A PLEISTOCENE-HOLOCENE TRANSITIONAL INDUSTRY FROM THE BLÄTTERHÖHLE ROCK SHELTER (HAGEN, WESTPHALIA)
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2021-03-29

The  Blätterhöhle  cave,  discovered  in  2004  is  noted  for  Early  Mesolithic  (9200  -  8700  cal  BC)  and  Late  Neolithic  (3900-2900  cal BC) human remains and palaeogenetic evidence for Late Neolithic societies based on differing economic strategies. Since 2006 excavations take place within the cave and in a small area of a collapsed rock shelter. Here, for the first time in this region, a unique Mesolithic stratigraphy was uncovered. In 2016 the first Late Palaeolithic artefacts and faunal remains in a stratigraphic context were found. Among the lithics a few larger blades and several backed monopoints are striking. Partially backed points sometimes showing a bent tip are present as well as straight-backed or curved-backed points and small or elongated examples. Of special interest is a slender tanged point.This assemblage is highly comparable to the French Épi-Laborien dating to the Pleistocene-Holocene transitional period around 9650 cal BC. The slender and straight backed points called pointes des Blanchères and trapezes are common but so far missing at the Blätterhöhle. Very similar is the high variability of backed points in the Blätterhöhle and French assemblages and “degen-erated”  tanged  points,  both  present  in  the  French  Épi-Laborien  as  well.  By  now  the  Blätterhöhle  lithic  assemblage  is  the  most  eastern proof of distinct typo-technological influence by the French Épi-Laborian.


Author(s):  Orschiedt,  Jörg  (Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum  Archäometrie  gGmbH;  Freie  Universität  Berlin)  -  Heuschen,  Wolfgang  (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) - Baales, Michael (LWL-Archäologie)