Pointes ou outils triangulaires ? Données fonctionnelles dans le Moustérien levantin [suivi des] Commentaires de J. Shea, A. Marks, J-M Geneste et de la réponse des auteurs

Abstract

The Near-Eastern Mousterian is characterized by a large development of Levallois debitage industries, mainly focusing on the production of triangular elements (Levallois points, triangular and subtriangular flakes), most often resulting from a convergent unipolar mode of exploitation. Among the tools identified in these industries, the first usewear analyses had emphasised the presence of projectile points. However, recent work leads us to modify appreciably the functional definition of the considered assemblages, concerning both the criteria for identification of inserts and their frequency within artifacts. In fact, the diversity of the modes of operation of these triangular products, as observed in various Levantine archaeological contexts, stresses the heterogeneity of this class of items, which cannot be considered as the answer to one needs.