Research on human bone artifacts has been rarely conducted exclusively. Indeed, researchers have limited their interests to intentional modifications of human bones in the frame of ritual contexts....Show moreResearch on human bone artifacts has been rarely conducted exclusively. Indeed, researchers have limited their interests to intentional modifications of human bones in the frame of ritual contexts. Thus, interpretations of the human bone’s use as raw material mainly concern its implementation in mortuary practices, side-lining the manufacture of tools and ornaments. Notwithstanding, the recent discovery of two human bones originated in the submerged Doggerland enriches the Mesolithic archaeological record, together with raising new questions concerning the human bone’s use during this period. This research aims to investigate the uses of human bone during the Mesolithic in Europe. Particularly, it attempts to unravel how frequent was the use of human bone, for which artifact categories it was used, and the body parts that were selected. Another interest concerns whether the use of human bones as a raw material was intentional or accidental. Consequently, the contextual analysis of the sites yielding human bone artifacts will offer a broader framework to approach such issues. Furthermore, considering that Mesolithic mortuary practices were related to the transformation, destruction, and manipulation of the human bone, I link these practices to the manufacture of human bone artifacts. Beyond these preoccupations, this study aims to interpret the potential differences and similarities concerning the use of human bone as a raw material during the Mesolithic. That is why it proposes a comparison of human bone’s use between the Mesolithic and the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. Relevant here are questions related to the differences of human bone artifacts between these periods, and if there are similarities indicating a continuation of existing practices across time. The comparison reveals that during the Late Upper Palaeolithic, in specific regions human bone artifacts seems to bear special importance linked to ritual practices. However, during the Mesolithic, such findings do not seem to bear the same value, as often they have been found mixed with animal bone artifacts. Based on this observation, I rely on ethnographic studies to explore the potential presence of animistic practices in the Mesolithic. The conceptualization of the relationship between animal and humans and their respective artifacts reveals that human bone artifacts were perceived in equivalent ways with the animal ones.Show less
In the Younger LBK, exchange networks start to change. Instead of long-distance networks, the trade becomes more local. The change in the raw material used for adzes in the Graetheide cluster in...Show moreIn the Younger LBK, exchange networks start to change. Instead of long-distance networks, the trade becomes more local. The change in the raw material used for adzes in the Graetheide cluster in southern Limburg (NL) illustrates this change. The material changes from the distant amphibolite rock to the more local lydite (phtanite) and grès-a-micas rocks. Why this happened is not yet clear, which is why we will be having a look at the LBK site of Nattenhoven. This site is suspected of being a production site for adzes in the Younger LBK. Newly accessible adze material from this site indeed shows that it is likely that the site was an adze production site. The lack of dateable finds such as fine-walled pottery have however made it difficult to determine the exact age of the site. As such, a connection to the changing trade networks cannot be made. Future research may however proof to be useful if exact dating is managed for the site.Show less
This thesis presents the results of the reanalysis of the flint assemblage from area IV(4) from the Lower Palaeolithic site Barnham East Farm, which was dated to the beginning of the Hoxnian...Show moreThis thesis presents the results of the reanalysis of the flint assemblage from area IV(4) from the Lower Palaeolithic site Barnham East Farm, which was dated to the beginning of the Hoxnian interglacial (MIS 11). Barnham is an important site to the Clactonian debated as it was the only site where it was believed that a biface assemblage was contemporaneous to a non-biface assemblage. However, new fieldwork suggested that a palimpsest was present in area IV(4). The new analysis concentrated on the technological classification of the artefacts, their distribution and preservation. Preservation was investigated by analysing abrasion, patination, breakage, edge damage and surface scratching. It was proven that, based on abrasion and distribution, a slow accumulation palimpsest (cf. Malinsky-Buller et al. 2011) is present in area IV(4). This palimpsest consists of an older, non-biface component overprinted by a younger component with evidence for biface manufacture. This is in contrast to the previous interpretation of Barnham, which concluded that the non-biface assemblage (area I) and the biface assemblage (area IV(4)) were contemporaneous. The new analysis supports a sequence with an older non-biface assemblage (Clactonian) and a younger biface assemblage (Acheulean). Two models remain that explain this sequence: the resource and landscape model (cf. Ashton 1998a), that suggests a functional reason for the disappearance of bifaces from the archaeological record, and a demographic model, that contributes the loss of bifaces to a decline in population sizes.Show less
In 2011 Clarkson and Hiscock (2011) presented several regression models for flakes with different platform types used to estimate original flake mass based on platform surface area and external...Show moreIn 2011 Clarkson and Hiscock (2011) presented several regression models for flakes with different platform types used to estimate original flake mass based on platform surface area and external platform angle in order to measure reduction intensity on lithic tools. In addition to subsampling and adding external platform surface area, Clarkson and Hiscock increased the accuracy of the regression models by using a 3D laser scanner to measure platform surface area. Most previous studies multiplied platform width and thickness as an estimate of platform surface area. In this thesis, the regression models created by Clarkson and Hiscock were tested on an archaeological sample from Colmont-Ponderosa, a Middle Palaeolithic site in Limburg, the Netherlands. Instead of a 3D laser scanner, photogrammetry was used to create 3D models. It was found that Clarkson and Hiscock’s models are not applicable on the Colmont-Ponderosa sample. New models were created using the same procedure as Clarkson and Hiscock. In addition to platform type subgroups, flake shape subgroups were made. Creating subsamples based on platform type did not influence the correlation between mass and platform surface area. Subsampling based on flake shape resulted in slightly increased correlation, probably because broader flakes have a higher mass to platform surface area than other flakes. Even though a positive linear correlation between external platform angle and mass was found, this variable was not very influential on the final regression models. It was concluded that the newly created regression models are much better at predicting original flake mass for the Colmont-Ponderosa sample. Mass predictions of individual flakes are still not very accurate, which might result in faulty results when introducing new data.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
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The production of bifacial tools is one of the main technological strategies practiced throughout both the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic of northwestern Europe (MIS 15 – 3; ca. 600-35 ka BP)....Show moreThe production of bifacial tools is one of the main technological strategies practiced throughout both the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic of northwestern Europe (MIS 15 – 3; ca. 600-35 ka BP). Within the broad definition of this tool category, there exist wide variation in morphological and technological properties. Additionally, the occurrence of particular biface types seems to vary, both chronologically, as well as geographically. Nowadays, many archaeologists focus on the steering mechanisms behind the observed variations and in doing so apply different methodologies. The bifacial objects used in this thesis to address these broader theoretical questions come from the southern Netherlands, a thus far marginally explored area when it comes to Palaeolithic archaeology. Published data on bifaces is combined with object registrations in the national database (ARCHIS) and primary descriptions of bifacial objects by the author to form a comprehensive dataset of 122 bifacial objects in total. Primarily, these objects are typologically classified with the help of a synthesized methodological framework that combines the main northwestern European typological traditions. The outcome of this analysis shows that the overall typological variation in bifacial objects from the southern Netherlands is more diverse than currently envisaged, which has direct consequences for the conceptualization of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic occupation of the research area. Consecutively, hypotheses for the observed variations in bifacial tool morphology are explored. Despite the limited chronostratigraphic information available for basically all objects, the combined analysis of associated geological formations, their age implications, and the distribution of particular tool types throughout norhtwestern Europe suggests that chronological differentiation in bifacial tool morphology occurs in the research area. At the same time, this explanation does not seem to fully explain the overall variation. Therefore, the technological aspects of morphological variation are explored as well. Scar pattern analysis is performed on four bifaces and shows that these all display long and extended artefact biographies during which likely different phases of use, re-use and recycling occurred. Based on the technological properties of the overall dataset it is proposed that economizing behaviours, in combination with different functional desires, have strongly affected biface morphology in the research area. The final hypothesis explaining variation is that of socio-cultural interactions. A re-analysis of bifacial tools from Sint Geertruid, previously used in such models by other researchers, in combination with their depositional context shows that the current dataset is unsuited for contributing to supra-regional contemporaneous cultural interactions between Neanderthal groups. This examination of the bifacial record of the southern Netherlands has shown that this material has higher potential for understanding hominin occupation and behaviour in this particular region than is currently being exploited. Finally, some suggestions for how to come to such understandings are proposed.Show less
The archaeology of the late Paleolithic in the Netherlands studies human behavior during the termination of the last glacial period. These studies focus mostly on lithic material due to...Show moreThe archaeology of the late Paleolithic in the Netherlands studies human behavior during the termination of the last glacial period. These studies focus mostly on lithic material due to preservative conditions. One of the ‘groups’ defined on the basis of this lithic material is the Federmesser-group, or Azilien. This tradition is generally dated to the Allerød warm period (11.800-10.800 BP). This thesis focuses on Federmesser-mobility patterns in the western Meuse area of Limburg, the Netherlands. Specifically, the sites of Horn-Haelen and Heythuysen-de Fransman will be addressed. Here we show that Heythuysen-de Fransman may actually have a different chronological position than was previously assumed. Based on assemblage size, a differentiation was made between Meuse sites and Peelhorst sites, interpreting the sites on the peelhorst as Base camps and the Meuse-region sites as extraction camps. In this thesis it is suggested that larger Peelhorst-sites may actually consist of a palimpsest of various sites related to clustered resources in this area, as opposed to the Meuse area. However, lithic typology does suggest processing activities were more important on the Peelhorst, while hunting activities dominate in the Meuse area. Through the analysis and publications of the lithic inventories of Horn-Haelen and Heythuysen-de Fransman, the author hopes to contribute to the dataset of published upper Paleolithic sites in the Netherlands. The author also hopes to contribute to the larger debate on mobility strategies for the Late Paleolithic, on which little has been published for the Netherlands in the last 20 years.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to re-examine the flint material from a Dutch site named Tienray op den Hees (North-Limburg, The Netherlands). The site should be placed in the occupation history of...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to re-examine the flint material from a Dutch site named Tienray op den Hees (North-Limburg, The Netherlands). The site should be placed in the occupation history of Northwest-Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum. The re-colonization of Northwest-Europe is closely related to large ecological and climatic changes. The flint assemblage has been examined by Stapert and characterized as Creswellian. An elaborate study on the typo- and technological aspects of flint show that the Tienray assemblage should not be assigned to the Creswellian. On typological grounds, the Laterally Modified Laminar Pieces and technological aspects point into the direction of Federmesser technology. The absence of the en éperon preparation, the low amount of 'lips' and the external platform angles are indications for the use of soft stone percussion for the production of relative straight blade(let)s and blade like flakes. Based on the current geological data, it is not possible to date Tienray op den Hees. However, Tienray op den Hees is located between the Late Pleniglacial terrace level 1 and the younger Holocene driftsands. The large variety of tools suggests that all kinds of daily activitities (e.g. processing of skin and meat) took place at the site. A few LMP show macroscopic impact-traces that can only be the end product by the use of arrow point. Retooling might have took place at the site. None of the so called southern 'Creswellian' sites meet the definition argued by Barton et al. (2003). Unfortunately, sites such as Zeijen and Siegerswoude in the Northern Netherlands are not studied on the technological aspects yet.Show less
Ever since its discovery, the Châtelperronian levels of the Grotte du Renne have been the subject of extensive debate. The excavations directed by André Leroi-Gourhan at the Grotte du Renne have...Show moreEver since its discovery, the Châtelperronian levels of the Grotte du Renne have been the subject of extensive debate. The excavations directed by André Leroi-Gourhan at the Grotte du Renne have yielded Châtelperronian type stone tools as well as symbolic artefacts such as pendants and pigments. The association of these finds together with multiple Neanderthal teeth and a temporal bone, led to the conclusion by Leroi-Gourhan Neanderthals were the makers of the Chatelperroian artefacts, including the ornaments. The ambiguity of this association is caused by the complex stratigraphy of the Grotte du Renne due to phases of extensive destruction of the interior of the cave due to the karstic nature of the region. Furthermore, symbolic artefacts have traditionally been associated with Homo sapiens and the Upper Paleolithic. These factors have led some to conclude the Neanderthal teeth have moved up from the Mousterian levels and the ornaments down from the Aurignacian levels, which are also present at the Grotte du Renne, Conflicting radiocarbon dates have not solved this problem. In this thesis, the available data from the Grotte du Renne has been assessed which has led to the conclusion the majority of the finds have been recovered in situ. Therefore, the ornaments from the Grotte du Renne have been made by Neaderthals indicating a symbolic aspect to their material cultre and the integrity of the Châtelperronian levels at the Grotte du Renne.Show less
The research examines Neanderthal fossil sites containing more than one individual and investigates the existence of Neanderthal mortuary spaces, a place associated with death, among them. An...Show moreThe research examines Neanderthal fossil sites containing more than one individual and investigates the existence of Neanderthal mortuary spaces, a place associated with death, among them. An overview of Neanderthal fossil sites with respect to the number of individuals indicates that almost 50% contains more than one individuals. The ones with more than five individuals are studied in detail concerning the main features of mortuary space: multiple burial, spatial organization and temporal restriction. At least three sites (La Ferrassie, Shanidar and Amud) appear to be mortuary spaces. On these sites multiple burial and spatial organization are evident but temporal restriction is hard to detect in the existing documentation. No general patterns were detected but traditions within sites are clear. Local natural elements are highly involved in burial structures and in spatial organization, indicating creative landscape use, which could account for the locality of traditions. The existence of mortuary space suggests modernity in Neanderthals behaviour. It also implies that mortuary behaviour emerged gradually and existed in elaborate ways in other species than ours.Show less
