La fonction des industries en silex et les modalités d’occupation des territoires au Mésolithique. Le cas des zones sableuses du nord-ouest de la Belgique et des Pays-Bas (8700–5400 cal. BC)

Abstract

This paper details the results of a recent microwear study of ca. 900 lithic artifacts from 14 lithic scatters belonging to five sites dated to the Early (Doel, Ede, Evergem and Verrebroek) and Late (Hempens) Mesolithic in the coversand area of Belgium and the Netherlands. Combined with high-resolution archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and chronological data, the usewear results offer new insights into Mesolithic activities and hence site function, thus allowing the formulation of new models of site system and land-use. Despite clear typological differences, this study did not reveal important functional variability within nor between the analyzed loci and sites. The functional spectrum on all loci/sites is dominated by two activities, i.e. the initial stages of hide working (cleaning and softening) and the processing of plant material for making relatively small objects, e.g. arrow shafts, basketry, nets, fibres, etc. Combined with the evidence of hunting (numerous microliths) and gathering (carbonized hazelnut shells), the usewear data support the interpretation of short-term residential camp-sites occupied by complete families mainly during the warmer months (summer and/or early autumn) when plant material was widely available. It is suggested that winter activities, including the further processing of the hides into clothing, shelter components, etc. took place at other locations most likely situated beyond the limits of the study-area. For NW Belgium exotic raw materials point to a possible winter territory in the hilly upland of the loess region some 100km in southeastern direction.