The Uluzzian and Châtelperronian: No Technological Affinity in a Shared Chronological Framework

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, vol. 8, pp. 3

Abstract

The Châtelperronian and Uluzzian techno-complexes are identified in western Europe in the same stratigraphic position, between the late Middle Palaeolithic and other Upper Palaeolithic assemblages. Both industries include retouched artefacts with abrupt retouch and arched backs, and radiometric dating indicates that these two technocomplexes belong to the same window of time. Here, we provide a detailed, qualitative technological comparison of two Châtelperronian and two Uluzzian lithic assemblages based on a collaborative, first-hand examination of these collections. This study results from a one-week workshop designed to bring relevant researchers together to conduct an in-person investigation of these lithic industries. Our analysis highlights significant technological divergences between these industries. In short, the Châtelperronian is a blade industry with a minor bladelet component produced by freehand direct percussion, whereas the Uluzzian is a flake-bladelet industry with massive use of bipolar percussion and a minor component produced by freehand, direct percussion. Our results suggest that there are no, or very little, technological affinities between the Châtelperronian and the Uluzzian - despite occupying the same window of time. As an extension, this suggests that there was little to no relationship/contact between the groups producing these industries during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. The distinctiveness of the Châtelperronian and Uluzzian highlights that technological behaviours in western Europe during the 45-40 ka can be very diverse and that general labels such as 'transitional industries' are unsatisfactory in describing this diversity. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41982-024-00202-1.

Authors 11

1. Giulia Marciani corresponding

   University of Bologna

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy

2. Leonardo Carmignani Aachen Human Origins Research Unit Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   University of Siena · Leiden University · University of Bologna

   Affiliation as printed

   Centro Studi Sul Quaternario (CeSQ), Via Nuova Dell'Ammazzatoio 7, 52037 Sansepolcro, Arezzo, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

   Human Origins Research Unit, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Igor Djakovic Aachen Human Origins Research Unit Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   University of Siena · Leiden University · University of Bologna

   Affiliation as printed

   Centro Studi Sul Quaternario (CeSQ), Via Nuova Dell'Ammazzatoio 7, 52037 Sansepolcro, Arezzo, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

   Human Origins Research Unit, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Morgan Roussel Aachen Human Origins Research Unit Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Human Origins Research Unit, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands

   Human Origins Research Unit, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Simona Arrighi

   University of Siena · University of Bologna

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100, Siena, Italy

6. Matteo Rossini

   University of Siena

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100, Siena, Italy

7. Francesco Boschin

   University of Siena

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100, Siena, Italy

8. Annamaria Ronchitelli

   University of Siena

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100, Siena, Italy

9. Stefano Benazzi

   University of Bologna

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, Italy

   Dipartimento Di Beni Culturali, Università Di Bologna, Via Degli Ariani 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy

10. Adriana Moroni

    University of Siena

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro Studi Sul Quaternario (CeSQ), Via Nuova Dell'Ammazzatoio 7, 52037 Sansepolcro, Arezzo, Italy

    Dipartimento Di Scienze Fisiche, Della Terra E Dell'Ambiente, U. R. Preistoria E Antropologia, Università Di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy

    Centro Studi Sul Quaternario (CeSQ), Via Nuova Dell'Ammazzatoio 7, 52037, Sansepolcro, Arezzo, Italy

11. Marie Soressi corresponding Aachen Human Origins Research Unit Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Human Origins Research Unit, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands

    Human Origins Research Unit, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands