In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 12 ( 2021-12-23), p. e0261031-
Abstract:
Our knowledge of the recolonization of north-west Europe at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum depends to a large extent on finds from Gough’s Cave (Somerset, UK). Ultra-high resolution radiocarbon determinations suggest that the cave was occupied seasonally by Magdalenian hunters for perhaps no more than two or three human generations, centred on 12,600 BP (~14,950–14,750 cal BP). They left behind a rich and diverse assemblage of Magdalenian lithic and osseous artefacts, butchered animal bones, and cannibalised human remains. The faunal assemblage from Gough’s Cave is one of the most comprehensively studied from any Magdalenian site, yet new and unexpected discoveries continue to be made. Here, we record previously unrecognized flint-knapping tools that were identified during a survey of the Gough’s Cave faunal collection at the Natural History Museum (London). We identified bones used as hammers and teeth manipulated as pressure-flakers to manufacture flint tools. Most of the pieces appear to be ad hoc (single-use?) tools, but a horse molar was almost certainly a curated object that was used over an extended period to work many stone tools. This paper explores how these knapping tools were used to support a more nuanced understanding of Magdalenian stone-tool manufacturing processes. Moreover, we provide a standard for identifying minimally-used knapping tools that will help to establish whether retouchers and other organic stone-working tools are as rare in the Magdalenian archaeological record as current studies suggest.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g004
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10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g006
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10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g007
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10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g010
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10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g011
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10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g012
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g013
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g014
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g015
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.g016
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0261031.r004
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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