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Innovations in Acheulean biface production at la Noira (France) during Middle Pleistocene in Western Europe

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Abstract

The archaeological sequence of la Noira (Centre region, France) yielded two phases of occupation: ca 700 ka (stratum a) and ca 450 ka (stratum c). No site between these two dates has yet been discovered in the area, and this chronological period has thus been interpreted as a gap in settlement from MIS 16 to MIS 12, two crucial phases of occupation in Western Europe. The record before the long glacial event MIS 12 has been traditionally associated with the onset of the Acheulean in Europe. From MIS 12, the record represents the earliest evidence of innovations, a clear shift in human evolution. Here, we compare these two levels (strata a and c), tracking the technological innovations during this time and combining technological analysis with geometric morphometrics with the use of 3D models comparison of the large cutting tools (LCTs). Stratum a yielded an Early Acheulean, one of the few evidences in Europe presents tools with mainly short shaping sequences on local millstone slabs, with special attention to tips, but with clear management of tool volume. Stratum c, dated to the MIS 11, differs in that both local millstone and flints from distant sources show longer shaping sequences, the use of soft hammers for several series of removals on tools, combined with final regularizing retouch on entire edges. The morphometric approach shows a morphological transition from oval to teardrop shapes for the thinnest tools. Our data suggest a clear technological filiation between strata a and c and in la Noira populations from MIS 16 and MIS 12, as suggested for innovations of core technologies and land-use patterns, and raise question on local human behavioural evolution over the Middle Pleistocene in Western Europe.

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Data availability

3D Models from La Noira site (Central France) [data set]. ZENODO. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4415985.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the project “Understanding a threshold in Human evolution at 450-350 ka through the roots of Neanderthal behavior (Neandroots)” (ANR-19-CE27-0011). P.García-Medrano received a grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme as part of a Marie Sklodowska-Curie project, “Western European Acheulean project, WEAP” (Gran Agreement n.748316). The University of Bradford and Dr. Adrian Evans, through the “Fragmented Heritage AHRC Project”, lent us the scanner for the work. We are particularly grateful to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Leore Grosman and Antoine Muller, who helped us with the Artifact3-D and AGMT3-D software management. We would like to express our deep thankful to Dr. Nick Ashton (WEAP project supervisor) for his inestimable contribution to this manuscript. This work was developed at the https://www.fondationiph.org, the Dpt. Britain, Europe and Prehistory at Franks House (British Museum), and the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA, Spain). The latter has received financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “María de Maeztu” program for Units of Excellence (CEX2019-000945-M)”.

Funding

This research was supported by the project “Understanding a threshold in Human evolution at 450–350 ka through the roots of Neanderthal behavior (Neandroots)” (ANR-19-CE27-0011).

P. García-Medrano received a grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme as part of a Marie Sklodowska-Curie project, “Western European Acheulean project, WEAP” (Gran Agreement n.748316).

The Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA, Spain) has received financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “María de Maeztu” program for Units of Excellence (CEX2019-000,945-M).

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  1. UMR 7194, Département Homme Et Environnement, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France

    Paula García-Medrano, Jackie Despriée & Marie-Hélène Moncel

  2. Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory, British Museum, Frank House, 56 Orsman Road, London, N1 5QJ, UK

    Paula García-Medrano

  3. Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana I Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007, Tarragona, Spain

    Paula García-Medrano

  4. Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002, Tarragona, Spain

    Paula García-Medrano

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The three authors contributed to this work. M.H.M. and J.D. directed the excavation work. P.G. and M.H.M. analysed the materials and wrote the paper. P.G.M took all pictures and 3D models. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Paula García-Medrano.

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García-Medrano, P., Despriée, J. & Moncel, MH. Innovations in Acheulean biface production at la Noira (France) during Middle Pleistocene in Western Europe. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 14, 69 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-022-01506-5

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