Abstract
Our knowledge of the recolonization of north-west Europe at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum depends to a large extent on finds from Gough's Cave (Somerset, UK). Ultra-high resolution radiocarbon determinations suggest that the cave was occupied seasonally by Magdalenian hunters for perhaps no more than two or three human generations, centred on 12,600 BP (~14,950-14,750 cal BP). They left behind a rich and diverse assemblage of Magdalenian lithic and osseous artefacts, butchered animal bones, and cannibalised human remains. The faunal assemblage from Gough's Cave is one of the most comprehensively studied from any Magdalenian site, yet new and unexpected discoveries continue to be made. Here, we record previously unrecognized flint-knapping tools that were identified during a survey of the Gough's Cave faunal collection at the Natural History Museum (London). We identified bones used as hammers and teeth manipulated as pressure-flakers to manufacture flint tools. Most of the pieces appear to be ad hoc (single-use?) tools, but a horse molar was almost certainly a curated object that was used over an extended period to work many stone tools. This paper explores how these knapping tools were used to support a more nuanced understanding of Magdalenian stone-tool manufacturing processes. Moreover, we provide a standard for identifying minimally-used knapping tools that will help to establish whether retouchers and other organic stone-working tools are as rare in the Magdalenian archaeological record as current studies suggest.
Highlights
Over the past 25 years, studies of Palaeolithic bone collections have increasingly recognized that bones, teeth and antlers were used routinely as knapping tools to manufacture stone tools (Fig 7 in [1], p.114)
This combination of features is the hallmark of bones and teeth that have been used as knapping tools in stone tool manufacture
Knapping tools in Magdalenian contexts for the type of ad hoc retouchers made on bone fragments that dominate earlier knapping-tool kits [2]
Summary
Over the past 25 years, studies of Palaeolithic bone collections have increasingly recognized that bones, teeth and antlers were used routinely as knapping tools to manufacture stone tools (Fig 7 in [1], p.114). Understanding how these tools were used complements the more traditional approaches for interpreting early stone tool technologies, and they provide a new perspective for discussions about the technical abilities of early human populations [e.g. 2]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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