neMrePessis Anne-Marie Ni hitleLahaye Christelle rcDouville Eric rcBo Eric (Piau da Furada Vale Pedra the America: South in sequence archaeological Pleistocene late new A 5 4 3 2 1 upeetr aeili rvddoln thttp://antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/boeda341 at online provided is material Supplementary methods dating tools, quartz tools, cobble technology, Keywords: ANTIQUITY C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity dad oae iad,Cmu saTj,Vlii,Chile Valdivia, Teja, Isla Campus Miranda, Morales Eduardo asnd l’Arch de Maison l’Universit nttt eCeca minae vltvs nvria uta eCie dfii mloPug Emilio Edificio Chile, de Austral Universidad Evolutivas, y Ambientales Ciencias de Instituto du Domaine CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, France 8212 Universit Yvette, UMR sur l’Environnement, Gif de 91198 et CNRS, Climat du Sciences des Laboratoire Arqueolog de Departamento Universit ArScAn–AnTET, CNRS 7041 UMR d Guidon ede ` Vale daPedraFurada eda ¨ 8(04:9795http://antiquity.ac.uk/ant/088/ant0880927.htm 927–955 (2014): 88 ´ odaxMnage M 00IAA-R2,Isiu eRcecesrlsArch les sur Recherche de Institut IRAMAT-CRP2A, 5060 UMR Bordeaux-Montaigne, e er uaa er eCpvr,stlmn fteAeia,tpooy lithic taphonomy, Americas, the of settlement Capivara, de Serra Furada, Pedra ´ ,903Nner,France Nanterre, 92023 e, 1 Brasilia gai Clemente-Conte Ignacio , ´ ooi,EpaaedsAtle,367Psa,France Pessac, 33607 Antilles, des Esplanade eologie, 3 6 0 iliHoeltz Sirlei , 4 6 ,MarioPino , ´ ayAntropolog y ıa 9 ieiViana Sibeli , m2000 km ´ a M-SC al Egipc Calle IMF-CSIC, ıa, 8 non Lourdeau Antoine , 5 ´ ai ,Mio el’Arch de Maison X, Paris e N ieeDlrn Felice Daltrini Gisele , ´ ,Brazil) ı, 10 927 ,Am one f yarpyfo h authors. the from reply a by comments, off re-thought. of rounded series be a by followed to is article have The in currently will settlement America the human South of that narrative conclude accepted authors assemblage. The tool stone the of analysis technical yasre of series a supported by is argument The more years. 000 back 20 than extending occupation human Pedra for evidence da new Vale produced of however have site Furada open-air nearby the at okhle fBoqueir of rockshelter (see accepted Furada universally Meltzer Pedra not were at Brazil occupation in early very for claims Previous subject. Americas contentious the a of remains settlement first the of date The 2 ihlFontugne Michel , leD Costa Da elie ´ tal. et ´ aus1,Breoa001 Spain 08001, Barcelona 15, ıaques ´ ooi td ’tnlge 1all 21 l’Ethnologie, de et eologie 14 1 94.Nwwr tthe at work New 1994). n S ae,adby and dates, OSL and C , 9 aiaPagli Marina , od er uaaand Furada Pedra da ao ˜ 1 6 , 7 & , 3 , ´ n Avenida ın, ´ eomat ´ eriaux, 1 ´ ede ee ,

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America

6 Fundac¸ao˜ Museu do Homem Americano (FUMDHAM), Centro Cultural S´ergio Motta s/n, Bairro Campestre, Sao˜ Raimundo Nonato – PI, 64770-000, Brazil 7 Universidade Federal do Vale do Sao˜ Francisco (UNIVASF), Campus Serra de Capivara, Rua Joao˜ Ferreira dos Santos, s/n, Bairro Campestre, Sao˜ Raimundo Nonato–PI, 64770-000, Brazil 8 Archaeo: Pesquisas Arqueologicas,´ Av. Caranda´ı 99, Parque Georgia, Cuiaba´ – MT, 78085-485, Brazil 9 Departamento de Arqueologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitaria,´ Recife – PE, 50670-901, Brazil 10 Instituto Goiano de Pr´e-Historia´ e Antropologia, Pontificia Universidade Catolica´ de Goias,´ Av, Universitaria´ 1.440, Setor Universitario,´ Goianiaˆ – GO, 74605-010, Brazil

Introduction Late Pleistocene human occupation in South America has been the focus of incessant debate for more than 20 years. Human presence in South America before 11 000 cal BC is now, as in North America, widely accepted by most of the scientific community (Miotti 2003; Bonnichsen et al. 2005; Waters & Stafford 2007, 2013; Goebel et al. 2008; Dillehay 2009; Collins et al. 2013). In addition to the celebrated Chilean site of Monte Verde (Dillehay 1997), several sites now show the occupation of South America during the Late Pleistocene, including Taima-Taima in Venezuela (Ochsenius & Gruhn 1979; Ranere & Lopez´ 2007), Arroyo Seco 2 in Argentina (Steele & Politis 2009) and Huaca Prieta in Peru (Dillehay et al. 2012). Acceptance of sites dating to earlier than 14 000 cal BC, however, seems to be much more difficult (Roosevelt et al. 2002; Dillehay 2008; Goebel et al. 2008). All discoveries made have been systematically and legitimately discussed, which is justified, but also systematically and surprisingly rejected, without exception. This has occurred, in particular, for sites in north-eastern Brazil, in the Serra da Capivara region (Meltzer et al. 1994; Meltzer 2009; Farina˜ et al. 2014). Is there some sort of curse that affects the common sense both of archaeologists making the discoveries, and their colleagues, at the announcement of an age older than 14 000 cal BC? In hypothetico-deductive reasoning, verifiable hypotheses are constructed on the basis of a series of assumptions, the confirmation of which would support the postulates or premises on which the hypotheses are based (Clark 1968). In other words, if one questions the assumptions, the construction of the hypothesis must also be questioned. Why then, despite abundant and varied data collected during the last two decades, are the new results systematically rejected? Is the importance of the hypothesis greater than the validity of the assumptions? Has the hypothesis become a paradigm with its own structure of thinking? Another issue concerns the value given to the initial assumptions when it comes to stone tools. Indeed, it would appear that when tool types familiar from later periods, like spear or arrow points, are found with Pleistocene ages, a multitude of objections are immediately raised concerning both the ages obtained and the stratigraphy. In contrast, when artefacts are outside our modern memory references, it is their human origin that is questioned and not the stratigraphic context or dating. From a strictly scientific viewpoint, this attitude is quite unsettling, raising the question that if scientific criteria are valid for the Holocene, why would they not be equally valid for late Pleistocene periods? Despite such difficulties, research in the Sao˜ Raimundo Nonato region (Piau´ı, Brazil) continued after the discovery of the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sequence at Boqueirao˜ C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

