meaning of the Protoaurignacian as isolated initial facies of the technocomplex, thought to indicate the initial spread of modern humans chronologically prior the early Aurignacian, is called into question. In this context, more respect should be paid to functional and regional peculiarities in current discussions on the topic.
Technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/II... more Technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/III C assemblage both with the Eastern Micoquian and with the Kostenki-Streletskaya industry of the Mid-Don region, as examplified on Kostenki 12/III. It is concluded that foliate based assemblages marking the Eastern European Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transitional period formed on the substrat of the Eastern Micoquian.
Within this article, Neanderthal behavioral competences are studied using the examples of the lea... more Within this article, Neanderthal behavioral competences are studied using the examples of the leaf point industry of Buran-Kaya III, Level C and the coexisting Crimean Middle Paleolithic technocomplexes Crimean Micoquian and (Western) Crimean Mousterian. Detailed empiric technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/III C assemblage both with the Eastern Micoquian and with the Kostenki-Streletskaya industry of the Mid-Don region. That fore it is concluded that identical Middle Palaeolithic populations produced both technocomplexes. Moreover, peculiarities of Mousterian and Micoquian faunal and lithic assemblages indicate that both represent complementary land-use strategies which belong to the same land-use system. Both Middle Paleolithic technocomplexes featured generalist subsistence strategies, which enabled Neanderthals to cope successfully with environmental conditions, as long as circumstances were more or less stable. Within this context, the Buran-Kaya III/C assemblage reveals an adaptive behavioral shift from this generalist to a more specialized behavior. This is indicated by the application of the specific biconvex technology for the production of target-specific specialized tool-sets such as individual gear. For several reasons it is likely, that demographic and related cultural and economic changes were responsible for this shift in adaptive behavior.
Was Sie in diesem essential finden können:
• eine kompakte Übersicht verschiedener Methoden zur A... more Was Sie in diesem essential finden können: • eine kompakte Übersicht verschiedener Methoden zur Analyse von Steinartefakten • gut verständliche Erklärungen zur Vorgehensweise • präzise Begriffserläuterungen und Definitionen • eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit Vor- und Nachteilen des jeweiligen methodischen Ansatzes • weiterführende Literatur, falls eine Vertiefung in die Thematik bzw. in Teilaspekte erwünscht ist
Kabazi II, Unit II, Level 8 - Ökonomie einer spät-mittelpaläolithischen Jagdstation im Hengelo-Interstadial auf der Halbinsel Krim (Ukraine). Magister-Arbeit, Universität zu Köln., 2007
Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m... more Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m thickness within geological horizons (GH) 6-8. The deposition of the layers took place during mild and cold phases between at least 42 ka (GI 10) and 36 ka calBP (GI 7). We present below a technological study of blade and bladelet production from AH IV (GH 7) at Hohle Fels. Our analyses show that blade manufacture is relatively constant, while bladelet production displays a high degree of variability in order to obtain different blanks. Knappers used a variety of burins as cores to produce fine bladelets. The results reveal a new variant of the Aurignacian in the Swabian Jura primarily characterized by the production of bladelets and microliths from burin-cores. The artefacts from the Swabian Aurignacian are technologically and functionally more diverse than earlier studies of the Geißenklö sterle and Vogelherd sequences have suggested. The technological analyses presented here challenge the claim that the typo-chronological system from Southwestern Europe can be applied to the Central European Aurignacian. Instead, we emphasize the impact of technological and functional variables within the Aurignacian of the Swabian Jura.
