Flint Types Research Articles

Conociendo las <em>foicinhas</em> líticas del poblado prehistórico de Leceia (Oeiras, Portugal)

Uno de los elementos más representativos del Neolítico Final-Calcolítico en buen parte del oeste de la Península Ibérica son las piezas bifaciales elaboradas en sílex. En el territorio portugués, estas piezas, llamadas tradicionalmente foicinhas, son ahora conocidas como “láminas foliáceas”. Muchos yacimientos de este periodo son poblados fortificados, siendo el de Leceia uno de los ejemplos más conocidos. Este trabajo se centra en dichas piezas que carecen de un análisis profundo. Ello es sorprendente pues son muchos los instrumentos líticos, en general, y las láminas foliáceas, en particular, documentadas en los yacimientos de esta cronología. A lo largo del texto abordamos la información relativa a la materia prima, la tecnología, la morfología y la función de estos útiles. Ello nos ha permitido evaluar las zonas de aprovisionamiento de la población de Leceia, las posibles relaciones sociales que había establecido con otros grupos a partir del origen de ciertos tipos de sílex, su capacidad tecnológica y la función a la que se destinaron algunas de esas láminas.

Flint Type Analysis of Bifaces From Acheulo-Yabrudian Qesem Cave (Israel) Suggests an Older Acheulian Origin

This paper presents the results of a flint type analysis performed for the small assemblage of bifaces found at the Acheulo-Yabrudian site Qesem Cave (QC), Israel (420–200 kya), which includes 12 handaxes, three bifacial roughouts, one trihedral, and one bifacial spall. The analysed artefacts were measured and classified into flint types based on visual traits. Also, extensive fieldwork aimed at locating potential sources was carried out. The bifaces were then assigned to potential flint sources, using both macroscopic and petrographic data, and were compared with a large general sample (n = 21,102) from various typo-technological categories and from various QC assemblages, studied by the same analytic process. Our results show that while the site is located within rich flint-bearing limestone outcrops of the Bi’na Formation (Upper Cretaceous Turonian), which dominate the general sample, non-Turonian flint types dominate the biface assemblage. The presence of roughouts and complete handaxes, alongside the complete absence of bifacial knapping by-products, as well as the absence of a clear spatial distribution pattern of the bifaces throughout the site’s sequence, stresses the fragmentation of the bifacial chaine operatoire and suggests that the bifaces were not produced at the site but, rather, were brought to the cave in their current state. The extremely low quantity of bifaces at QC, compared with the overall rich lithic assemblages, suggests that handaxes did not play a major functional role in the QC hominins’ everyday lives. It is therefore possible that the QC bifaces originated from older contexts, most likely Acheulian sites existing in the vicinity of the cave, as part of the habit of the QC hominins of collecting older, previously knapped artefacts.

Effects of exogenous amylase on the in vitro digestion kinetics of whole-crop maize silages made from flint or dent grain type at different phenological stages grown in tropical condition.

The effect of exogenous amylase on the in vitro rumen digestion kinetics of whole-crop maize silage made from dent (RB9004) or flint grain type (RB9308) was evaluated at different phenological stages: soft dough (SOD), early dent (EAD), ½ milkline (½M) and ¾ milkline (¾M). Forage was harvested from 70 to 110days after sowing. Two rumen-cannulated cows receiving or not exogenous amylase (0.7g/kg dry matter-DM, provided to achieve 396 kilo Novo units of amylase activity/kg of TMR DM) were used as donor of ruminal fluid. The in vitro gas production kinetics was evaluated according to a dual-pool logistic model. The chemical composition and gas production kinetics were affected by the hybrid and phenological stages. The flint hybrid had lower range for chemical analysis among physiological stages. Harvesting at ½M and ¾M improved DM content, bromatological composition and silage quality parameters compared to dent or flint types. Amylase (i) increased methane (CH4 ) production and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in ½M stage, (ii) improved digestion kinetics by reducing lag time and increasing total gas production and fermentation rates of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and fibrous carbohydrates (FC), and (iii) increased extent and fermentation rate of NFC and increased fermentation rate of FC fraction in whole-crop maize silages produced from dent or flint types in all phenological stages. Harvesting between ½M and ¾M is the best phenological stage to improve chemical composition and silage quality parameters. Exogenous amylase showed improvements on fibre digestion of silages at ½M and ¾M phenological stages in both grain types of corn.