928 ers e reat eercvrdaogwt odcacasta aebe ae to dated been have that charcoals wood with along recovered were artefacts few a metres, 000clB seTbeS) eoddt ncaca,fo ae tlatoemetre one least at layer a from charcoal, on date of second age A an provided S4). surface, Table the (see below BC cal 000 20 a icvrdi 98drn apino etecvtoso h meit periphery immediate the on excavations test of campaign a ofthesiteofBoqueir during The Furada. 1998 Pedra in da Vale discovered artefacts S at was the conducted with we in sequences study located the Holocene is here site and present We Pleistocene 1). (Figure new dates providing and Furada, Pedra da Vale hsts xaain(Bo excavation test this aPdaFrd nte18s(udn&Dlbis18;Gio 99 Parenti 1989; Guidon 1986; Delibrias & (Guidon 1980s the in Furada Pedra da sites. adjacent and Furada Pedra da Vale of Location 1. Figure aly ti oae ttebs fatlso adtn okalrsligfo rso of erosion from 10–35 resulting of rockfall slope sandstone a Baix of with the talus talus, of rocky a bank The of left base the the on at a site located open-air is an It is Valley. Furada Pedra 2011 da Vale in Furada Pedra da Vale at Excavations for material supplementary online (Lahaye (see Peia sites Tira new three details): of further discovery the with 2001) Parenti rmmnmna ocnieal mle.Teebok r ie ihsdmnsformed sediments with mixed are blocks These smaller. considerably to monumental from cuesta hc eei oeta 0 wyadsrie sarsda ig Fgr S1). (Figure ridge residual a as survives and away 30m than more is here which od er uaa(eie20,20) tadpho oeta two than more of depth a At 2002). 2000, (Felice Furada Pedra da ao ˜ oRiud oaorgo nteeg fteSrad aiaa It Capivara. da Serra the of edge the on region Nonato Raimundo ao ˜ eda ¨ tal et 2013). . tal et c 300clB seTbeS) n21,w reopened we 2011, In S4). Table (see BC cal 000 13 . rcBo Eric ◦ 03,S 2013), . scmoe fsnsoebok agn nsize in ranging blocks sandstone of composed is , 929 ¨ eda tal. et ´ tod eo(Guidon Meio do ıtio C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity od er Furada Pedra da ao ˜ tal et 94 and 1994) . tal. et 1996; c .

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America by quartz and quartzite cobbles, as well as sand resulting from both regressive erosion of the cuesta and the marine conglomerate overlying the Devonian sandstone (Pellerin 1983). Erosion of this conglomerate continues on the valley floor, but no longer contributes to the talus within the area of the site. Only during rainy years do two caldeiroes˜ (waterfalls) drain the plateau surface waters onto the valley floor. The larger of these creates every year an intermittent creek that changes slope from around 10◦ in this first 10m to become much flatter well before reaching the valley floor. The site is located on the left bank and at a distance of 15m from this ephemeral creek (Figure S1). The excavated surface was located over the earlier 30m2 test excavation, including its south and east stratigraphic profiles, and continued into the unexcavated lower layers (Figure S2). All of the lithic artefacts, knapped or not, were recovered. Three-dimensional coordinates were recorded for knapped artefacts, and the location of non-anthropic objects logged by quarter-metre in 50mm thick spits. Systematic sieving to 2mm enabled recovery of abundant small fragments of knapping debris and retouch flakes. Each charcoal fragment was individually recorded to better discern the sequence of burning. Within the 2.6m stratigraphy, eight sedimentary layers have been identified, although the base of the archaeological sequence has not yet been reached. The first layer— C1—is about 0.2m thick and corresponds to the modern surface. Below this, from bottom to top there is a succession of coarse and fine deposits that can be grouped into two broad units. The upper unit, 0.8–1m thick, contains a single layer—C2—dominated by siliciclastic silty sands, without visible lamination or other internal synsedimentary structures (Figure 2). The lower unit, currently excavated to a depth of 1.5m, includes six sedimentary layers, from C8 to C3, showing the alternation between episodes of fine, essentially sandy sedimentation (C8, C6 and C4) and episodes of coarser deposition (C7, C5 and C3) composed of a mixture of gravel with some cobbles and boulders in a sand-granule matrix. The three sandy layers are of different colours, evidence of different depositional and post-depositional processes. Layer C8 (base not yet reached) is powdery, resulting from the disintegration of large sandstone blocks on the talus against which the site is set. The base of layer C6 (>0.3m thick) contains, depending on the area excavated, several thousand wood charcoal fragments (mm and cm in size) concentrated in certain zones and making the sediment grey in colour. Sandstone blocks of different sizes (50–200mm) are present at the base of layer C6, lying directly on gravelly layer C7 or separated from it by a sandy ash layer a few centimetres thick (Figure S3). No quartz or quartzite cobbles, except for artefacts, are associated with these sandstone blocks. The origin of these blocks, some of which weigh 3–4kg, is problematic. Indeed, their presence cannot be explained exclusively by colluvial processes because other lithic materials would have been associated with them. Some blocks show evidence of heating that caused their breakage, which indicates a temporal correlation with the charcoal. A disc-shaped block some 150mm thick, currently being analysed, shows traces of use including smoothing/polishing and areas of pecking on the upper surface. Layer C4 varies in thickness (0.3–0.4m) depending on location and is defined uniquely by redder sand. Layer C7, 0.3m thick, differs from the preceding sandy layers by the more varied size of the cobbles it contains (some more than 0.3m across), and by their more diversified raw material. Quartzite cobbles, nearly absent in this layer, are found in the upper gravel layers. C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

930 ato h lfs ti ec o osbet bev h culadntrlpoessof deposition processes the natural that and deduce actual we the however, observe lower research, to the the possible of in not stage paintings this hence rock At is recent reworking. It more alluvial cliffs. the the of of display part and conservation archaeological weathering. with overlying by materials the clays local and produce few cliff would are that the There silt composition of explanation. mineralogical and sandstone viable the a Devonian sand a note the provide but where may as palaeoclimate, to soils, conglomerate, such Pleistocene environment marine the sediments, the the about in tropical of information and of source local sediments the kind detailed Pleistocene no this is the in There in dominate. interest both of more clay, rarely is of are cobbles It shortage interstratification The an long. thick. of of 50–100mm 40–50mm lenses composed sort sandy than is any and/or thick, indicate granular 0.8m to with C3, macro-traces gravels of Layer no surfaces. are 100mm supports their There this most of manuports. and at process, modification are mass depositional is they in same that difference which the Such hypothesis layer, by weight. explained the this in be 5–8kg in cannot blocks 1:100) yet sandstone than varied long, rectangular (more are few 50–60mm C5, a layer than find in we more only thick, rarely found but exclusively different almost sand size yellow cobbles, in bright Quartz and layers. granules other quartz all of from is cobbles these surrounding matrix (C8 The C3–C8 unit lower and C2; and reached). C1 been unit yet upper not the has showing base section its Furada: Pedra C7; da below Vale directly of is zone Southern 2. Figure h rgnlcluildpst r ocae ytearneet aefrthe for made arrangements the by concealed are deposits colluvial original The rcBo Eric 931 ¨ eda tal. et C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America of the sediments was not a continuous process. It coincided rather with sporadic humid periods, during which enough water was running from the upper sections of the cliffs for local alluvial deposition that reworked the colluvium near the base of the cliffs. There are no structures such as lenses with cross-stratification or imbrication of the clasts that would indicate medium to high energy sedimentation environments. Thus, the energy of ephemeral streams was not sufficient to move the coarse material, producing lag deposits where the only remobilised sediment was the sand. This was followed by a long dry period without deposition, during which humans occupied the site. The large boulders are not genetically related to the alluvium, and represent either remains of earlier colluvium or human transport. The alternation between periods of no deposition and those with very low energy colluvium reworking by ephemeral streams would allow the preservation of the archaeological remains, including perhaps hearths. It is even possible that intense human activity broke down the original sedimentary structure of these deposits. Several archaeological layers have been identified. Artefacts were discovered in both the upper and lower units. The upper unit, excavated over an area of 5m2, contains two sparse archaeological horizons (C2a and C2b), separated by a 0.2m-thick sterile horizon (Figure 3). The two horizons are associated with extremely abundant charcoal scatters that in themselves do not suggest any human involvement. The archaeological material consists only of lithics and includes worked quartz and quartzite cobbles and flakes. The lower unit is much richer. Sedimentary unit C3, excavated over an area of 2m2, includes a minimum of four archaeological horizons (C3a to C3b) separated by sandy lenses. The archaeological material is generally found at the interfaces, but given the loose sandy context, the clear demarcation between each horizon and the thickness of the sandy lenses, the deposits are more or less easy to follow. A few charcoal fragments are also present in the archaeological horizons. Horizon C5a is found in gravel layer C5. It contains rectangular sandstone blocks weighing several kilograms (Figure 2) that cannot be explained by natural deposition processes. Unit C7 includes three distinct horizons (7a, 7b and 7c) of artefacts, separated by sterile horizons. The first horizon, 7a, excavated over an area of 6m2, directly overlies gravel layer C7. It is contained in sandy, charcoal-rich sediment forming the base of C6 in places and reaching a thickness of 100mm. This horizon has partially overlapping concentrations of charcoal fragments (several thousand per m2). A large number of sandstone blocks and chunks are scattered across the ground. Some show evidence of exposure to fire. The presence should be noted of two slabs (0.3×0.3m) with highly altered upper surfaces, unlike the surfaces of other smaller blocks. The two remaining archaeological horizons (7b and 7c), excavated over an area of 1m2, are completely different from each other and separated by sterile deposits. Horizon 7c includes an ashy concave elliptical zone (0.4×0.6×0.1m) at its centre with abundant charcoal and artefacts around its periphery. Unlike horizon 7a, no sandstone blocks or chunks are present. The ashy and charcoal-rich concentrations of horizons 7a and 7b differ in intensity of burning and in their structure. Those of horizon 7a do not appear to have been structured while horizon 7b has a central depression with abundant charcoal. Are all of the burning zones in layers 6base and 7 due to human activity, as our initial observations suggested? That cannot yet be definitively determined but we are awaiting the results of taphonomic and anthracological analyses of the charcoal, as well as sedimentary data from these zones. C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

932 nqatie h a aeilcmsfo h imnln ftemrn aesabove layers marine the of dismantling rarely the more cobbles, from quartz comes on material made raw mainly are The Furada quartzite. Pedra on da Vale from artefacts The assemblage lithic The (circles). locations sampling and (diamonds) results dating (triangles), horizons Archaeological 3. Figure rcBo Eric 933 ¨ eda tal. et C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America the Devonian sandstone that has accumulated at the base of the cliff in the mass of fallen rocks, dispersed by intermittent run-off fed by the caldeiroes˜ . But this proximity of the raw material does not imply that the procurement territory was so restricted. Technological analyses have demonstrated that the selection was based on the quality of the quartz and quartzite blocks and on very specific morphological criteria that are much less common than one would believe, as we have verified by experimentation. Poor-quality flint is available in the Piau´ı terraces a few kilometres away but was not exploited, although it was present in low quantities in the Holocene industries where it is used for the production of specific tools such as lesmas. It may be recalled that the artefacts from Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada were considered the products of natural breakage when they fell from the cliff, despite scientifically rigorous technical and taphonomic arguments by Parenti (2001) confirming their human origin. To avoid once again becoming embroiled in endless discussions, we decided to extend the original study by undertaking four associated analyses: taphonomic, technological, experimental and functional. The source of the cobbles at Vale da Pedra Furada is clearly the same as for Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada, although the site is further from the cliffs. Taphonomic analysis was carried out first on material from Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada. (Details of the method can be found in the online supplementary material.) We were then able to compare these results with the material from Vale da Pedra Furada. It should be noted that throughout the excavation of Vale da Pedra Furada and regardless of sedimentary context, all objects greater than 20mm (fractured or not) were kept, sampled, weighed and technically analysed, forming an assemblage of several thousand objects. Through this comparison a series of 294 objects could be identified by the presence of technical traits that showed them to be different from those that taphonomic analysis had demonstrated to be of natural origin. This considerable work allows us to assert with confidence the undeniably human origin of the artefacts recovered from Vale da Pedra Furada. We also analysed the technology. Three processes have been identified in each of the archaeological assemblages: one involving shaping and two involving knapping. Analysis of the artefacts from the different Pleistocene layers shows the diversified production of tools on flakes and cobbles. Two methods dominate: bipolar reduction sensu stricto, and a reduction scheme to shape cobbles that had been carefully selected on the basis of certain criteria. The assemblages differ from one layer to another, evidencing differences in site function and/or different cultural facies (Figures 4 & 5, and supplementary Figures S7–S10). Functional analysis was also conducted to complete the study (Semenov 1964). Using low- and high-power magnification, we analysed a sample (n = 18) of quartz artefacts from Vale da Pedra Furada, from archaeological horizons C3 and C7. This experimental method allows us to analyse tools made on different raw materials and from all chronological periods (Keeley 1980; Keeley & Toth 1983; Clemente-Conte 1997). Some artefacts from both C3 and C7 present evidence of butchery activities. Some have marks linked to sawing and scraping of medium-hard materials such as wood. Some of the C3 artefacts also present marks showing they had been used to perforate hard animal materials and others show traces of activities on soft to medium materials such as hide (Figure 6). These results confirm that the artefacts were humanly shaped and were used by people in their everyday activities. C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

934 ehd ol eapid h ml iceac ewe h S and OSL the between both discrepancy wherever We small results, observed. The OSL are applied. and inversions radiocarbon be relation stratigraphic the could in No between methods ages correlation S16). OSL good (Figure the the of sediments remark coherence the also good of very the depth note the first We to 3. Figure and S6 Table material. in supplementary online the in included are occupations the the of chronology at These IRAMAT-CRP2A C8. at to radiocarbon (OSL) C2a In luminescence Universit from stimulated by France. at units, optically Gif-sur-Yvette, by accessible dated dated the in then of thus were l’Environnement all materials in were de samples sediment et C6base/C7 collected Climat we and parallel, du C4 Sciences Furada. des C3, Pedra Laboratoire da C2b concentrations. Vale different of the C2a, from analysis purpose Horizons chronological this for detailed collected a were samples was charcoal Different project the of goal Another Chronology (n edge transverse bevelled double with half-cobble worked C3b: Layer 4. Figure gsotie hudb oe:OLand OSL noted: be should obtained ages Fgr 1) h eane ftevle r oeet n h hoooyo h ieis site the of chronology and sediments the OSL coarser and of coherent, combination and are the fine values by between the defined limit of well the remainder sample C3 at The OSL the S13). situated of (Figure was rate dose sample annual the This of underestimation (BR2011-11). the from result may C3 layer h hoooia aaotie ybt ehd rdoabnadOL r reported are OSL) and (radiocarbon methods both by obtained data chronological The odax3 rne eal ftemtrasadmtosue oetbihthe establish to used methods and materials the of Details France. 3, Bordeaux e ´ rcBo Eric 14 935 oehrstaelyrC rud60 BC, 6000 around C2 layer situate together C ¨ eda 14 tal. et gs ial,teaslt auso the of values absolute the Finally, ages. C ◦ 192158). C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity 14 Cresultsfrom

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America

Figure 5. Asymmetric convergent pieces: on split cobbles: 1 (n◦ 192157) and 3 (n◦ 191220), layer 3c; on cobble, 2 (n◦ 192377), layer 7a. layer C3 between 12 500 and 17 500 BC, layer C4 between 15 000 and 17 000 BC, and finally layers C6 and C7 at around 22 000 BC.

