Cores, Core-Scrapers, and Bladelet Production during the Lower Magdalenian Occupations of El Mirón Cave, Cantabrian Spain

Straus, Laurence G. ; Fontes, Lisa M. ; Domingo, Rafael (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; González Morales, Manuel R.

Resumen: Among the defining characteristics of the Cantabrian (Spain) Lower Magdalenian (19.2–17.5 cal kya), along with portable art works, are so-called “nucleiform endscrapers.” These small cores often display one or more regularized edges that could indicate a secondary function as scrapers. Although this has been demonstrated microscopically to be the case at some sites, it is generally not true in a large sample from Level 17, a massive Lower Magdalenian horizon in El Mirón Cave on the edge of the Cantabrian Cordillera. This study synthesizes lithic typology, technology, and microwear analysis of the Level 17 lithic sample. The results indicate that understanding the absolute versus relative abundance of core endscrapers is important to classifications of Lower Magdalenian lithic assemblages, particularly in terms of inter-site tool comparisons, understanding the relative abundance of tools in relation to debitage products, and the key role of bladelet production.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1080/01977261.2016.1175547

Año: 2016

Publicado en: Lithic Technology 41, 3 (2016), 212-235
ISSN: 0197-7261

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.649 - Anthropology (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1) - Archeology (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/RYC-2013-12613

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Prehistoria (Dpto. Ciencias de la Antigüed.)