Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.

The systematic use of antlers and other osseous materials by modern humans marks a set of cultural and technological innovations in the early Upper Paleolithic, as is seen most clearly in the Aurignacian. Split-based points, which are one of the most common osseous tools, are present throughout most...

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Main Authors: Keiko Kitagawa, Nicholas J Conard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239865
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author Keiko Kitagawa
Nicholas J Conard
author_facet Keiko Kitagawa
Nicholas J Conard
author_sort Keiko Kitagawa
collection DOAJ
description The systematic use of antlers and other osseous materials by modern humans marks a set of cultural and technological innovations in the early Upper Paleolithic, as is seen most clearly in the Aurignacian. Split-based points, which are one of the most common osseous tools, are present throughout most regions where the Aurignacian is documented. Using results from recent and ongoing excavations at Geißenklösterle, Hohle Fels and Vogelherd, we nearly tripled the sample of split-based points from 31 to 87 specimens, and thereby enhance our understanding of the technological economy surrounding the production of osseous tools. Aurignacian people of the Swabian Jura typically left spit-based points at sites that appear to be base camps rich with numerous examples of personal ornaments, figurative art, symbolic imagery, and musical instruments. The artifact assemblages from SW Germany highlight a production sequence that resembles that of SW France and Cantabria, except for the absence of tongued pieces. Our study documents the life histories of osseous tools and demonstrates templates for manufacture, use, recycling, and discard of these archetypal artifacts from the Aurignacian. The study also underlines the diversified repertoire of modern humans in cultural and technological realms highlighting their adaptive capabilities.
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spelling doaj.art-0c06307723a7497397d2d933c55c37602022-12-21T20:38:46ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-011511e023986510.1371/journal.pone.0239865Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.Keiko KitagawaNicholas J ConardThe systematic use of antlers and other osseous materials by modern humans marks a set of cultural and technological innovations in the early Upper Paleolithic, as is seen most clearly in the Aurignacian. Split-based points, which are one of the most common osseous tools, are present throughout most regions where the Aurignacian is documented. Using results from recent and ongoing excavations at Geißenklösterle, Hohle Fels and Vogelherd, we nearly tripled the sample of split-based points from 31 to 87 specimens, and thereby enhance our understanding of the technological economy surrounding the production of osseous tools. Aurignacian people of the Swabian Jura typically left spit-based points at sites that appear to be base camps rich with numerous examples of personal ornaments, figurative art, symbolic imagery, and musical instruments. The artifact assemblages from SW Germany highlight a production sequence that resembles that of SW France and Cantabria, except for the absence of tongued pieces. Our study documents the life histories of osseous tools and demonstrates templates for manufacture, use, recycling, and discard of these archetypal artifacts from the Aurignacian. The study also underlines the diversified repertoire of modern humans in cultural and technological realms highlighting their adaptive capabilities.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239865
spellingShingle Keiko Kitagawa
Nicholas J Conard
Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.
PLoS ONE
title Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.
title_full Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.
title_fullStr Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.
title_full_unstemmed Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.
title_short Split-based points from the Swabian Jura highlight Aurignacian regional signatures.
title_sort split based points from the swabian jura highlight aurignacian regional signatures
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239865
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