The use of biface manufacturing flakes: Functional analysis of three Middle Palaeolithic assemblages from southwestern and northern France

Abstract

This paper presents a use-wear analysis of biface manufacturing flakes from three French Middle Palaeolithic sites: Jonzac, Fonseigner, and Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. Low and high power approaches combined with a morphometric analysis demonstrate these flakes, whether retouched or not, to have primarily been used to cut soft and soft to medium-hard materials. Whereas numerous pieces exhibit typical scar patterns referable to butchery activities, clear meat polishes are only evident on a handful of flakes from Jonzac together with less definitive examples from Saint-Amand. Several differences between these two sites can be seen in the morphology of prehensile areas on biface manufacturing flakes. Finally, factors, such as flake morphology, assemblage composition, site function, and cultural traditions that may have influenced the way these artefacts were used are also discussed.