Tag Archives: Levallois-Mousterian

“Tabun D type” Ensembles in the Levant

Posted on 10/28/2012 by Katzman

The Levantine Levallois-Mousterian is quite variable. As the longest and most complete stratigraphy, the Tabun sequence serves as a model for Middle Paleolithic lithic technological variability, the 3 entities (Tabun B type, Tabun C type and Tabun D type) representing different … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Transitions during the Paleolithic of North Africa

Posted on 07/01/2012 by Katzman

These are three Epipaleolithic artifacts from western Morocco. While we know numerous sites from the Iberomaurusian and Capsian, industries from the Initial Upper Paleolithic in N-Africa are scare. The period between the Middle Palaeolithic (a Levallois-Mousterian with or without pedunculated … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Mousterian of Bons-Tassily

Posted on 05/26/2012 by Katzman

This is a heavily patinated Biface (12x5x2cm) from Bons-Tassily (Normandy) with a secondary  “coup de tranchet” on the distal edge. The Middle Paleolithic occupation of the Normandy by human groups is well represented by sites, dating to OIS 5d-a and … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Misleading Typology

Posted on 04/13/2012 by Katzman

This is a paleolithic stray find from Chambonniere (Auvergne). If cordiform, triangular or small bifaces are found without a datable context, they are assumed being part of a “MTA”-ensemble, dated to OIS 3. Such assumptions represent a sort of circular reasoning and … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Razor sharp

Posted on 01/27/2012 by Katzman

The appearance of Levallois technology (named after a suburb of Paris where it was first described) in Africa and Europe c. 300–250 ka years ago (OIS8) is commonly used to define the Lower-to-Middle Palaleolithic and ESA/MSA boundary (as first proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lenderscheid: The Middle Paleolithic Debitage

Posted on 12/31/2010 by Katzman

The abundance of quartzite on the crests of low hills south of Kassel in the “Niederhessische Senke”, one of the main transit routes from South to North, has attracted people at different times to use this raw material for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hummalien at El-Kowm

Posted on 10/21/2010 by Katzman

These retouched blades, some of them 15-17 cm long, are from the Hummalien at El-Kowm and can be  seen in an rather improvized exhibition at the National Museum in Damascus, which I visited last week. In 1980, a first study … Continue reading →

Posted in Plaeolithics and Neolithics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment