Assessing the role of artefact design within the Middle Palaeolithic repertoire : determining the behavioural potential of blade production strategies
The Middle Palaeolithic of Europe has long been characterised by its rich technological diversity, with an array of core volume management strategies exhibited. In understanding and accounting for this diversity, interpretations of consistent behaviour and technological change have stressed the importance of three factors: social transmission and cultural tradition (Bordian-centric models), site-function and adaptation (Binfordian-centric models), and diachronic change andchronology. In many of these investigations and analyses into the Middle Palaeolithic, little emphasis is placed on commonalities and differences in blank-type, product desirability and their behavioural potential given their morphology. While function may not account for all aspects of technological variability, analyses of functional performance may explain chronological changes in various core volume management strategies which appear, at face value, to produce similar blanks. Undertaking such provides an entry-point into the nature and behaviour of Neanderthal tool-makers and tool-users, and a platform for discussing the role of other factors (e.g. ecological adaptation). This thesis investigates the behavioural potential of the main
Hoggard, Christian
Assessing the role of artefact design within the Middle Palaeolithic repertoire : determining the behavioural potential of blade production strategies. The Middle Palaeolithic of Europe has long been characterised by its rich technological diversity, with an array of core volume management strategies exhibited. In understanding and accounting for this diversity, interpretations of consistent behaviour and technological change have stressed the importance of three factors: social transmission and cultural tradition (Bordian-centric models), site-function and adaptation (Binfordian-centric models), and diachronic change andchronology. In many of these investigations and analyses into the Middle Palaeolithic, little emphasis is placed on commonalities and differences in blank-type, product desirability and their behavioural potential given their morphology. While function may not account for all aspects of technological variability, analyses of functional performance may explain chronological changes in various core volume management strategies which appear, at face value, to produce similar blanks. Undertaking such provides an entry-point into the nature and behaviour of Neanderthal tool-makers and tool-users, and a platform for discussing the role of other factors (e.g. ecological adaptation). This thesis investigates the behavioural potential of the main
assessing role artefact design within middle_palaeolithic repertoire determine behavioural potential blade production strategy middle_palaeolithic europe long characterise rich technological diversity array core volume management_strategy exhibit accounting diversity interpretation consistent behaviour technological_change stress_importance factor social transmission cultural_tradition centric model site function adaptation centric model diachronic_change many investigation analysis middle_palaeolithic little emphasis_place commonality difference blank type product behavioural potential give morphology function may account aspect technological variability analyse functional performance may explain chronological_change various core volume management_strategy appear face_value produce similar blank undertaking provide entry_point nature behaviour neanderthal tool makers tool users platform discuss role factor ecological adaptation investigates behavioural potential main