FEATURES OF CORN CONSUMPTION IN THE FOOD PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

This paper presents the features of corn as raw material for groat industry. Corn is used in many segments of the food andprocessing industry. corn is processed for traditional food products — groats, flakes, flour, extruded foods, and other corn byproductsare widely used for the production of dry breakfast cereals, snacks, cereal bars. In terms of using of the advanced processingtechnologies, the industry produces starch, gluten, and germs. Corn germ is used to produce the high-value vegetable oil, aswell as starch — for both food and non-food purposes. More than half (65%) of corn is used for feed purposes, 25% –technical purposes,and nearly 20% – for various types of food production. corn is processed for traditional food products — groats, flakes, flour,extruded foods, and other corn by-products are widely used for the production of dry breakfast cereals, snacks, cereal bars. For thecolour, corn is divided into white and yellow types. According to the literature data analysis, yellow corn is more used in China,Argentina, Brazil, while white corn — in some countries of Asia, Latin America, and the Balkan countries. Depending on itsmorphological features, the corn kernelis divided into various groups, species and subspecies.In Ukraine corn kernel is classified into 8 types, with separately defined limitations on the content of the major crop in thebatch, grains of other type, etc. Corn of І-VІІІ types with the quality indicators specified in the standard, for the production of foodproducts. Flint and dent corn types are the most applied grain varieties in the industry, they are widely used in the production segmentof food and feed products. Sweet corn is widely used as a vegetable crop in the food canning, food concentrates, starch andbrewing industries due to its flavor properties. Popped corn is not only the most convenient raw material for the production of popcorn,but it also can be used as the raw material for the production of corn curls and dry breakfast cereals By analyzing the weightfraction of fat in kernels of different corn varieties we can note that the lowest number of fat is typical for popped corn (4.0%) andthe largest – for sweet corn (9.1%); dent and flint corn have the same total fat number (4.5-4.9%).Test weight of corn types – poppedcorn ranges within 712-826 g/l, dent corn - 875-893 g/l, and flint corn - 768-786 g/l. The weight of 1000 kernels of corn dependingon the varieties changes within 150-600 g.

Impact of flint corn processing method and dietary starch concentration on finishing performance of Nellore bulls

Nellore cattle are predominant in Brazil and appear to have poor performance when fed high-grain diets. In addition, most corn produced in Brazil is of the flint type, and the starch therein is more difficult to digest compared to that in dent corn hybrids. The aim of this study was to evaluate flint corn processing method (CPM) and dietary starch content for finishing Nellore bulls fed high-concentrate, corn-based diets. In this study, 112 Nellore bulls (initial BW 378.3 ± 21.28 kg) were fed twice daily using Calan gates or individual pens. The animals were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments. The experiment tested two CPM: high moisture corn (HMC) and finely ground dry corn (FGC) and dietary starch concentrations (DSC) of 300, 350, 400 and 450 g/kg DM, replacing citrus pulp with corn. Bulls were adapted to finishing diets over a period of 18 days and fed a total of 75 days (18 + 57 days). To determine fecal starch (FS) concentration, feces from each animal were sampled on day 47 of the feeding period. Bulls fed diets containing more than 300 g/kg DSC from HMC were more efficient than bulls fed 300 g/kg DSC as HMC; but gain:feed ratio (G:F) for bulls fed FGC did not differ (CPM × DSC; P = 0.04). Final BW and average daily gain (ADG) were not affected by CPM, but carcass G:F was greater for bulls fed HMC than for those fed FGC (P < 0.01). Increases in DSC resulted in quadratic decreases in DM intake (P = 0.02), linear decreases in metabolisable energy (ME) intake (P < 0.01), and linear improvements in carcass G:F (P < 0.01). Interactions between CPM and DSC were observed for calculated dietary concentrations of net energy for maintenance (NEm), net energy for gain (NEg), and ME (P = 0.02), whereby NEm, NEg and ME of diets increased linearly with increases in DSC for bulls fed HMC, but did not differ across DSC for bulls fed FGC. Bulls fed FGC had 2.75 times greater FS compared to bulls fed HMC (P < 0.01); resulting in lower fecal pH for bulls fed FGC compared to those fed HMC (P < 0.01). In conclusion, there was no effect on G:F of Nellore cattle or net energy content of diets when DSC was increased by adding flint FGC, but increasing HMC in diets improved growth efficiency and net energy content.