Conclusion The site of Vale da Pedra Furada is a succession of open-air human occupations near monumental sandstone blocks at the base of a cliff and next to an intermittent stream. The combination of 14C and OSL dates situate the upper and lower units during Oxygen Isotope Stages 1 and 2. The upper unit is an early Middle Holocene deposit laid down between 9000 and 7000 BC. The artefacts within it cannot be attributed to a specific techno-cultural facies. The lower unit is clearly late in age, OIS 2, during the Last Pleniglacial. Two sedimentary deposits (C3 and C7) from this unit contain nearly all of the archaeological assemblages. Their 14C and OSL ages correlate them with two humid phases at 15 000 and 24 000 BP documented by marine core GeoB 3104-1 (Behling et al. 2000). These observations are corroborated by results obtained from nearby sites: Sitio do Meio (new excavations) (Boeda¨ et al. in press), Tira Peia (Lahaye et al. 2013) and Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada (new C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

936 hroladlrenmeso erh r vial opoieeiec fhmnactivities. human of evidence provide to available Only are zones. hearths sediments limestone of the the in numbers of sites large acidity at and present high charcoal are The these identified. although remains, be faunal to destroyed yet has resource materials other lithic and of materials animal patterns in tools continuity of set supports Early common Holocene micro-region. the a this the in during of management to disappear transcendence Pleistocene This Some Holocene. the sites. da the Vale Pleistocene from from into other assemblages persist the the selection other by of Holocene, blank features shared in generally, are More tools, Furada size. of Pedra in representation broadly and statistical rostres. are shaped) and the or Furada pieces in bevelled (knapped Pedra appear double da or differences Vale single contrast, as the In such from tools The characteristic layers made. certain be Pleistocene with can similar, different observations the several However, from large. toolkits is sufficiently not presence are Human assemblages times. the other at occupations of intensity. variable possibility of although the but periods, continuous, preclude two these not during does concentrated be this to seem occupations The excavations). n of analysis Use-wear 6. Figure ihrsett ucin h nlssso vdneo rcsigwo,hd,hard hide, wood, processing of evidence show analyses the function, to respect With because artefacts these of attribution cultural the on comment to possible yet not is It ◦ 907fo ae 7,idctn utn ciiy butchery. activity: cutting indicating C7b, layer from 198057 rcBo Eric 937 ¨ eda tal. et C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America

These hearths have not been found in all of the archaeological assemblages and those that have vary in appearance. These results give the strong impression that each assemblage does not necessarily indicate the same functionality or the same duration of occupation. This is clearly evident for layer C6base, which is particularly rich and appears to be a palimpsest. The other assemblages occur in small clusters, as we observed at Boqueirao da Pedra Furada, located about 100m downstream, when we reopened excavations in the remaining part of the site. These similarities extend to the typo-technological and functional composition of the assemblages that we have recently recovered. Yet, having reached only the layers dated to 14 580 BC, it is still too early to conclude complete similarity between the sequences. Comparison of artefacts from Vale da Pedra Furada with the artefacts from the previous excavations shows a high degree of technological similarity, but as the excavation techniques were not the same, we can compare only artefacts with artefacts and not assemblages as a whole. In addition, we have only recently reached the uppermost Pleistocene layers. For broader comparison, it is impossible to include Santa Elina in Brazil (Vilhena Vialou 2005) because of the very low number of lithic artefacts there. The sites of Monte Verde in Chile (Dillehay 1997), Arroyo Seco and Los Toldos in Argentina (Cardich et al. 1973; Miotti & Salemme 2004; Steele & Politis 2009), Huaca Pietra (Dillehay et al. 2012) in Peru and Taima-Taima in Venezuela (Ochsenius & Gruhn 1979; Ranere & Lopez´ 2007) are too geographically distant to allow useful comparison; further, the raw materials are different. The problem of raw materials in the Piau´ı region has often been used as a reason to reject human modification of the material. Why were quartz cobbles used while much better materials could be found elsewhere? We respond to this with several arguments:

1) Regardless of period or place, groups exploit only raw materials from the immediate proximity; so why not quartz at Piau´ı? In East Asia, Europe and Africa quartz was commonly employed by Palaeolithic societies, yet does not present a problem for researchers. 2) The fallacy that considers cobble tools synonymous with archaic, and thus the Lower Pleistocene, prevents us from realising that the cobble is above all as much the basis for a tool as are shaped or retouched blades and flakes. 3) The term quartz covers a wide diversity of material and tools are made on the best-quality quartz. 4) The taphonomic analysis has demonstrated that it is impossible to confuse natural breakage and human production.

