# Lower Palaeolithic stone tools: a techno-functional study on flakes from bifacial shaping at Soucy 3P (MIS 9, Yonne, France)

Félicien Capellari, Juliette Guibert-Cardin, Vincent Lhomme, Nelly Connet, Sylvie Beyries, Elisa Nicoud

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Félicien Capellari, Juliette Guibert-Cardin, Vincent Lhomme, Nelly Connet, Sylvie Beyries, et al. Lower Palaeolithic stone tools: a techno-functional study on flakes from bifacial shaping at Soucy 3P (MIS 9, Yonne, France). XVIII° UISPP World Congress 2018, Jun 2018, Paris, France. . hal-04005411

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# Lower Palaeolithic stone tools : a techno-functional study on flakes from bifacial shaping at Soucy 3P (MIS 9, Yonne, France)

Félicien Capellari¹, Juliette Guibert--Cardin², Vincent Lhomme³, Nelly Connet³⁻⁴, Sylvie Beyries², Elisa Nicoud²

(1) Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, HNHP, UMR 7194, CERP, Tautavel (2) Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS CEPAM, UMR 7264, Nice (3) INRAP, Poitiers (4) Arscan, UMR 7041, Nanterre

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

## Introduction

We present an example of techno-functional combined analysis led on the lithic serie from Soucy 3P. This lower Palaeolithic archaeological level is contained in a fine fluvial sequence and dated to 350 000 years. It yielded the highest quantity of bifacial tools observed in Europe and also a large number of small flakes, unretouched flakes and flake tools. However, wasted flakes from bifacial shaping are rarely studied, that is why we focused on these products using lithic technology and use-wear analysis.

## Lithic technology

Lithic technology study led on small flakes has shown that reduction processes are poorly represented : flake tools are never resharpened and bifacial tools very rarely. Small resharpening flakes come from the whole edges of the bifacial tool, which confirms the concept of « biface as a tool » at Soucy 3P. A diversity of small flakes coming from the end of bifacial shaping is attested. They correspond to different positions, stages of confection and technical consequences wanted on the bifacial tools. These products inform us on technical intentions which cannot be directly oberved on tools : previous confection or modifications made on tools carried out of the site.

<table><caption>Lithic industry from Soucy 3P</caption><thead><tr><td>Artifacts</td><td>N=</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bifaces</td><td>276</td></tr><tr><td>Unretouched flakes</td><td>4843</td></tr><tr><td>Retouched flakes</td><td>887</td></tr><tr><td>Small flakes from bifacial shaping</td><td>6539</td></tr><tr><td>&gt; Among which flakes from resharpening</td><td>432</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>(7%)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>Flakes with crushed areas</figcaption></figure>

## Use-wear analysis

Use-wear analysis has shown that retouched and unretouched flakes from bifacial shaping were used. This indicates that bifacial tools are not the only tools. A preliminary analysis shows that flakes were used in varied motions such as transversal unidirectional or longitudinal bidirectional motions and on varied hardnesses materials such as soft, hard or semi hard materials. Working of a hard material in a transversal unidirectional motion is evidenced both on flakes and bifacial tools.

<table><caption>Use-wear analysis sample and results</caption><thead><tr><td></td><td>Use-wear analysis sample</td><td>Artifacts with use-wear traces</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Unretouched flakes</td><td>4</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Retouched flakes</td><td>15</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Small flakes from resharpening</td><td>6</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Bifaces</td><td>13</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Broken tip of bifaces</td><td>2</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Coup de tranchet</td><td>5</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>45</td><td>11</td></tr></tbody></table>

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Microflakes showing a working of a possibly soft material in an unknown motion</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Rounding, polish and striations showing a transversal unidirectional motion on a hard worked material</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

## New questions and work perspectives

This work shows the informative potential of flakes in the study of techno-economical behaviours during Lower Palaeolithic in Western Europe. We can now wonder about functional link between flakes and bifacial tools: is there a complementary or a functional overlapping ?

This technological and functional study is ongoing on a larger sample to prolong the debate.

### References:

BÒEDA, E., 1997. Technogénèse de systèmes de production lithique au Paléolithique inférieur et moyen en Europe occidentale et au Proche-Orient (These d'habilitation à diriger les recherches). Université de Paris X - Nanterre, France, 173 p.
CAPELLARI, F., 2016. Apport de l'étude des éclats à la compréhension des phases de confection et réfection des outils bifaciaux : l'exemple du site acheuléen de Soucy 3 (Yonne, France). Mémoire de Master 2, Université de Bordeaux, France, 72 p.

GUIBERT—CARDIN, J., 2017. Analyse techno-morpho-fonctionnelle des industries lithiques du site archéologique du Pléistocène moyen de Soucy 3-P. Yonne, France. Mémoire de Master 2, Université de Nice, France, 109 p.

LHOMME V., CONNET N., CHAUSSE C., BÉMILLI C., BAHAIN J.-J., VOINCHET P., 2004. Les sites et les industries lithiques du Paléolithique inférieur, moyen et supérieur de la basse vallée de l'Yonne dans leurs contextes chronostatigraphiques. Bilan de dix ans d'activité archéologique pluridisciplinaire dans le sud-est du Bassin parisien. Bulletin de la société préhistoire française, 101, 4, p. 701-739.

NICOUD E., 2011. Le phénomène Acheuléen en Europe occidentale: Approche chronologique, technologie lithique et implications culturelles. (Thèse de doctorat: Préhistoire). Université Aix Marseille, France, 485 p.

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