Perspectives sur l’étude des productions lithiques simples au Néolithique : le cas de la culture Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain par le prisme du site de Vasseny (Aisne)..

Perspectives sur l’étude des productions lithiques simples au Néolithique : le cas de la culture Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain par le prisme du site de Vasseny (Aisne)..

Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology

Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology Christopher T. Begg, Joseph E. Jensen, and Victor H. Matthews 901. [Khirbet Beit Bassa] Ibrahim Abu Aemar, "Archaeological Excavations at Khirbet Beit Bassa, Palestine," NEA 81 (2018) 250-58. A hilltop site, Khirbet Beit Bassa is located about three kilometers southeast of Bethlehem. The results of surveys and archaeological excavations at the site indicate that it was inhabited during the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods, and for a time in the Ottoman period. Architectural remains include a subterranean rock-cut tomb, ground graves, a wine press, residential structures, cisterns, and a khan. Many parts of the site have been exposed to destruction and vandalism by looters and by urban development and agricultural activities. This study focuses on presenting the results of archaeological excavations conducted at the site in 2009 and 2010. [Adapted from published abstract—V.H.M.] 902. [Megiddo] Matthew J. Adams, "The Egyptianized Pottery Cache from Megiddo's Area J: A Foundation Deposit for Temple 4040," TA 44 (2017) 141-64. In 1996, a cache of 16 Egyptianized vessels were unearthed at Megiddo by the Tel Aviv University Megiddo Expedition. The corpus's stratigraphy was difficult to ascertain since the discovery was made early on during the renewed excavations at the site, and the ceramic typology could not be readily assessed due to the apparently specialized function of the vessels. A.'s paper reconsiders the cache in light of the now definitive stratigraphical evaluation of Area J while also reexamining the unpublished excavation records from the square in which it was found. A. concludes that the cache was a foundation deposit related to Temple 4040 and that both the former and the latter should be redated to the Intermediate Bronze Age on the basis of Egyptian ceramic parallels and the new High Chronology for the Early Bronze Age. See also #969. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 903. Aviad Agam and Ran Barkai, "Small Flake Acheulian: Further Insights into Lithic Recycling at Late Acheulian Revadim, Israel," TA 45 (2018) 170-92. The multilayered Lower Paleolithic Late Acheulian site of Revadim has yielded rich lithic assemblages, including dozens of hand axes. These lithic assemblages for the most part reflect a predominance of flake-production technologies and flake tools, as is the case in many other Acheulian localities as well. This study presents the results of an analysis of Layer C3 at Revadim, focusing on several newly explored aspects of the production of small, sharp flakes involving lithic recycling. Against this background, we propose definitions of new typo-technological categories of cores-on-flakes and small flakes produced from cores-on-flakes. We also present a typo-technological analysis of the tool types identified in the C3 assemblage and address the question of the degree of homogeneity of the flint types used for the manufacture of these small, sharp flakes. Our results lead to the conclusion that the technological repertoire of Late Acheulian hominins was more complex than is generally recognized and that production of small flakes was an integral component of Lower Paleolithic technologies and activities. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 904. [Khirbet el-Lauz] Salah Hussein Al-Houdalieh, "Khirbet el-Lauz Revisited: Lessons from the Renewed Destruction of a Vulnerable Heritage Site," NEA 81 (2018) 244-49. The author describes the recent, renewed vandalizing of the site of Khirbet el-Lauz on the West Bank. In so doing, he stresses the role of the general public in protecting the [End Page 306] archaeological resources located in Area C, as well as the importance of raising awareness among school-age students to get them engaged in safe-guarding archaeological sites, and offers some recommendations for reducing the looting of antiquities in the Palestinian territories. [Adapted from published abstract—V.H.M.] 905. [Megiddo; "Sign of Tanit"] Eran Arie, "The Earliest Known 'Sign of Tanit' Revealed in the 11th Century BCE Building at Megiddo," TA 46 (2017) 61-71. During the 2008 excavation season at Megiddo, a small copper alloy object was uncovered in a clean, early Iron I context. The artifact is the earliest "sign...

Post-Linear Pottery cultural boundary and repopulation of the German Rhineland: Revisiting the Western contacts hypothesis

The lack of consensus surrounding the macroscopic determination of high-quality black flint discovered at the Aldenhoven Plateau sites (Rhineland, North-Western Germany) from the beginning of the Middle Neolithic has far-reaching consequences for the anthropological understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics involved in the neolithization of North-Western Europe. This flint has been assigned to Western Belgian 'Obourg' flint type and is used as a key indicator of strong links between populations from West Belgium (Mons Basin) and the German Rhineland at the beginning of the 5th millennium BC. Here, we present an integrated study of this flint using geochemical and lithic technological approaches. This work rules out attribution of the analysed flint artefacts to the Upper Cretaceous flint sources of the Mons Basin; however, the exact origin of the black flint used in the Rhineland remains unanswered. Our results do not support the hypothesis of intensive contact between populations from West Belgium and the German Rhineland and highlights the urgent need for further combined petrographic and geochemical analyses in the region, particularly on geological samples, in order to build up an extensive and reliable comparative reference collection.

Blind test evaluation of consistency in macroscopic lithic raw material sorting

AbstractMost archaeological lithic raw material studies depend upon a macroscopic classification. However, since the human eye is a limited tool, some inconsistencies in classification may arise. Thus, a process for evaluating and increasing the reliability of macroscopic classification is needed. We present the results of a blind test designed to evaluate consistency in macroscopic lithic materials analysis, based on archaeological material taken from the Acheulo‐Yabrudian site Qesem Cave (Israel), focusing on interobserver error, aimed at identifying consistencies and weaknesses within our own study scheme. Twelve students, with various degrees of experience and familiarity with the Qesem material, sorted 100 randomly selected flint pieces into flint types, based on a previously established database, after a brief tutorial process. In addition, the authors, LW and AA, performed the same test. We then compared the results, using LW's results as an anchor. Our results show that experience affects the consistency in classification, demonstrating that it is an acquired skill. Furthermore, the blind test allowed us to identify weaknesses within the classification scheme. We suggest that blind tests should be regularly used to check accuracy and reproducibility of results and to assess the definitions set by the analyst, allowing fine‐tuning and calibration of the classification process.

Small Flake Acheulian: Further Insights into Lithic Recycling at Late Acheulian Revadim, Israel

The multi-layered Lower Paleolithic Late Acheulian site of Revadim has yielded rich lithic assemblages, including dozens of handaxes. These lithic assemblages are for the most part dominated by flake-production technologies and flake tools, as is the rule of thumb at many other Acheulian localities. This study presents the results of an analysis of Layer C3 at Revadim, focusing on several newly-explored aspects of the production of small, sharp flakes by means of lithic recycling. We present definitions of new typo-technological categories of cores-on-flakes and the small flakes produced from cores-on- flakes. We also present a typo-technological analysis of the tool types detected in the Layer C3 assemblage and provide an analysis of the degree of homogeneity of the flint types used for the manufacture of these small, sharp flakes. Our results demonstrate that the technological repertoire of Late Acheulian hominins was more complex than is commonly acknowledged, and that production of small flakes was an integral component within Lower Paleolithic technologies and activities.

Preliminary Archaeopetrological Study of the Lithic Industry From the l’Hort de la Boquera Rock Shelter (Margalef de Montsant, Tarragona, Spain): Applying Mineralogical and Geochemical Techniques

The l’Hort de la Boquera site is located in the northeastern part of Iberia and its stone tool assemblage includes up to 25,000 flint artefacts. This is the first approach to the analysis of the raw material through an archaeopetrological study. Results were obtained by use of mineralogi¬cal techniques: macroscopic and petrographic analysis, Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Micro-Raman and X-Ray diffraction (XRD); additionally, Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry was applied. It has been possible to discriminate at least four flint categories, the ‘Evaporitic flint type’ (with two local subvarieties – ‘Common evaporitic’ and ‘Garnet’ varieties) that comes from local outcrops of the Ulldemolins Complex, and two flint types that had their origin further afield: the ‘Charophyta flint type’ (coming from the Torrente de Cinca Unit) and the ‘Dark flint type’ (from the La Serra Llarga Formation).These results make this study the most comprehensive analysis of raw materials that has been carried out in the area so far

