Levallois technique

The Levallois technique of flint-knapping
Levallois point  Beuzeville

The Levallois technique (IPA: [lə.va.lwa]) is a name given by archaeologists to a distinctive type of stone knapping developed by precursors to modern humans during the Palaeolithic period.

It is named after nineteenth-century finds of flint tools in the Levallois-Perret suburb of Paris, France. The technique was more sophisticated than earlier methods of lithic reduction, involving the striking of lithic flakes from a prepared lithic core. A striking platform is formed at one end and then the core's edges are trimmed by flaking off pieces around the outline of the intended lithic flake. This creates a domed shape on the side of the core, known as a tortoise core as the various scars and rounded form are reminiscent of a tortoise's shell. When the striking platform is finally hit, a lithic flake separates from the lithic core with a distinctive plano-convex profile and with all of its edges sharpened by the earlier trimming work.

This method provides much greater control over the size and shape of the final flake which would then be employed as a scraper or knife although the technique could also be adapted to produce projectile points known as Levallois points. Scientists consider the Levallois complex to be a Mode 3 technology, as a result of its diachronic variability. This is one level superior to the Acheulean complex of the Lower Paleolithic.[1]

Origins

The technique is first found in the Lower Palaeolithic but is most commonly associated with the Neanderthal Mousterian industries of the Middle Palaeolithic. In the Levant, Levallois methods were also in use in the Upper Palaeolithic and later. In East Africa, Levallois methods were used in the Middle Stone Age. While Levallois cores do display some variability in their planform, their flake production surfaces show remarkable uniformity. This would seem to indicate that some sort of teaching process was occurring, which some have speculated would have involved language.[2]

Evolution

The distinctive forms of the flakes were originally thought to indicate a wide ranging Levallois culture resulting from the expansion of archaic Homo sapiens out of Africa. However, the wide geographical and temporal spread of the technique has rendered this interpretation obsolete.

Further information: Prepared-core technique

Adler et al., further argues that Levallois technology evolved independently in different populations and thus cannot be used as a reliable indicator of Paleolithic human population change and expansion.[3] Aside from technique, the overarching commonality in Levallois complexes is the attention given to maximizing core efficiency. Lycett and von Cramon-Taubedel (2013) measured variability in shape and geometrics relationships between cores over multiple regions, with an outcome that suggests a tendency for knappers to choose planforms with a specific surface morphology. In other words, they conclude that Levallois knappers cared less about the overall outline or shape of their core and more about the striking surface, evidence of complex pre-planning and recognition of an "ideal form" of Levallois core.[4] A recent article by Lycett and Eren (2013) statistically shows the efficiency of the Levallois technique which at times has been called into question. Lycett and Eren created 75 Levallois flakes from 25 Texas Chert nodules. They counted the 3957 flakes and separated them into four stages in order to show efficiency, which grew subsequently in each stage.[5] Based on the comparative study of 567 debitage flakes and 75 preferential Levallois flakes, Lycett and Eren found out the thickness is more evenly distributed and less variable across preferential Levallois flakes, which indicates the thickness is an important factor for efficiency and retouch potential.[6] The experiment[5] also shows that the Levallois core is an economic optimal strategy of raw material (lithic) usage, which mean it can generate longest cutting edge per weight unit of raw material. This result also imply that the mobility of prehistoric people was higher when applying Levallois technology; prehistoric people may explore more area with Levallois cores, which can make longer cutting edge than the other flake making technique under same amount of cores, and no need to worry about the lack of raw material to make tools.

Defining Levallois

There is disagreement when it comes to defining Levallois technology.[7] Archeologists question which attributes and dimensions are specifically associated with Levallois, and argue that there are other techniques with similar cosmetic and functional aspects. Due to these disagreements, there is now a more precise set of criteria that outlines Levallois technology from a geometric standpoint. These criteria are:

  1. Exploitation of the volume of raw material is organized in terms of two intersecting planes, or flaking surfaces;
  2. The two surfaces are hierarchically related, one constituting the striking platform and the other the primary reduction surface;
  3. The primary reduction surface is shaped such that the morphology of the product is pre-determined, which is fundamentally a function of the lateral and distal convexities of the surface;
  4. The fracture plane for removing primary products is sub-parallel to the plane of intersection of the two surfaces; and
  5. The striking platform size and shape is adjusted to allow removal of flakes parallel to this plane, usually through retouch or faceting.[7]

Locations

Africa

Asia

Southern Caucasus

See also

References

  1. Foley, Robert; Lahr, Marta Mirazón (1997). "Mode 3 technologies and the evolution of modern humans". Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 7.01: 3–36. doi:10.1017/s0959774300001451.
  2. Lycett, S.J.; von Cramon-Taubadel, N. (2013). "A 3D morphometric analysis of surface geometry in Levallois cores: patterns of stability and variability across regions and their implications". Journal of Archaeological Science. 40 (3): 1508–1517. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.11.005.
  3. D. S. Adler, et al., "Early Levallois technology and the Lower to Middle Paleolithic transition in the Southern Caucasus", Science, Vol.345 no.6204, pp.1609-1613, 26 September 2014. Abstract:
  4. Lycett, S.J.; von Cramon-Taubadel, N (2013). "A 3D morphometric analysis of surface geometry in Levallois cores: patterns of stability and variability across regions and their implications.". Journal of Archaeological Science. 40 (3): 1508–1517. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.11.005.
  5. 1 2 Lycett, S.J.; M.I., Eren (2013). "Levallois economics: and examination of 'waste' production in experimental produced Levallois reduction sequences.". Journal of Archaeological Science. 40 (5): 2384–2392. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.01.016.
  6. Eren, M.I.; Lycett, S.J. (2012). "Why Levallois? A Morphometric Comparison of Experimental 'Preferential' Levallois Flakes versus Debitage Flakes". PLoS ONE. 7 (1): 29273. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029273.
  7. 1 2 Brantingham, P. Jeffrey; Kuhn, Steven L. (2001). "Constraints on Levallois Core Technology: A Mathematical Model". Journal of Archaeological Science. 28: 749. doi:10.1006/jasc.2000.0594.
  8. 1 2 3 Langer, William L., ed. (1972). An Encyclopedia of World History (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 9. ISBN 0-395-13592-3.
  9. Tryon, Christian A.; McBrearty, Sally; Texier, Pierre-Jean (December 2005). "Levallois Lithic Technology from the Kapthurin Formation, Kenya: Acheulian Origin and Middle Stone Age Diversity". African Archaeological Review. 22 (4): 199–229. doi:10.1007/s10437-006-9002-5.
  10. E. Boëda et al. "Levallois and non-Levallois blade production at Shuidonggou in Ningxia, North China" Quaternary International 295 (2013) 191e203
  11. Lycett, Stephen J. (2007). "Is the Soanian tech-complex a Mode 1 or Mode 3 phenomenon? A morphometric assessment". Journal of Archaeological Science. 34: 1434–1440. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2006.11.001.
  12. Peng, Fei; Wang, Huimin; Gao, Xing (2014). "Blade production of Shuidonggou Locality (Northwest China): A technological perspective". Quaternary International. 347: 12–20. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.04.041. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  13. Prehistoric Stone Tools Evolved Independently Within Local Populations, Say Researchers". Popular Archaeology, September 2014.
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