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The use of bone retouchers in a Mousterian context of Discoid lithic technology

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Abstract

Bone retouchers are an important behavioural marker in the definition of several Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic cultural complexes. However, their relationship with the assemblages of knapped stone artefacts is still to be investigated particularly in specific but not uncommon lithic contexts of the Middle Palaeolithic in Europe. This paper offers insights to evaluate the use of bone retouchers in a context of Discoid lithic technology, a significant cultural expression largely spread in many regions during MIS3. The study case is the lithic and osseous assemblage of unit A9 at Fumane Cave, in north-eastern Italy. A detailed analysis of the bone retouchers is presented for the first time; their technological features are then correlated with the characteristic of the retouch observed on the lithic tools recovered in the same unit. The study contributes to complete a picture of Neanderthal economic behaviour.

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Acknowledgements

Research at Fumane is coordinated by the University of Ferrara (M.P.) in the framework of a project supported by the Ministry of Culture—SABAP Archaeological Superintendence, public institutions (Lessinia Mountain Community—Regional Natural Park, Fumane Municipality, BIMAdige, Veneto Region—Department for Cultural Heritage) and by private associations and companies. The authors are grateful to Kim Newman and Jarred Vardy for the revision of the English text and to the three Reviewers who have considerably contributed to ameliorate our paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Eva Francesca Martellotta

  2. Sezione di Scienze Preistoriche e Antropologiche, Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Ercole I d’Este 32, 44121, Ferrara, Italy

    Eva Francesca Martellotta, Davide Delpiano, Mirka Govoni, Nicola Nannini & Marco Peresani

  3. MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38123, Trento, Italy

    Nicola Nannini & Rossella Duches

  4. Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Marco Peresani

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  1. Eva Francesca Martellotta
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  2. Davide Delpiano
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  3. Mirka Govoni
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  4. Nicola Nannini
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Contributions

M.P. conceived research; E.F.M., D.D., M.G. and N.N. analysed data; R.D. co-directed archaeological excavation; E.F.M., D.D., N.N. and M.P. wrote and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marco Peresani.

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Martellotta, E.F., Delpiano, D., Govoni, M. et al. The use of bone retouchers in a Mousterian context of Discoid lithic technology. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 12, 228 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01155-6

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