Technological adaptation and the emergence of Levallois in Central Europe: new insight from Markkleeberg and Zwockau open-air sites

Summary

The introduction of Levallois method in Europe is considered the technological innovation that marked the beginning of the Middle Paleolithic. In north-central Europe, the early evidences of this new concept of flake production are dated to the late MIS 9/ early MIS 8, a period in which were testified a deterioration of the climatic condition, a change from forested to tundra -cold steppe vegetation and the dispersal of the “Mammuthus - Coelodonta” faunal complex from the artic territories. This paper aims to contribute with new data to the current debate, by exploring the lithic assemblages of Markkleeberg and Zwockau open-air sites (Germany). The technological analysis reveals the introduction of Levallois technologies in the modalities recurrent unidirectional and preferential. This modification in the hunter-gatherers technical behavior is interpreted as a technological adaptation in response to the new faunal complex, composed of seasonal migratory animals.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Global Perspectives on the Impact of Drastic Environmental Changes in Hunter-Gatherer Technologies

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