We should consider the world of cobbles, and quartz in particular, as the expression of one technological option among others. This technical orientation existed at different places and at different times. It is thus quite difficult to reconstruct possible population dispersals and their cultural links from their lithic artefacts. We can, on the other hand, identify the geographic limits of different technological options. Such is the case for the Capivara region, where we have an increasing number of exceptional sites located within a 10km radius and beyond, in different sedimentary contexts. The 14C and OSL dates, while not directly dating the humanly modified materials, allow us to situate these industries in time and thus to compare different periods. As already C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

938 B B igl nvriy(argn,San.Tak r u oJ-.Dmui n .Mra o M facilities. i AMS Rovira for at Moreau Service C. Technical and and Dumoulin Science J.-P. the to in due Unit are Microscopy Thanks the Spain). in (Tarragona, University MEB Virgili the at analyses with assistance his ’qian n h U Isiu nvriar eFac)frfnigadtcnclspot hsproject this Investissements support; the technical under Oll Agency A. and Mr National thank funding Research also French We for the ANR-10-LABX-52). (reference France) by Program managed d’Avenir de help Universitaire State French (Institut from benefited IUF the and Piau d’Aquitaine in mission Franco-Brazilian the of financing annual References (Fundac FUMDHAM and Affairs Foreign of Minister French the thank We not that should Acknowledgements why so direction, this in populations? have point ancient significant would more all without to differentiation data apply areas Cultural Ethnological stronger. densities. vast the patchy demographic across all low of dispersed been very periods, rather the dealing time to is are owing long We proposed contact them. over image between groups would links The we small visible few it. occurred, with with had for space that across evidence If disseminated significant occupations continents. found two these have of already invasion systematic and massive archaeological the at traces discovery. visible no and leave interpretation the which of not of population gives scale some that and should forms, us meaning many show events take with history can these and loaded movements Ethnology of too movements. migration is population visibility ‘migration’ of mass term of the waves impression the Yet these Indeed, record. of others. archaeological the striking obscure the most data. the in of successive Only visible of lack result irregular. the remain a were as to occupied owing that were America explain new events South to and migration these North difficult technical that general, still accept is to of In need that now populations. continuum We history of successive the complex group of a and a indicate rootedness frame, results typify long-term time and the another single and one a traditions They follow within disappear. that others assemblages innovations while archaeological technological industries, their Holocene the and of in both Some 000 found reveal homogeneous. 25 are functionally between and and typo-technologically known persist are currently characteristics age sites of years the 000 from 15 industries Pleistocene the observed, O EHLING EDA ¨ uhmyb h aefrtevr rtmgain,wihovosyddntivlethe involve not did obviously which migrations, first very the for case the be may Such litcn nutiso Piau of industries Pleistocene etrfrteSuyo h is mrcn,Texas Americans, First University. the A&M of Study the for Center (ed.) Waters odyssey Paleoamerican M.R. & Ketron C.V. Graf, K.E. S0277-3791(99)00046-3 Reviews 3104-1. GeoB core from marine inferences Brazil, northeastern in climate dynamics and vegetational quaternary Late 2000. V .D A. F ONTUGNE IANA . .L A. E., , ,H.,H.W.A A ,I.C C 9 8–4 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ 981–94. 19: OSTA ,S.H LEMENTE OURDEAU &M.P OELTZ RZ ,J.P -C 2–5 olg Station: College 425–45. : ,C.L AGLI ONTE ,N.G ATZOLD ¨ 03 h late The 2013. . AHAYE utrayScience Quaternary ,M.P ´ rzl e aa in data, new Brazil: , ı UIDON ,G.D.F &G.W INO .M P A.-M. , ,M. ELICE EFER rcBo Eric ESSIS . ,S. , 939 ¨ eda ´ ;Breu-otin nvriy h osi R Conseil the University, Bordeaux-Montaigne ı; C B C B tal. et ONNICHSEN O LARK ARDICH EDA ¨ olg tto:Cne o h td fteFirst University. the A&M of Texas Study Americans, the for Center Station: College el uv eLsTlo SnaCruz, (Santa Toldos Los Argentina). de 3 Cueva la de Methuen. press. L euni arqueol Secuencia W donn rne @rch France: OURDEAU ATERS ..1968. D.L. , ,E.,G.D.F ´ e.Msinfac br franco Mission ees. .. ..C L.A. A.R., , e nutispl industries Les 2005. . . ..L B.T. R., , ,C.L ¸ Relaciones oMsud oe mrcn)for Americano) Homem do Museu ao ˜ eo- ,rsace tIHSTraoafor IPHES-Tarragona at researcher e, ´ ´ ELICE nltclarchaeology Analytical aeaeia rgn:byn Clovis beyond origins: Paleoamerican editions. ´ AHAYE ogicaycronolog ´ ARDICH ,M.F C EPPER ´ eistoc :85–123. 7: niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity ,M.P ´ slen 2010/11. esilienne ,D.J.S ` nsd Piau du enes ONTUGNE &A.H AGLI TANFORD ´ &S.V aradiocarb ıa AJDUK ,S.H London: . ´ .Nouvelles ı. IANA 1973. . OELTZ &M.R. egional ´ .In onica ´ ,A. .

Debate A new late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in South America

