The flake knapping in western Mediterranean during the Middle Palaeolithic
The flake knapping in western Mediterranean during the Middle Palaeolithic
H. Oudouche et al.,
May 2017
50e réunion annuelle de l’Association canadienne d’archéologie ACA 10 au 13 mai 2017 (Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada)
The purpose of this research is to investigate the débitage Kombewa, discovered from 1938 in
East Africa, and subsequently defined as a flaking method of the predetermined flake from the
ventral surface of the flaked-flake. However, the same type of product could be obtained by
the knapping of a bifacial piece, preparing a striking platform on the ventral side or by
recycling an ancient flake.
The Kombewa is better known in the Lower Palaeolithic, but it remains insufficiently
characterized during the Middle Palaeolithic, and many aspects such as its status and the aim
of its production are not fully explored.
The objective of this work is to determine the technological context of the Kombewa
knapping and to record its behavioural significance during the Middle Palaeolithic. Thus, we
propose four hypotheses about the reality of this débitage : a knapping method carefully
planned and seeking to produce pre-determined blank, a technical process opportunistic to
exploit maximum of the raw material, a technical solution during the knapping to solve
immediate requirements, and finally to suggest the Kombewa as waste of the façonnage.
The assemblages analyzed here belong to two palaeolithic sites in the western Mediterranean,
each one is located about 50 km from the Mediterranean coast, comprising of the Abric
Romani site (Capellades, Spain) and the Ifri n'Ammar Cave (eastern Rif, Morocco). These two
sites differ among themselves in terms of geographical (Europe and North Africa), cultural
(Mousterian in Europe and Mousterian/Aterian in Maghreb) and biological (Archaic Homo
sapiens and Neanderthals) aspects. However, several exchanges and influences were observed
between the two continents at various periods of prehistory.
The synthesis which occurred in the western Mediterranean during the Middle Palaeolithic has
revealed the variability of Kombewa production carried out at both sites. The correlation of
results with the data of literatures indicates that the « flaked flake » is presented as conception
of knapping similar to the methods (Levallois, discoid, laminar ...) or as a secondary operating
applicable in several technical contexts (Levallois, discoid, laminar ... etc.), which seeks to
exploit the raw material a more rational way.
The experiments carried out on the Kombewa flakes showed no specific features or specific
uses to them.
Commentaires
Enregistrer un commentaire