Hohle Fels Cave near Schelklingen in the Ach Valley (Swabian Jura) has yielded a rich archaeologi... more Hohle Fels Cave near Schelklingen in the Ach Valley (Swabian Jura) has yielded a rich archaeological sequence with Magdalenian, Gravettian, Aurignacian and Middle Palaeolithic horizons. One meter of deposits preserve the Aurignacian archaeological horizons AH IIIa to Vb (Conard et al. 2015; Miller 2015). Bladelet production from AH IIIa (GH 6a) and AH IV (GH 7) document the importance of formal burins as bladelet cores (Bataille & Conard 2016 & 2018). These cores deliver small and narrow blanks, often with straight as well as on- and off-axis twisted profiles. Lamellar burin spalls with intentional modifi-cations and use wear traces are characteristic for AHs IIIa and IV (Bataille & Conard 2018). Here we examine technological and typological features of these archaeological horizons. Specific lihic tools seem to have played an important role in the production of the large number of ornamental and symbolic organic artefacts produced on site (e.g. Conard 2009; Conard & Malina 2006 & 2009; Wolf 2015). In this context, the presence of lamellar burin spalls with distal use traces in the Hohle Fels assemblages was interpreted as tools for the incision of tiny holes into perforated beads (Bataille & Conard 2018). While characteristic Aurignacian types constitute one part of burin-cores, such as carinated and busked burins, another part is comprised by burin-cores with multiple lamellar scars on the small and lateral edges preferentially produced on straight blades, such as dihedral burins and burins on truncation. The potential core-character of different burin types is discussed. Among them are carinated, busked, dihedral, simple burins and burins on truncation. Carinated and nosed endscraper-cores with small reduction faces are also present in AH IIIa with only three pieces. In contrast, burin-cores dominate the bladelet core category. We discuss the technological and morphological variability of burin-cores as well as burins with less than three lamellar negatives from AHs IIIa and IV. The potential function of burin-core reduction in the context of activities in Hohle Fels Cave is discussed. The application of specific concepts of bladelet production in the Aurignacian assemblages is likely the result of functional demands. The paper highlights the importance of regional studies to understand the choice of specific reduction processes in the context of varying economical and socio-cultural settings.
Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m... more Hohle Fels Cave in the Ach Valley of Southwestern Germany exhibits an Aurignacian sequence of 1 m thickness within geological horizons (GH) 6±8. The deposition of the layers took place during mild and cold phases between at least 42 ka (GI 10) and 36 ka calBP (GI 7). We present below a technological study of blade and bladelet production from AH IV (GH 7) at Hohle Fels. Our analyses show that blade manufacture is relatively constant, while bladelet production displays a high degree of variability in order to obtain different blanks. Knappers used a variety of burins as cores to produce fine bladelets. The results reveal a new variant of the Aurignacian in the Swabian Jura primarily characterized by the production of bladelets and microliths from burin-cores. The artefacts from the Swabian Aurignacian are technologically and functionally more diverse than earlier studies of the Geißenklösterle and Vogelherd sequences have suggested. The technological analyses presented here challenge the claim that the typo-chronological system from Southwestern Europe can be applied to the Central European Aurignacian. Instead, we emphasize the impact of technological and functional variables within the Aurignacian of the Swabian Jura.
In this paper the author addresses the technological definition of the Protoaurignacian by examin... more In this paper the author addresses the technological definition of the Protoaurignacian by examining the archaeological horizons of the lower section of the Aurignacian stratigraphy of Siuren I (Crimea). These horizons are associated with the Protoaurignacian (“Early Aurignacian of Krems-Dufour type industry”). A Working Stage Analysis was chosen to study the operational sequence and the reduction “history” of the artifact assemblage in order to attain high-resolution insight into bladelet production strategies. In a further step, these results were compared with results from a technological attribute analysis of the complete Aurignacian sequence. Accordingly, lamellar and laminar production strategies were investigated. The focus here is to examine whether the Protoaurignacian horizons of Siuren I are characterized by a succession of blades and bladelets within one single operational sequence, which is seen as a distinctive feature of the Protoaurignacian facies. The results clearly indicate two distinct, sometimes intercalated, production sequences for blades and bladelets, which coincide with recent technological investigations of the Protoaurignacian assemblages of Labeko Koba and Arbreda (Spain). The results highlight the problematic and sometimes contradictory criteria used for defining the different Aurignacian facies. Moreover, together with more recent absolute dates of Protoaurignacian and early Aurignacian assemblages, the meaning of the Protoaurignacian as isolated initial facies of the technocomplex, thought to indicate the initial spread of modern humans chronologically prior the early Aurignacian, is called into question. In this context, more respect should be paid to functional and regional peculiarities in current discussions on the topic.
Technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/II... more Technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/III C assemblage both with the Eastern Micoquian and with the Kostenki-Streletskaya industry of the Mid-Don region, as examplified on Kostenki 12/III. It is concluded that foliate based assemblages marking the Eastern European Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transitional period formed on the substrat of the Eastern Micoquian.
