Tag Archives: Aurignacian

For a long chronology of the Early Upper Paleolithic in Europe

  This are  typical Aurignacian tools from the Swabian Aurignacian from my collection. Once assumed to be relatively young, this Aurignacian is now dated among the earliest Upper Paleolithic in Europe. C-14 Measurements are traditionally made by counting the radioactive decay … Continue reading

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A thick retouched Aurignacian blade from Meyrals / Périgord Noir

This is a thick  (12×4,5×2,5 cm)  bilaterally  retouched Aurignacian blade with “endscraper” characteristics on the distal end. It is made from typical Dordogne chert and was found near Meyrals  in the Périgord Noir, just a few kilometers away from Eyzies, the Vézère … Continue reading

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Les Cottes and the Stratigraphy of the Early Upper Paleolithic in France

This is a multiple carinated scraper (core) from the early Aurignacian levels at Les Cottés (Vienne, France), a cave located at the southwestern margins of the Parisian basin, close to the Aquitaine. It is next to the Grand Pressigny area, … Continue reading

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Reconsidering the middle to upper Paleolithic transition in S/W-France: The case of the Châtelperronian

 Châtelperronian Points from the Pas-Estret site (Beune) near Les Eyzies excavated during a couple of days by Dr. Ampoullanges in 1911. Unfortunately many important stratigraphies (Le Mouster, Combe Capelle, Laussel) were “excavated” in this manner. Consider a hypothetical scenario: In … Continue reading

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Ornaments during the Paleolithic: The desire for differentiation

These are intact Dentalium tubes from the “Epiaurignacian” site Langmannersdorf in Lower Austria (http://www.aggsbach.de/2011/01/paleolithic-pendants-from-the-epiaurignacian-site-at-langmannersdorf-in-lower-austria/) Personal ornaments act beyond a simply aesthetical function; instead they tie together individu­als, societies, and ethnic groups. Fundamentally, it is also an important part of our … Continue reading

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Abri Castanet and the Aurignacian I in S/W-France

This is a double end-scraper and a burin from the Aurignacian I at Abri Castanet (Castelmerle), already introduced during an earlier post The Vallon des Roches (also called Vallon de Castelmerle) in Sergeac is a side valley of the Vézère, … Continue reading

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The Aurignacian in Lower Austria revisited

This is a Burin from the Krems Hundssteig site, made from Radiolarite and dating either to the Aurignacian or Gravettian. The Krems Hundssteig site is one of several sites in the Krems valley with Aurignacian material, dated between 41-31 k.a. … Continue reading

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Solutré: Stratigraphy and Technocomplexes

                                The  Paleolithic site of Solutré and the escarpment which protects it from the northwest winds are located a few miles west of the modern city of Mâcon, at the southern … Continue reading

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La Gane reloaded

This picture gives you a closer look at the colorful materials that were used during the Aurignacian at the La-Gane site near Groléjac (Dordogne),  situated just 10 km from the wonderful town of Sarlat (do not visit during July / … Continue reading

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Aurignacian Scraper from the Laussel Rock Shelter

The Aurignacian is defined by specific and specialized operational sequences that were responsible for the production of bladelets with different forms of what we normally classify as cores. Some are “carinated scrapers” or “nosed scrapers” on thick flakes where the … Continue reading

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