Aurignacian Lithic Economy Ecological Perspectives from Southwestern France [Paperback]

Drawing data from a classic region for Paleolithic research in Europe, this book explores how early modern humans obtained lithic raw materials and analyzes the different utilization patterns for locally available materials compared with those from a greater distance. The author locates these patterns within an ecological context and argues that early modern humans selected specific mobility strategies to accommodate changes in subsistence environments.Drawing data from a classic region for Paleolithic research in Europe, this book explores how early modern humans obtained lithic raw materials and analyzes the different utilization patterns for locally available materials compared with those from a greater distance. The author locates these patterns within an ecological context and argues that early modern humans selected specific mobility strategies to accommodate changes in subsistence environments.Preface. 1:Environment, Technology and Mobility. 1.1. Introduction. 1.2. Theoretical Considerations. 1.3. Ethnographic and Archaeological Models. 1.4. Further Theoretical Perspectives. 1.5. The Approach. 1.6. Summary. 2: The Aurignacian: Systematics, Geochronology and Paleoenvironment. 2.1. Introduction. 2.2. The Study Area: The Lower V?z?re Valley. 2.3. The Study Sites. 2.4. Geochronology. 2.5. The Aurignacian as a Systematic Concept. 2.6. Paleoenvironment: Sedimentology. 2.7. Large Mammal Fauna. 2.8. Conclusion. 3: Lithic Raw Material Studies in the P?rigord. 3.1. Introduction. 3.2. Lithic Raw Material Sources. 3.3. Raw Material Studies: P?rigord and Vicinity. 3.4. Raw Materials and Group Mobility. 3.5. Aurignacian Lithic Economy: Expectations. 4: A Study of Lithic Economy. 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. Typology. 4.3. Technology. 4.4. Reduction Intensity. 4.5. Conclusion. 5: Aurignacian Lithic Raw Material Economy. 5.1. Introduction. 5.2. The Study Assemblages. 5.3. Raw Material Economy: General Observations. 5.4. Technology. 5.5. Retouch: Extl37