Aux prémices du Gravettien dans le Nord-Ouest européen : étude de la production des pointes lithiques à Maisières-Canal (province de Hainaut, Belgique)

Aux prémices du Gravettien dans le Nord-Ouest européen : étude de la production des pointes lithiques à Maisières-Canal (province de Hainaut, Belgique)

Armas de guerra ou de caça? Funcionalidade e proveniência das pontas de seta do Zambujal (Torres Vedras, Portugal)

Esta contribuição insere-se num trabalho mais vasto que temos vindo a desenvolver desde 2014 sobre a pedra lascada do Zambujal, focalizado na caracterização petrográfica, nas estratégias de aquisição e na gestão dos recursos siliciosos.&#x0D; O povoado fortificado do Zambujal assume-se como um caso de estudo privilegiado na Estremadura portuguesa, pelo elevado número de artefactos de sílex recuperados associados a um contexto cronoestratigráfico, em particular pela quantidade de pontas de seta proporcionalmente às restantes categorias líticas. Esta questão, juntamente com o facto de terem sido recolhidas naquele local (entre a primeira e a segunda linhas de defesa), reveste-se de grande importância, sugerindo a possibilidade de terem ocorrido conflitos armados entre estas populações ao longo do Calcolítico (3º milénio BCE).&#x0D; Neste estudo propomos testar a hipótese da existência de evidências de guerra no Calcolítico com base numa análise funcional (cálculo do índice de penetração - Ipn) e petrográfica (identificação de microfácies, génese e locais de aprovisionamento das litologias) das pontas de seta recolhidas no interior da barbacã da fortificação.&#x0D; Em conclusão, estes novos resultados, a partir de “velhos” dados, são o ponto de partida para identificar as estratégias de abastecimento e as fases iniciais das cadeias operatórias das pontas de seta do Zambujal, reconhecendo a existência de complexas redes de circulação de bens no Calcolítico que incluem, provavelmente, estratégias de controlo regional e inter-regional, reflectindo relações de estabilidade ou instabilidade entre as comunidades pré-históricas.

Flint and Quartzite: Distinguishing Raw Material Through Bone Cut Marks

Since the 1980s, several experimental analyses have been able to differentiate some lithic tool types and some of their raw materials according to the morphology of cut marks imprinted by such tools when used for butchering activities. Thus, metal tool use has been differentiated in contexts with an abundance of lithic tools, or even the use of hand axes has been documented in carcass processing, in contrast with simple unretouched or retouched flakes. As important as this information is, there are still other important aspects to be analysed. Can cut marks produced with different lithic raw material types be differentiated? Can cut marks made with different types of the same raw material type be characterized and differentiated? The objective of this study is to evaluate if cut marks resulting from the use of different flints and different quartzites are distinguishable from each other. In the present work, an experimental analysis of hundreds of cut marks produced by five types of flint and five varieties of quartzite was carried out. Microphotogrammetry and geometric–morphometric techniques were applied to analyse these cut marks. The results show that flint cut marks and quartzite cut marks can be characterized at the assemblage level. Different types of flint produced cut marks that were not significantly different from each other. Cut marks made with Olduvai Gorge quartzite were significantly different from those produced with a set comprising several other types of quartzites. Crystal size, which is larger in Olduvai Gorge quartzites (0.5 mm) than Spanish quartzites (177–250 μm), is discussed as being the main reason for these statistically significant differences. This documented intra‐sample and inter‐sample variance does not hinder the resolution of the approach to differentiate between these two generic raw material types and opens the door for the application of this method in archaeological contexts.

Heating of flint artifacts from the site of Boker Tachtit (Israel) was not detected using FTIR peak broadening

Heat treatment of flint changes its mechanical properties and improves its knappability. Here we examine flint artifacts from two occupational levels at the site of Boker Tachtit (Israel). Boker Tachtit is an important site for understanding the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in the Levant. The thin and stratified archeological levels together with a well-defined lithic technology make the site suitable for addressing the issue of heat treatment of raw materials for tool production. We use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to assess heat treatment of flint artifacts and compare them to geogenic flint nodules collected in Wadi Zin, <20m, from the site. We demonstrate that even though the broadening of the 512 and 467cm−1 peaks can be used to detect heating of these types of flint, we found no evidence that the archeological flint artifacts had been heated in such a way as to cause peak broadening. The observed potlids and cracking of flint, which are sometimes used to visually identify heating, do not generally correlate with peak broadening.

The chert from the Castelltallat Formation (south-central Pyrenees): archaeometric characterisation and archaeological implications

Chert from the limestones and marly limestones of Castelltallat Formation (Ebro Basin) was widely used throughout prehistoric times in north-eastern Iberia to produce stone tools due to its properties and accessibility. A rough estimate indicates that this rock—either as raw material or as lithic products—was distributed mainly to the north of the outcrops, over an area of 6000–8000 km2. However, other rocks in the area have similar characteristics which can lead to confusion in the interpretation of its prehistoric use and distribution. In order to establish useful archaeometric criteria for differentiating this chert from other similar, the Castelltallat chert is characterised in petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical terms. The chert nodules are found to be homogenous at the macroscopic and microscopic level, with a significant presence of bioclasts, thus indicating they might be formed in a freshwater lake environment by the early diagenetic replacement of carbonates in shallow waters. The mineralogical composition is homogeneously uniform and of a flint type, characterised by an almost exclusive predominance of quartz, without any opaline phases, and a variable proportion of moganite. The iron oxide content is very low, whereas its chemical composition is unusually high in uranium which correlates positively with carbonate content and negatively with silica. Archaeometrical parameters are provided to reach a proper identification of tools knapped with this chert. This way, chert from Castelltallat Formation turns out to be a valuable lithological marker to evaluate the range of mobility of the human groups who lived in the north-eastern Iberia and their contacts with neighbouring areas.

Technologie lithique et circulation des matières premières au Magdalénien moyen ancien. L’exemple de Moulin-Neuf (Saint-Quentin-de-Baron, Gironde)

Moulin-Neuf (Saint-Quentin-de-Baron, Gironde) est un site du Magdalénien moyen ancien daté entre 18700 et 17800 cal. BP. Découvert en 1939, le site s’organise comme la succession latérale de deux abris et d’un gisement en pied de falaise. L’intérieur de l’abri 1, le plus vaste, a d’abord été en partie fouillé par R. Cousté puis par H. Péquart dans les années 1940. Entre 1976 et 1980, M. Lenoir entrepris d’en fouiller la terrasse qui a notamment livré un riche ensemble archéologique (industries lithique et osseuse, faune, matières colorantes, art mobilier) attribué alors au Magdalénien moyen. Moulin-Neuf se situe à l’interface géographique et chronologique des «faciès » à navettes, à pointes de Lussac-Angles et à lamelles scalènes. Pourtant, il n’a livré aucun de ces marqueurs classiques. Nous nous proposons de croiser les approches pétro-archéologiques et technoéconomiques pour déterminer le mode d’exploitation de chaque ressource afin de mieux cerner les occupations de Moulin-Neuf et de les replacer dans l’espace géoculturel du Magdalénien moyen ancien. Cette étude a permis de mettre en évidence à Moulin-Neuf une grande diversité dans le spectre de matières premières exploitées. Au-delà d’un approvisionnement avec la zone périgourdine, le réseau de circulation des matières premières s’élargit nettement vers la Chalosse et le Sud du Bassin parisien. Les blocs de silex du Bergeracois, «grain de mil » et de Chalosse ont fait l’objet d’une exploitation sur place. Cette arrivée de blocs fut complétée par l’apport de supports lamino-lamellaires et d’outils provenant des formations du Turonien inférieur du Berry, du Grand-Pressigny et du Turonien d’Écoyeux. La zone de diffusion des silex du Turonien inférieur du Berry se trouve alors élargie au Nord du Bassin aquitain. Ces résultats inédits ne montrent pas de frontières territoriales nettes entre Poitou et Pyrénées mais plutôt des des réseaux complexes de circulation des matières premières lithiques, tout en conférant à Moulin-Neuf la place de carrefour géographique majeur de ces réseaux. Le partage d’un «litho-espace » similaire entre les différents faciès du Magdalénien moyen ancien relance la question de la pertinence de l’utilisation de ces faciès.

Local and Nonlocal Procurement of Raw Material in Amud Cave, Israel: The Complex Mobility of Late Middle Paleolithic Groups

Studying the distribution of lithic raw materials around prehistoric sites, their procurement, transport, and use, are important for understanding organizational decisions of hunter‐gatherers. Here we examine lithic technological organization in two stratigraphic subunits B4 and B1 (dated ∼ 68 and ∼ 55 ka, respectively) at the Neanderthal site of Amud Cave. The lithic assemblages are made exclusively of flint. An ArcGIS model is used to create a predictive model for daily exploitation territories (DETs) around the site. Using a battery of statistical methods (ANOVA, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis), we link flint visual types with geochemical characteristics (obtained through inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry and ICP atomic emission spectrometry) of both geological and archaeological flints. Results indicate that local materials are abundant in both subunits. Nonlocal raw materials (from areas beyond the modeled DET) amount to 30–40% across all technological categories, suggesting long‐distance transport. The technological patterns of the nonlocal raw material differ between the two subunits. Pending results of additional work, we suggest that nonlocal flint types were likely obtained from distances &gt;60 km. Mobility patterns inferred from this study suggest that Amud Cave was a focal location within its settlement system during both occupation periods, but the manner of site use and mobility patterns changed through time.

Magnetic Properties of Cherts from the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and Surrounding Regions: Archeological Implications

We present the first rock magnetic study of archeologically-relevant chert samples from the Basque-Cantabrian basin (BCB) and surrounding regions, which was conducted in order to test the usefulness of non-destructive magnetic properties for assessing chert quality, distinguishing source areas, and identifying heated samples in the archeological record. Our results indicate that the studied BCB cherts are diamagnetic and have very low amounts of magnetic minerals. The only exception is the chert of Artxilondo, which has a mean positive magnetic susceptibility associated with larger concentrations of magnetic minerals. But even in this case, the magnetic susceptibility is within the lower range of other archeologically-relevant cherts elsewhere, which indicates that the studied BCB cherts can be considered as flint. The similar mean values for all magnetic properties, along with their associated large standard deviations, indicates that rock magnetic methods are of limited use for sourcing different types of flint except in some specific contexts involving the Artxilondo flint. With regards to the identification of chert heating in the archeological record, our results indicate only a minor magnetic enhancement of BCB natural flint samples upon heating, which we attribute to the low amount of non-silica impurities. In any case, the diamagnetic behavior of most BCB natural flints, along with the local use only of the Artxilondo type, suggests that any flint tool within the core of the BCB with positive magnetic susceptibility values is likely to have been subjected to heating for improving its knapping properties. Further studies are necessary to better identify the type, origin and grain size of magnetic minerals in BCB natural flints, and to apply non-destructive magnetic properties to flint tools in order to identify the use of heat treatment in the BCB archeological record.

Effect of corn grain variety on the bioethanol production efficiency

The impact of corn grain variety on the ethanol production effectiveness was determined. The screening of 258 various corn samples were done. The endosperm of recognized 258 types of corn was semi flint as a consequence of crossing between female parent with dent type seeds and male parent with flint type seeds. The tested cultivars fall into two groups, ie. 133 belong to single cross (SC) and 125 belong to three-way cross (TC) hybrids. These hybrids of corn were created with four male parents: 96 with S61328, 61 with S80660A, 20 with S07787A and 8 with S09347. The corn samples were mashed and fermented with distillery yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which produced ethanol from corn mashes yielding maximum 81.33% of the theoretical value. It was noted that the corn samples with higher starch content had lower efficiency of starch saccharification (−0.35, p<0.05). This fact generates negative correlation between variables ethanol (L/100kg starch) and starch content (−0.43, p<0.05). The highest level of reducing sugars in grains led to higher productivity of ethanol. The comparisons in groups generated with multivariate exploratory techniques (cluster analysis, k-means clustering, PCA) showed that it is possible to distinguish a statistically different cluster with the highest ethanol yield (35.6L of ethanol per 100kg grains). Moreover, the PCA analysis showed that hybrids of corn with S80660A male parent have the biggest impact on efficiency of ethanol. The presented results clearly prove that not only starch content in corn grains determine the ethanol productivity.