Palethnographic interpretation of the Gravettian site of La Picardie (Indre-et-Loire, France): a difficult path

Author(s): Laurent Klaric

Year: 2015

Summary

After nine years of excavations (1998-2008) the site of La Picardie has delivered a major lithic collection (more than 13 000 artifacts piece plotted) chronologically related to the "Raysse burin" Gravettian (second phase of Middle Gravettian ca. 24 ky BP uncalibrated). Through the study of lithic material several major results have been brought to light (chronological attribution, description of a new retouched bladelet type, reconstruction of the flint knapping process for blade and bladelet production). However, palethnographic study and interpretation of the site have yet to be broached. In spite of some taphonomic problems, different studies can be combined in order to push our understanding of the site further: functional analysis of stone tools; assessment of skill level in flint-knapping; vertical and horizontal distributions of artifacts and tools; and observation of the organization of the different "structures" made of limestones blocks. Through several illustrative examples we will try to expose, step by step, the various elements that help us to rebuild the probable function of the site. Finally, making quick comparisons with other "synchronous" Gravettian sites (Solvieux, Plasenn-al-Lomm), we will see why La Picardie is quite unique for this peculiar phase of French Middle Gravettian.

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Cite this Record

Palethnographic interpretation of the Gravettian site of La Picardie (Indre-et-Loire, France): a difficult path. Laurent Klaric. Presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco, California. 2015 ( tDAR id: 395393)

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Keywords

General
Gravettian • Palethnography • Site Function

Geographic Keywords
Europe

Spatial Coverage

min long: -11.074; min lat: 37.44 ; max long: 50.098; max lat: 70.845 ;