Quelques observations d’ordre technologique et typologique sur les industries lithiques découvertes à Atmageaua Tătărască (Sokol, Bulgarie)

Abstract

The site of Atmageaua Tătărască in Southern Dobrudja has a long occupation sequence, spanning from Boian A, Gumelnita A1, Gumelnița A2, to Gumelnița B. With a few exceptions, the archaeological patterns were not recorded during the excavations. The lithic industry includes 976 pieces, for most of them (72.84%) issued from the level III – Gumelnița A1. After analysing the material from level III, several conclusions arise. At least part of the knapping process was carried out locally, viz. for large and medium-sized blades. This paper puts forward the hypothesis of the presence of a workshop involving specialized knappers for level III. Blade production is predominant, and at least two reduction sequences were identified. Two types of percussion are observed : direct percussion with hard hammer (predominant) and indirect percussion ; conversely, pressure flaking technique is lacking. Tools amount to 36.56% of the assemblage and, supplemented by axes, up to 39.09%. Among the tools, the most numerous are burins (33.46%) and endscrapers (27.69%), followed by retouched blades (19.23%) and truncations (9.23%). Less represented tool groups are notches, sidescrapers, scaled pieces, retouched flakes, becs, as well as an arrow point. It is also worth mentioning composite tools (3.65%) and the reuse of old tools, which were re-shaped into new ones. The raw material is of high quality ; it is also fairly homogenous, giving preference to the local Ravno (93.54%) and Kriva Reka type of Ludogorie chert, yellow-brown and grey Upper Cretaceous flint (Moesian flint), but also a dark blue chert possibly issued fromthe middle Prut valley.