Middle Paleolithic Bone Retouchers: Size or Proportions
K. A. Kolobova,
A. S. Kolyasnikova,
V. P. Chabai,
P. V. Chistyakov,
M. Baumann,
S. V. Markin,
A. I. Krivoshapkin https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2020.48.4.014-026
Abstract
Bone retouchers are the most common tools for processing lithic raw material in the Middle Paleolithic of Eurasia. Typically, they are perceived by Paleolithic researchers as informal, unmodified tools made from bone blanks accidentally obtained during the extraction of marrow. In this article, we introduce new data on a large collection of bone retouchers from Chagyrskaya Cave (in the Altai Mountains). Their dimensions demonstrate a high standardization of blanks, indicating the intentional selectivity of Neanderthals. Selection also concerned animal species and the anatomical positions of bones. We found that morphological characteristics such as the number of active areas and the degree of their modification did not affect the size of the retouchers and attest only to the reorientation of tools during lithic processing. In the course of retouching, cross-sections of diagnostic traces in the active areas underwent significant changes: whereas at the early stages they reveal “furrows” with V-shaped cross-sections, multiple blows against the processed lithic resulted in the deformation of the original form, which eventually resembled an upturned trapeze. The comparison of bone retouchers from several multicultural Middle Paleolithic complexes in Eurasia (Chagyrskaya and Denisova caves in the Altai, Kabazi V site in the Crimea, and Barakayevskaya Cave in the Caucasus) evidences similar proportions but considerable variation in size. Proportions, then, are an inherent functional characteristic of bone retouchers, which does not depend on either the cultural context or the raw material base.
Supporting agencies: Three-dimensional scanning of archaeological artifacts was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 2018-00179). Analysis of the bone industry from Chagyrskaya Cave was carried out under the Russian-French Research Program RFBR - FMSH (No. 19-59-22007 FDNCh_a); statistical analysis of bone retouchers was conducted under Project No. 18-39-20003 supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. The analytical part of the work was supported by the RSF and DFG (Projects No. 19-48-04107 and UT 41/8-1)
About the Authors
K. A. Kolobova
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leading Researcher.
Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090
A. S. Kolyasnikova
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Laboratory Assistant.
Pirogova 1, Novosibirsk, 630090
V. P. Chabai
Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine
Director.
Pr. Geroyiv Stalingrada, 12, Kyiv, 04210
P. V. Chistyakov
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Junior Researcher.
Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090
M. Baumann
Bordeaux University, UMR 5199, PACEA laboratory, Bat. B18
France
France
Postdoctoral Researcher.
Allee Geoffroy St-Hilaire CS 50023, 33615 Pessac cedex
S. V. Markin
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leading Researcher, Department Head.
Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090
A. I. Krivoshapkin
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Altai State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Director IAE; Department Chair, NSU.
Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090; Pr. Lenina 61, Barnaul, 656049
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For citations:
Kolobova K.A., Kolyasnikova A.S., Chabai V.P., Chistyakov P.V., Baumann M., Markin S.V., Krivoshapkin A.I. Middle Paleolithic Bone Retouchers: Size or Proportions. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. 2020;48(4):14-26. https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2020.48.4.014-026
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