Monthly Archives: November 2011

Artifact from Garba III (Melka Kunture)

Posted on 11/27/2011 by Katzman

This is a patinated flat non-Levallois convergent artifact from Garba III made from obsidian, which is heavily patinated. Melka Kunture is a valley site, which extends for almost 6 km in both Awash River banks, with superimposed terraces whose remains … Continue reading →

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Mousterian / MSA Point from Maroc

Posted on 11/25/2011 by Katzman

This is a Middle Paleolithic / MSA Point from Maroc with extraordinary continuous and regular retouches. The projectile function of the artifact displayed here, is obvious. Convergent artifacts in the European Middle Paleolithic and the MSA have been found to … Continue reading →

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Between the Raw Material Provinces: Handaxe from the Weser Valley

Posted on 11/18/2011 by Katzman

There is a pattern apparent in the distribution of Lower Palaeolithic artefact assemblages in Europe: Handaxe (Acheulian) signatures are normal in the south and west but generally are rare or even absent in the North and East. Lower Paleolithic ensembles … Continue reading →

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The Quina Mousterian in the Charente: Mousterian Variability

Posted on 11/13/2011 by Katzman

 These artefacts are from a single site in the Charente, showing characteristic traits of the Quina-Mousterian of the region. In 1953 François Bordes published an Essay of the classification of “industries moustériennes”, in which he proposed a typology for the … Continue reading →

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“Almost Cut My Hair”: A Razor from the German Bronze Age

Posted on 11/06/2011 by Katzman

“Almost Cut My Hair” was a song by Crosby, Still, Nash & Young, expressing the protest of young people against the Vietnam War in the late 60ies. I remember well a highly emotional debate about my hair with my parents … Continue reading →

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“langues de chat”

Posted on 11/03/2011 by Katzman

This is a handaxe from the Bretagne, found in the late 19th century.  Peasants in Northern France called such implements “langues de chat” (cats tongues). It was not before the mid 19th century, that these artifacts were recognized as being … Continue reading →

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Small axes from Syria

Posted on 11/01/2011 by Katzman

  These are three small axes (not longer than 3 cm) from precious raw materials, found together in the vicinity of Aleppo. They are extremely fine polished and represent great examples of fine workmanship. Two of the axes are made … Continue reading →

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