Patterns of choice and constraint in Lower and Middle Palaeolithic microlithic assemblages in central Europe
The big question raised in this thesis is one of choice: To what extent did the makers of microlithic tool kits during the Lower Palaeolithic merely respond to environmental pressures and to what extent did they choose to shape their environment, by means of their toolkits, according to their needs? Assuming a certain degree of choice, a selection of Lower Palaeolithic microlithic assemblages was analysed to investigate possible patterns within the material with regards to raw material selection, tool shape and size. The emerging pattern will be viewed against the backdrop of ecological variables, i.e. climate, environment, potential resources and the archaeological evidence of actually exploited resources. The impact of smallness is then explored in areas such as subsistence and lifestyle, hafting, learning and focus of attention. A further aspect to be considered in this investigation concerns the recurrence of microlithic assemblages during the Middle Palaeolithic in the form of the Taubachian and the question of continuation of a technological tradition over a long period of time. I have analysed data collected from microlithic assemblages from Poland (Trzebnica 2d, Trzebnica 2g, Rusko 33, Rusko 42) and
Glaesslein, Iris Irmaliisa
Patterns of choice and constraint in Lower and Middle Palaeolithic microlithic assemblages in central Europe. The big question raised in this thesis is one of choice: To what extent did the makers of microlithic tool kits during the Lower Palaeolithic merely respond to environmental pressures and to what extent did they choose to shape their environment, by means of their toolkits, according to their needs? Assuming a certain degree of choice, a selection of Lower Palaeolithic microlithic assemblages was analysed to investigate possible patterns within the material with regards to raw material selection, tool shape and size. The emerging pattern will be viewed against the backdrop of ecological variables, i.e. climate, environment, potential resources and the archaeological evidence of actually exploited resources. The impact of smallness is then explored in areas such as subsistence and lifestyle, hafting, learning and focus of attention. A further aspect to be considered in this investigation concerns the recurrence of microlithic assemblages during the Middle Palaeolithic in the form of the Taubachian and the question of continuation of a technological tradition over a long period of time. I have analysed data collected from microlithic assemblages from Poland (Trzebnica 2d, Trzebnica 2g, Rusko 33, Rusko 42) and
patterns choice constraint lower_middle_palaeolithic assemblages central_europe big question_raise choice extent maker tool lower_palaeolithic merely respond environmental pressure extent choose shape environment mean accord need assuming certain_degree choice selection lower_palaeolithic assemblage_analyse investigate possible pattern within material regard raw_material selection tool shape_size emerge pattern view backdrop ecological variable climate_environment potential resource archaeological_evidence actually exploited resource impact explore area subsistence lifestyle learn focus_attention aspect consider investigation concern recurrence assemblage middle_palaeolithic form question continuation technological tradition long_period time analyse data_collect assemblage poland