Within this article, Neanderthal behavioral competences are studied using the examples of the lea... more Within this article, Neanderthal behavioral competences are studied using the examples of the leaf point industry of Buran-Kaya III, Level C and the coexisting Crimean Middle Paleolithic technocomplexes Crimean Micoquian and (Western) Crimean Mousterian. Detailed empiric technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/III C assemblage both with the Eastern Micoquian and with the Kostenki-Streletskaya industry of the Mid-Don region. That fore it is concluded that identical Middle Palaeolithic populations produced both technocomplexes. Moreover, peculiarities of Mousterian and Micoquian faunal and lithic assemblages indicate that both represent complementary land-use strategies which belong to the same land-use system. Both Middle Paleolithic technocomplexes featured generalist subsistence strategies, which enabled Neanderthals to cope successfully with environmental conditions, as long as circumstances were more or less stable. Within this context, the Buran-Kaya III/C assemblage reveals an adaptive behavioral shift from this generalist to a more specialized behavior. This is indicated by the application of the specific biconvex technology for the production of target-specific specialized tool-sets such as individual gear. For several reasons it is likely, that demographic and related cultural and economic changes were responsible for this shift in adaptive behavior.
Was Sie in diesem essential finden können:
• eine kompakte Übersicht verschiedener Methoden zur A... more Was Sie in diesem essential finden können: • eine kompakte Übersicht verschiedener Methoden zur Analyse von Steinartefakten • gut verständliche Erklärungen zur Vorgehensweise • präzise Begriffserläuterungen und Definitionen • eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit Vor- und Nachteilen des jeweiligen methodischen Ansatzes • weiterführende Literatur, falls eine Vertiefung in die Thematik bzw. in Teilaspekte erwünscht ist
Kabazi II, Unit II, Level 8 - Ökonomie einer spät-mittelpaläolithischen Jagdstation im Hengelo-Interstadial auf der Halbinsel Krim (Ukraine). Magister-Arbeit, Universität zu Köln., 2007
Kabazi II, Unit II, Level 8 - Ökonomie einer spät-mittelpaläolithischen Jagdstation im Hengelo-Interstadial auf der Halbinsel Krim (Ukraine). Magister-Arbeit, Universität zu Köln., 2007
The presentation will present the results of a PHD thesis at the University of Cologne. The Crime... more The presentation will present the results of a PHD thesis at the University of Cologne. The Crimean Pensinsula and the Kostenki region represent two complementary settings for studying the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. Crimea shows a long survival of Middle Palaeolithic industries until ~33/32.000 cal. BP. Furthermore, Crimea exhibits evidence for the coexistence of late Middle Palaeolithic industries associated with fossil remains of Neanderthals (Crimean Micoquian) and Early Upper Palaeolithic remains attested by interstratifications at Buran-Kaya III and possible Middle Palaeolithic palimpsests within the Aurignacian sequence of Siuren 1. In contrast to that, the Kostenki region (Mid-Don region) has long been seen as uninhabited by Middle Palaeolithic groups during OIS 3 and first colonized by Upper Palaeolithic groups, according to radiocarbon dates prior to 40.000 cal. BP. The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Eastern Europe between the Crimean Peninsula in the South and the Central Russian Plain in the North is marked by the occurrence of two different adaptive systems. The first one is based on the production of bladelets, blades and bone points and the second by the manufacture of symmetrical bifacial foliates in a bi-convex manner. These adaptive systems comprise different techno-complexes: the first one includes the Aurignacian and the initial Upper Palaeolithic industries of Kostenki 14 (layers IVa till IVb) and Kostenki 17 (layer II/ " Spitsynskaya "), and the second contains assemblages of the Streletskaya industry and the related transitional assemblages of Kostenki 12, layer III (Mid-Don) and Buran-Kaya III, layer C (Crimea). According to absolute data and stratigraphic markers the bladelet and blade based initial Upper Palaeolithic assemblages of Kostenki 14/IVb1-2 and Kostenki 17/II (Mid-Don) occur earlier than the assemblages based on the production of foliates and bifacial tools, such as Kostenki 12/III (Mid-Don) and Buran-Kaya III/C (Crimea). The latter assemblages show elements which might be linked to a Micoquian tradition, while the former are more or less void of any Middle Palaeolithic elements. Due to this observation, the occurrence of foliate assemblages are interpreted as a reaction of regional Middle Palaeolithic groups to incoming early Upper Palaeolithic groups and as an in situ transformation of the material culture in the course of economic adaptations.
Technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/II... more Technological studies give evidence to functional and technological overlaps of the Buran-Kaya/III C assemblage both with the Eastern Micoquian and with the Kostenki-Streletskaya industry of the Mid-Don region, as examplified on Kostenki 12/III. It is concluded that foliate based assemblages marking the Eastern European Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transitional period formed on the substrat of the Eastern Micoquian.
The Swabian Jura with its flagship sites in the Ach and the Lone Valleys is of crucial importance... more The Swabian Jura with its flagship sites in the Ach and the Lone Valleys is of crucial importance for the understanding of the formation and development of the European Aurignacian. The lowest Aurignacian horizons of the region (e.g. Geißenklösterle, AH III and Hohle Fels, AH Vb) are among the oldest known Aurignacian assemblages [1, 2]. Moreover, they exposed early evidences of symbolic artefacts such as organic beads, figurative art objects and bone flutes in the centre of Europe [3, 4, 5]. Hohle Fels in the Ach valley near Schelklingen exhibits a long Pleistocene stratigraphy with Middle Paleolithic, Aurignacian, Gravettian and Magdalenian horizons. Furthermore, a complex Aurignacian stratigraphy of 1 m thickness (AHs IIIa.1, IIIa, IIIb, IV, Va, Vaa & Vb) is embedded within geological horizons GH 6-8. The Hohle Fels Aurignacian reflects the known regional picture, characterized by an occupational hiatus between the lowermost Aurignacian and the uppermost Middle Paleolithic horizon (AH VI). Though severe processes of postdepositional mixing could be excluded, zones of dislocations of sediments in the northern part of the section as a result of an inclination of the sediments (15°) are apparent. Nevertheless, clusters of ashes, charcoal and artefacts indicate in situ zones of human activity. Here we present results of a detailed technological study of the lithic assemblage from AH IV (GH 7) which belongs to the upper section of the Aurignacian sequence. This analysis provides a key step toward establishing a regional model of the Swabian Aurignacian in relation to environmental and cultural properties. A special focus lies on the technological variability of the Swabian Aurignacian. Our results indicate that the production of bladelet cores on blades coming from sub-volumetric unidirectional cores plays an important role. Though functionally related, the blade and bladelet production systems of AH IV clearly differ technologically from each other. Moreover, the bulk of lamellar blanks were produced by the application of different varieties of the burin technology. We conclude that, while the blade production system is static, the lamellar production system is characterized by divergent technological methods in order to obtain specific and distinct blank products.
Detailed technological studies (Bataille, 2012 & 2013), as attribute analysis, the reconstruction... more Detailed technological studies (Bataille, 2012 & 2013), as attribute analysis, the reconstruction of operational sequences of bladelet cores (Work Step Analysis acc. to Pastoors, 2001) and the reconstruction of on-site transformation sequences of lithic raw material (Transformation Analysis acc. to Weissmüller, 1995) highlight the technological variability of the Aurignacian of Siuren 1. The poster focuses on unpublished investigations of bladelet production strategies.
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Papers by Guido Bataille
Books by Guido Bataille
• eine kompakte Übersicht verschiedener Methoden zur Analyse von Steinartefakten
• gut verständliche Erklärungen zur Vorgehensweise
• präzise Begriffserläuterungen und Definitionen
• eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit Vor- und Nachteilen des jeweiligen methodischen Ansatzes
• weiterführende Literatur, falls eine Vertiefung in die Thematik bzw. in Teilaspekte erwünscht ist
• eine kompakte Übersicht verschiedener Methoden zur Analyse von Steinartefakten
• gut verständliche Erklärungen zur Vorgehensweise
• präzise Begriffserläuterungen und Definitionen
• eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit Vor- und Nachteilen des jeweiligen methodischen Ansatzes
• weiterführende Literatur, falls eine Vertiefung in die Thematik bzw. in Teilaspekte erwünscht ist