ANTHROPOLOGIE
International Journal of Human Diversity and Evolution
 
Coverage: 1923-1941 (Vols. I-XIX) & 1962-2023 (Vols. 1-61)
ISSN 0323-1119 (Print)
ISSN 2570-9127 (Online)
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Full text of article
'Maier A, 2020: On the morphology, chronology, and phylogeny of triangular lithic insets between 20 and 14 ka calBP in Western and Central Europe. Anthropologie (Brno) 58, 2-3: 167-190'.
 
Abstract
There is a long-standing debate about triangular lithic implements – particularly those referred to as scalene bladelets and scalene triangles – occurring in Western and Central European assemblages roughly between 20 and 14 ka calBP. By and large, the debate revolves around three key questions, namely the morphological distinctiveness, chronological significance, and phylogenetic relation of these two groups of objects. Within this triangle of dissent, most discrepancies seem to spring from an amalgamation of inappropriate analytical categories, poor chronological control, and untested assumptions on the evolution of material culture. This paper reviews the available evidence from assemblages with triangular lithic implements to strengthen their morphological distinction, sharpen the chronological resolution, and test ideas about the cultural evolution of triangular lithic insets during the period in question. It is found that scalene bladelets predominantly occur between 19 and 16 ka calBP. There also seems to be a microlithic variant occurring between 16 and 15.5 ka calBP. Scalene triangles, on the other hand, seem to be much more chronologically restricted and to have been in us for a rather short period of time at around 16 ka calBP. Scalene triangles are found to be most likely phylogenetically unrelated to scalene bladelets. While the former probably served as lateral insets, the latter seem to be more convincingly interpreted as frontal insets. As such, they can be seen as a variant of shouldered points, which bridges the gap between the shouldered points of the Badegoulian and early Upper Magdalenian.
 
Keywords
Scalene bladelets – Scalene triangles – Shouldered points – Radiocarbon dates – Phylogenetic relation
 
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26720/anthro.20.03.30.1
 
 
 
 

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