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940 S S V rhelgclst addtslk aed er uaa Boqueir Furada, Pedra da Vale like candidates site Archaeological Dillehay D. Tom expectations and Standards ocs hti eddi etreprcludrtnigo al iecniae n a and candidates site them. early judge of to understanding employed cultural expectations empirical and and better standards natural a the co-mimicking of is of reconsideration needed palimpsest is a What depositional with specific forces? associated they Are springs) activities? (e.g. human mimicked contexts that that phenomena rocks) natural falling technologies by flooding, exclusively expedient produced (e.g. places with site they Were equipped records? expected ephemeral populations behind all sites mobile left archaeological meet valid highly they Are small, not them? of assess do we indicative do industries candidates how and lithic represent these they reductive do Since defined what and criteria, clearly debitage. surfaces exhibit abundant use rarely with discrete also associated with they them 1973), strata judge we Haynes cultural If (e.g. multi-component clusters). standards artefact if American few, hearths, exhibit North (e.g. and features by traditional America, North and remains in food anything any, unlike assemblages unifacial contain entry, Guidon 1988; Collins & Dillehay (e.g. others and 2001) ean n reatcutr.Frvrosraos h oaiyddntme xetdsite (Meltzer expected meet questioned not was did validity locality archaeological bone the hearths, its reasons, tools, various and stone For surfaces, criteria clusters. use recognisable artefact exhibit and to remains it expected I site. residential htw edmr otxuladtcnlgclotosi vlaigeryst candidates. site early evaluating in options Boeda technological by with and agree knapped contextual I more or third, need And shaped we 2014). were (Dillehay that associated and Chile BPF) Verde, exotics) Monte on at at (made have few features unifaces burned I early a become similar First, excavated to have recently thinking. (similar I and my Second, cobbles candidates humans. in some site shift small Brazilian that a by other convinced for campsites from more reasons short-term assemblages three and/or unifacial to are quarries the open There as examined more people. used (e.g. am were mobile world I BPF of the changed. of groups of have portions parts expectations that other my idea in China), the and and Australia America in South sites in unifacial localities early more visited having of Americans. age first accepted the generally of the study than earlier the date in candidates problems These interpretative and empirical different present ∗ TEELE EMENOV ILHENA hnIfis iie Boqueir visited first I When Paulo. o.1 at Elina Santa 1, Vol. oy dm n Mackay. and Adams Cory, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2008.09.024 Science Archaeological of America. Journal South southern of occupation human eateto nhoooy adritUiest,14GradHl,Nsvle N325 USA 37235, TN Nashville, Hall, Garland 124 University, Vanderbilt Anthropology, of Department ,J.&G.P V ..1964. S.A. , IALOU .2005. A. , OLITIS rhsoi technology Prehistoric .S 09 AMS 2009. . oPuo nvriaed S de Universidade Paulo: ao ˜ Pr ∗ ´ e-hist rad aoGrosso. Mato do oria ´ 6 419–29. 36: 14 Cdatingofearly od er uaa(P) a oe twsa early an was it hoped had I (BPF), Furada Pedra da ao ˜ London: . o .Dillehay D. Tom ao ˜ 941 W 03 h rtAeias eiwo h evidence the of review a Americans: first The 2013. – ATERS h g fCoi:ipiain o h epigof peopling the Americas. for the implications Clovis: of age the o h aePesoee nKE rf ..Ketron (ed.) C.V. Waters Graf, M.R. K.E. & in Pleistocene, late the for http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1137166 h is mrcn,TxsAMUniversity. A&M Texas of Americans, Study First the the for Center Station: College 541–60. ,M.R.&T.W.S tal et Science c. od er uaa(Parenti Furada Pedra da ao ˜ 94 nSuhAmerica South in 1994) . 450clB o human for BP cal 500 14 tal. et C TAFFORD aeaeia odyssey Paleoamerican 1:1122–26. 315: niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity 94.Nw after Now, 1994). ,J R 07 Redefining 2007. . : tal. et

Debate Standards and expectations

This does not necessarily imply that all criteria traditionally used to judge site candidates should change. Yet, the earliest human record in South America is more diverse and, in several ways, different from that in North America and should be viewed with more flexible standards and expectations. In turning to questions regarding Vale da Pedra Furada (VPF), the authors are to be commended for their interdisciplinary study of another potential early site. Although aspects of VPF appear to be archaeologically valid, I am concerned about some issues. There is no discussion of the specific horizontal locations of the knapped/shaped stone tools and charcoal concentrations. Do the lithics and charcoal form discrete use surfaces and activity areas? Are the grey (ashy?) sediments underlying these concentrations burned? How much micro- debitage is associated with knapped stones? Does some debitage conjoin? Although elements of the SEM study of the stones are convincing, I am dubious of use-wear analysis on quartz. Although use-wear can be demonstrated, it is difficult to assign specific functions to quartz implements. In regard to stones in the culturally sterile sediments between ‘archaeological horizons’, do they have sharp chipped edges? If so, how do they differ from the designated ‘cultural’ stones? Also, why was VPF selected as a site location? These and other questions need more detailed reporting. The authors state that the long distances between VPF and other early candidates in South America prohibit an inter-site comparison of their stone tool industries. I disagree. Regardless of the irregular movement and small size of early populations, people had contact and exchanged technologies across vast areas of the continent, as suggested by genetic, skeletal and artefact evidence (e.g. Battaglia et al. 2013). Some quartz assemblages from pre-14 500 cal BP candidates are comparable, especially those with selected morphological traits for knapping. As the authors note, these types of localities appear to represent ephemeral, discontinuous and functionally different episodes of human activity resulting in low levels of archaeological visibility. If this is the case for most of the earliest South American record, then we must redefine our standards and expectations.

References GUIDON,N.,F.PARENTI,M.F.DA LUZ,C.GUERIN´ & M. FAURE. 1994. Le plus anciens peuplement de BATTAGLIA,V.,V.GRUGNI, U.A. PEREGO,N. l’Amerique: le Paleolithique´ de Nordeste bresilien.´ ANGERHOFER,J.E.GOMEZ-PALMIERI,S.R. Bulletin de la Soci´et´ePr´ehistorique Franc¸aise 91: WOODWARD,A.ACHILLI,N.MYRES,A.TORRONI 246–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.3406/bspf.1994.9732 &O.SEMINO. 2013. The first peopling of South America: new evidence from Y-chromosome HAYNES, C.V. 1973. The Calico site: artifacts or haplogroup Q. PLoS ONE 8(8): e71390. geofacts? Science 181: 305–10. http://dx.doi. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0071390 org/10.1126/science.181.4097.305 DILLEHAY, T.D. 2014. Informe preliminar sobre MELTZER, D.J., J.M. ADOVASIO &T.D.DILLEHAY. recientes excavaciones en Monte Verde. Report 1994. On a Pleistocene human occupation at Pedra produced for the Consejo de Monumentos Furada, Brazil. Antiquity 68: 695–714. Nacionales, Santiago, Chile. PARENTI, F. 2001. Le gisement quaternaire de Pedra DILLEHAY, T.D. & M.B. COLLINS. 1988. Early cultural Furada (Piau´ı, Br´esil). Stratigraphie, chronologie, evidence from Monte Verde in Chile. Nature 332: ´evolution culturelle. Paris: Recherche sur les 150–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/332150a0 Civilisations.

