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'Neruda P, 2012: Impact of raw materials on the interpretation of Middle Palaeolithic assemblages. Anthropologie (Brno) 50, 3: 345-360'. |
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| Abstract | | Middle Palaeolithic assemblages mostly comprise a manifold mix of various rocks and minerals Neanderthals acquired from resources in various distances. We can assume that the importance of the individual raw materials influenced and changed the human behaviour; this is reflected in the objects themselves and secondarily also in our classification and interpretation options. We demonstrate the complexity of this issue on the multilayer site of Bojnice III (layers VIII, IX, and X). The overall character of the industry (small dimension and using of coarse raw materials) has prompted some researches to classify it as micro-Mousterian or Taubachian. Technological analysis indicates that the character of the industry is secondary phenomena (the taphonomy) of the collection. The operation sequences are incomplete, and it is evident we work only with a part of the original assemblage. We can deduce that Neanderthals carried high-quality tools (fine-grained materials) between the settlement locations; hence they applied a certain degree of planning. The cultural classification of the assemblage should be based on the the bifacial component that appears to be dominant; it allows us to link the Bojnice inventories with Micoquian sensu lato. It also becomes evident that the ways of processing of various raw materials were not significantly different, but the quality of the raw material has still played an important role in other aspects of human behaviour (i.e. economy, mobility, or planning). Generally, the influence of raw materials on the lithic industry assemblage should be taken into account separately for each site. Therefore, we cannot mechanically transfer analogies among different regions because local conditions (density and quality raw material sources, their accessibility, morphology of landscape, climate, etc.) had a bearing on the behaviour of humans, who should adapt to them and therefore their material culture can be modified too. | | | | Keywords | | Slovakia - Middle Palaeolithic - Micoquian - Raw material impact - Lithics - Neanderthal - Planning depth | | |
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