Unique workshop of Palaeolithic hunters discovered in Silesia

Naukawpolsce ^ | May 2, 2013 | Szymon Zdziebłowski

[SunkenCiv]

"Tools were made by a specific canon of Neanderthals living in Central Europe. These items have a cutting edge on both sides, they are bifacial" - said Dr. Wisniewski.

Tools, including bifaces and asymmetric blades, are made of siliceous rocks, commonly called flint. According to head researcher, Neanderthals made their tools with holders made of antlers, wood or other materials. This is evidenced by the results of the microscopic analysis of similar items discovered in Germany. Among the flint, archaeologists also found fragments of coarse grained crystalline rock used as pestles - support tools in the manufacture of other tools. This is one of few places in Poland, where archaeologists discovered tools of this kind.

"We believe that a thorough analysis of the remains of biface and knife workshop will allow us to better understand the procedures for making these complex tools. We are also going to compare our finds with the ones from Moravia, because we would like to answer the question asked for a long time: how were the Neanderthals living the present territory of Silesia connected with the group from Moravia? Was it the same population or a completely separate community?" - added the scientist.

According to archaeologists, the place the discovery is not accidental. Further south is the Moravian Gate, known migration route of nations from southern European over the millennia. This is one of the Central Europe’s largest corridors intersecting Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains.

"In this territory, we are finding traces of various activities: from hunting and slaughtering migrating wild game, to places of prolonged stay of Neanderthal groups of hunters and gatherers" - said the archaeologist. However, this is the first site so rich in finds from the Paleolithic period found in this area.

[SunkenCiv]

The digital model of a biface discovered in the area of the site. Below, a schematic tool cross section showing the method of making of plano-convex form. Scanning by M. Mackiewicz

[SunkenCiv]

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[Standing Wolf]

Fascinting stuff!

[null and void]

It makes me want to knap...

[Grimmy]

Looks a bit like sloppy work to me.

Indicators that they were going through a Planned Obsolescents phase? Or, quota based production maybe?

[Graewoulf]

The article did not mention prelim. dates.

What is your best guess for a rough time range in YBP?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I found a similar stone out beside my barn a few days ago. The only reason I gave it a second look is it looked like an old hand ax or skinner with a long edge on two sides.

[gleeaikin]

I thought I saw something about 45,000 years ago. I am too tired to go back and double check.

[OldNewYork]

Pre-unionized Neanderthals.

[Standing Wolf]

It makes me want to knap...

Yes, indeed. I gave it a try or two years ago, and soon discovered I was completely untalented. I've seen knapping done by people who make it look easier than whittling white pine with a freshly sharpened pocket knife.

[Graewoulf]

Thanks. I am interested in what effect the Neanderthal and Cro-Magdon cultures had on each other.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SW.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks gw and glee’.

The Paleolithic began with the first (known) stone tools over 2 million years ago, and ended about 15,000 years ago, depending on the region (in some places it ended as recently as 10,000 years ago). It’s usually divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Paleolithic (the last is the most recent), with these tools being from the Lower.

[SunkenCiv]

The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve
in local libraries

"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]