With Impressions Chosen from Another Time: Core Technologies and Debitage Production at the Lower Palaeolithic Site of Notarchirico (670-695 ka; layers F to I2)

Abstract

The earliest evidence of bifaces in western Europe is dated to the initial phase of the Middle Pleistocene (la Noira, Notarchirico, Moulin Quignon, 700-670 ka), with the findings of Barranc de la Boella (1.0-0.9 Ma) considered to be an earlier local evolution. No transition assemblages are recorded during this time frame, and the "abrupt" appearance of bifaces during this time frame is associated with significant cognitive shifts in human technological behaviours (Acheulean techno-complex). The new investigations conducted at the site of Notarchirico unearthed 30 ka of repeated human occupation (695-670 ka, layers F-I2) during MIS 17, with evidence of bifacial tools in layer G (680 ka) and F along with other heavy-duty implements (LCTs, pebble tools, etc.). Massive production of debitage products realised on local raw materials collected in situ through simple and efficient core technologies characterises a large part of the lithic assemblage with a high ratio of diversified light-duty tools, including modified chert nodules. Despite core and flake assemblages being a recurrent trait of Lower Pleistocene contexts, the increase in retouched implements recorded at the onset of the Middle Pleistocene has been considered a significant technological shift. The technological analysis of the debitage products presented in this work highlights recurrent and systematic technological behaviours of the hominins of Notarchirico-who proved to efficiently overcome the raw materials dimensional constraints-even in the layers without bifaces. This may shed light on the meaning of cultural and behavioural innovation that the Acheulean techno-complex is thought to bring over Europe. It is plausible that given the substantial homogeneity of the lithic strategies within the sequence of Notarchirico, which only the "introduction" of the bifaces in the upper layers seems to interrupt, a supposed behavioural or cultural change in the site might have already occurred in the lowermost portion of the sequence. In this work, we evaluate the degree of change-if any-from a technological perspective by analysing the debitage reduction sequences.

Keywords: Acheulean; Core technologies; Lower Palaeolithic.

Fig. 1

Lower and Middle Pleistocene sites mentioned in the text in relation to chronology, isotopic stages, and palaeomagnetic record. Chronological chart modified from Cohen and Gibbard (2019)

Fig. 2

A Complete stratigraphic sequence of Notarchirico. Dates in italics by ESR-U-Th. Other dates by 40Ar/39Ar. Legend is available in Moncel et al. (2020b). The red square indicates the archaeological layers analysed in this work. B Photograph of the new excavations on the Notarchirico hill (on the left is the M. Piperno’s fieldwork building). C Location of the site

Fig. 3

Cores from layer F. 1 Multifacial core on round nodule of flysch chert. 2 Unifacial centripetal core on small nodule of flysch chert. 3 Multifacial core on flysch chert. 4 Unifacial unipolar core on flysch chert

Fig. 4

Layer F: debitage products and nodules. 1 Débordant flake on flysch. 2 Scraper on flake of nodular chert. 3 Convergent scraper/pointed tool on flake of nodular chert. 4 Denticulate on flysch flake. 5 Scraper on flysch flake. 6 Denticulate on débordant flysch flake. 7 Convergent scraper/pointed tool on débordant flake of nodular chert. 8 Centripetal flake on flysch. 9 Notch on nodule of flysch. 10–11 Flake with orthogonal removals on flysch. 12 Flake on nodular chert

Fig. 5

Layer G: cores. 1 Multifacial core on flysch. 2 Unifacial core on radiolarite. 3 Semitournant core on flysch chert. 4 Multifacial core on flysch. 5 Multifacial core on flysch

Fig. 6

Layer G: debitage products and nodules. 1 Denticulate and point on flake of nodular chert. 2 Denticulate on nodule of flysch. 3 Double scraper on flysch flake. 4 Scraper with peripherical retouch on flysch flake. 5 Scraper on débordant flysch flake. 6 Notch with inverse retouch on nodule of flysch. 7 Point on flake with covering retouch on nodular chert. 8 Centripetal flake on flysch. 9 Scraper on débordant flysch flake. 10 Centripetal flake on flysch. 11 Retouched nodule of nodular chert: tool or core? 12 Flake on nodular chert. 13 Denticulate and point on nodule of flysch. 14 Flake on flysch. 15 Notch on nodule of flysch. 16 Flake on flysch. 17 Beak on nodule of flysch

Fig. 7

Layer I1: cores. 1 Unifacial core on nodule of flysch. 2 Bifacial core on nodule of flysch. 3 Bifacial core on nodule of flysch. 4 Semitournant core on nodule of flysch

Fig. 8

Layer I1: debitage products and nodules. 1 Composite tool with convergent retouch on flysch flake. 2 -; 3 Denticulate on flysch flake. 4 Scraper on nodule of radiolarite. 5 Débordant flake on flysch. 6 Denticulate on flake with orthogonal removals on flysch chert. 7 Convergent scraper on flysch flake. 8 Scraper on nodule of nodular chert. 9 Notch on flake of radiolarite. 10 Pointed tool on flysch flake. 11 Double ventral flake on nodular chert. 12 Flake on nodular chert. 13 Denticulate on débordant flysch flake. 14 Flake on radiolarite. 15 Flake on flysch. 16 Scraper on nodule of radiolarite

Fig. 9

Layer I2: cores, flakes, retouched flakes, and nodules. 1 Bifacial core on large nodule of flysch. 2 Unifacial core on flysch. 3 Multifacial core on small nodule of nodular chert. 4 Scraper on nodule of nodular chert. 5 Flake on flysch. 6 Notch on flysch flake. 7 Débordant flake on flysch. 8 Flake on flysch. 9 Denticulate on débordant flysch flake

Fig. 10

Production schemes of Notarchirico. Raw material selection: selection of nodules with rectangular (1), round (2), or cubic (3) morphologies. Operative schemes: A exploitation of one large knapping surface through a peripherical striking platform producing either orthogonal or centripetal negatives; B unipolar exploitation, eventually leading to semitournant behaviour using the natural convexities (edges and arises) of the nodules; C SSDA (systeme par surface de débitage alterné) exploitation of the cores, frequent rotation and inversion of the striking platforms and knapping surfaces. Production: typical obtained products: orthogonal flake (a), centripetal flake (b), unipolar débordant flake (c), unipolar flake (d), débordant flake without removals (e). Retouch of flakes and nodules: researched morphologies: peripheral convex retouch (f), lateral rectilinear retouch (g), notch (h), convergent/pointed retouch (i)