Flexibility of the Levallois Concept in the Italian Late Middle Palaeolithic: A view from the Oscurusciuto rockshelter

Marciani, Giulia

doi:doi:10.30861/9781407361659

Flexibility of the Levallois Concept in the Italian Late Middle Palaeolithic: A view from the Oscurusciuto rockshelter

Giulia Marciani

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This monograph investigates Neanderthal stone tool production variations through an integrated study of lithic assemblages from the Mousterian phase at the Oscurusciuto rock shelter in southern Italy. Concentrating on four critical occupational levels (SU 15, SU 14, SU 13, and SU 11), it provides a diachronic perspective, uncovering the evolution of lithic production strategies over time. This approach allows for a thorough examination of lithic production method diversity, debitage concepts, and their relationship to raw materials and cultural traditions. The study particularly emphasises Levallois debitage and its applications at the site, discussing identification criteria and adaptability. It highlights the distinctiveness of lithic toolmaking from this significant phase of the Late Middle Palaeolithic in Europe.

Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Of Related Interest
Foreword
Preface
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Abstract
1. Introduction
- 1.1. What Were the Interactions Between Sapiens and Neanderthals at the End of the Middle Palaeolithic?
- 1.2. Was the Late Mousterian in Italy a Uniform or Fragmented Techno-Complex?
- 1.3. Are There Continuities or Discontinuities in Technology at Oscurusciuto Rockshelter?
2. Oscurusciuto rockshelter
- 2.1. Location
- 2.2. Etymology of the name
- 2.3. Geomorphological and geological settings
- 2.4. Research history
- 2.5. Stratigraphic sequence
- 2.6. Chronology
- 2.7. Sedimentological and Ichnological studies
- 2.8. Environment
- 2.9. Fauna
- 2.10. Hearths
- 2.11. Lithic materials
- 2.12. Selected levels
3. Lithic Studies: Theory and Procedures
- 3.1. Unveiling the significance of lithic artefacts
- 3.2. Technological approaches
- 3.3. The techno-structural approach
- 3.4. Technological analysis: collected traits
  - 3.4.1. RMU and Refitting
  - 3.4.2. General attributes
  - 3.4.3. Core attributes
  - 3.4.4. Debitage products attributes
  - 3.4.5. Terminology for comparative study
4. Materials
- 4.1. Quantity and quality
- 4.2. Raw materials: reference collection
  - 4.2.1. Cherty limestone
  - 4.2.2. Radiolarite
  - 4.2.3. Chert
  - 4.2.4. Quartz sandstone
  - 4.2.5. Limestone
- 4.3. Provenance
- 4.4. Raw materials at Oscurusciuto rockshelter
5. Level 15: the living floor
- 5.1. Reduction sequences
- 5.2. Levallois debitage
  - 5.2.1. Core structure
  - 5.2.2. Selection and initialization
  - 5.2.3. Production
  - 5.2.4. Target product
- 5.3. Additive debitage aimed at producing flakes, C1, D1
  - 5.3.1. Core structure
  - 5.3.2. Selection and initialization
  - 5.3.3. Production
- 5.4. Additive debitage aimed at producing blades, D2
  - 5.4.1. Core structure
  - 5.4.2. Selection and initialization
  - 5.4.3. Production
- 5.5. Other additive production
- 5.6. Retouched tools
- 5.7. Overview of SU 15: economy of raw material and production
6. Level 14: the tephra occupation
- 6.1. Reduction sequences
- 6.2. Levallois debitage
  - 6.2.1. Core structure
  - 6.2.2. Selection, initialization and production
  - 6.2.3. Target product
- 6.3. Additive debitage aimed at producing flakes and blades, C1, D1, D2
  - 6.3.1. Core structure
  - 6.3.2. Selection, initialisation and production
- 6.4. Retouched tools
- 6.5. Overview of SU 14: economy of raw material and reduction sequences
7. Level 13: the short-term palimpsest
- 7.1. Reduction sequences
- 7.2. Levallois debitage
  - 7.2.1. Core structure
  - 7.2.2. Selection and initialization
  - 7.2.3. Production
  - 7.2.4. Target product
  - 7.2.5. Backed products: structure and function
- 7.3. Additive debitage aimed at producing blades, C2
  - 7.3.1. Core structure
  - 7.3.2. Selection and initialization
  - 7.3.3. Production
- 7.4. Retouched tools
- 7.5. Overview of SU 13: economy of raw material and production
8. Level 11: the long-term palimpsest
- 8.1. Reduction sequences
- 8.2. Levallois debitage
  - 8.2.1. Cores structure
  - 8.2.2. Selection and initialization
  - 8.2.3. Production
  - 8.2.4. Target product
- 8.3. Additive debitage aimed at producing flakes C1 D1
  - 8.3.1. Core structure
  - 8.3.2. Selection, inizialization and production
- 8.4. Additive debitage aimed at producing blades and bladelets C2 D2
  - 8.4.1. Core structure
  - 8.4.2. Selection, initialization and production
- 8.5. Additive debitage aimed at producing point D3
  - 8.5.1. Core structure
  - 8.5.2. Selection, initialization and production
- 8.6. Additive debitage E1 discoid
  - 8.6.1. Core structure
  - 8.6.2. Selection, initialization and production
- 8.7. Retouched tools
- 8.8. Overview of SU 11: economy of raw material and reduction sequences
9. Continuities and Discontinuities at Oscurusciuto
- 9.1. Lithic behaviour
- 9.2. Occupational behaviour
- 9.3. Levallois, non-Levallois and additive debitage
10. The End of the Middle Palaeolithic
- 10.1. Geographical and Chronological distribution of the Italian sites
- 10.2. Late Middle Palaeolithic lithic production in Italy
- 10.3. Overview of the technology of the last Neanderthals
11. Final thoughts: The Flexibility of the Levallois concept
List of citations
Back Cover

Citable Link

Published: 2024

Publisher: BAR Publishing

ISBN(s)

9781407361666 (ebook)
9781407361659 (paper)

BAR Number: S3183

Series

BAR International Series

Subject

Flexibility of the Levallois Concept in the Italian Late Middle Palaeolithic: A view from the Oscurusciuto rockshelter

Overview

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