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942 nesadn fteclua n aua ifrne ewe h cuainlpae of phases occupational the (Meltzer between region better Capivara differences specific a da natural of Serra support and lack the to cultural a the studies b) of process and understanding formation artefacts; and and samples geoarchaeological dated palaeoenviromental, between relationship contextual the aepolmtc neovdise stoeta h Boqueir the that those as issues unresolved problematic, same ruh olgti h ae of pages the in light to brought netgtdb h uhr ntesm ein oad iaPi n S recently and sites Peia Tira Pleistocene da two Toca region, other al same to the et compared in be authors can the by it investigated and site; open-air Furada Pedra (Dias chain Andean the of side contemporaneous eastern the 2013). other and Bueno to coast & Atlantic interior North the continental of the routes settlement S connecting the process, as settlement such routes, initial riverine the of archaeological importance an the could Boqueir created that re-occupied. places have distinctive frequently physically would been in have process concentrated but This density, population phase America. low pioneering of South the record to of clues over first colonisation of the represent dates the They the sites. of beyond both for goes obtained importance BP Their years 000 2003). investigation 20 Vialou continuing the 1992; (Parenti of areas importance the these justifying of puzzle, this in pieces key remained eetrve ftepro ewe 300ad8000 of archaeologists. and American 000 availability 13 South widespread between by period in the done the of research periods to review academic recent Holocene due of A years, early growth the recent and and in Pleistocene dating, increased late AMS greatly the has for America dates South radiocarbon of number The Dias Schmidt Adriana same the of More esn,Boqueir reasons, Fogac & Prous eorpi oe o h al epigo ot mrc (Bueno America South a comprehensive of of geographically peopling signal a early into the simple data for a model this not demographic incorporating Bo are is by of suggested invariably data difficulty as the this and fought, be demonstrates to regions, to approach barrier surrounding ideological critical an the that The or ‘curse’ sites from debate. from isolation intense comes temporal It to discontinuous. subjected and and spatial sparse weak, in is variation. exist economic evidence and the cultural period regional of this emergence Before the and biomes major of occupation 2 1 h ril yBo by article The litcn aicro ae aebe bandfrsvrlstsi rzl(cmt 1990; (Schmitz Brazil in sites several for obtained been have dates radiocarbon Pleistocene 03 Lahaye 2013; . eriaLm,Tiiae Florian Trinidade, Lima, Ferreira ot lge–R,90000 Brazil 90040-060, RS, – Alegre Porto eateto itr,Uiesdd eea eSnaCtrn,Cmu Universit Campus Catarina, Santa de Farropilhas, Federal 110, Universidade Gama, Paulo History, Avenida of Sul, do Department Grande Rio do Federal Universidade History, of Department a19) lhuhtevldt fteedt a enqetoe o many for questioned been had data these of validity the Although 1999). ¸a od er uaa nPiau in Furada, Pedra da ao ˜ tal et d n olaussmaie h eerhcnutdi h aeda Vale the in conducted research the summarises colleagues and eda ¨ 03.Tepeiiayrslspeetdi hs aeshv the have papers these in presented results preliminary The 2013). . 1 din cmd is&LcsBueno Lucas & Dias Schmidt Adriana ua Bueno Lucas & pls–S,80090 Brazil 88040-900, SC, – opolis ´ Antiquity tal et od er uaaadSnaEiaas on to point also Elina Santa and Furada Pedra da ao ˜ 94 Guidon 1994; . 943 ´ tt,adSnaEia nMt rsoState, Grosso Mato in Elina, Santa and State, ı nte19s )alc fifrainabout information of lack a a) 1990s: the in 2 oFacsoadL lt ais nthis in basins, Plata La and Francisco ao ˜ 14 er Psoe h continuous the showed BP years C tal et d n olaus tsimply It colleagues. and eda ¨ 96 Parenti 1996; . od er uaadebate Furada Pedra da ao ˜ C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity tal. et ´ tod eo(Bo Meio do ıtio roRio Jo Reitor ario ´ 03 b). & 2013a tal. et oDavid ao ˜ 1996). eda ¨

Debate More of the same

Besides, the authors do not analyse how other Pleistocene findings in South America, and in particular in Brazil, can be related (or not) to Pedra Furada, arguing that geographical distances or the low densities of artefacts make comparisons difficult. The discussion presented by the authors is mainly focused on the criticism raised about the ‘archaic’ nature of the lithic industries of Pedra Furada (and, by extension, of other non-bifacial/pre-Clovis industries in the Americas). Arguments are presented extensively in the supplementary material to ‘prove’ the human origin of the materials. Yet it is not clear to us why Boeda¨ and collegues did not use the abundant Holocene data from the Sao˜ Francisco Basin to support their hypothesis. One example is the Lagoa Santa region, at Minas Gerais State, where quartz was used as the main raw material between 10 000 and 8000 BP. Furthermore, the same technological strategies related to the exploitation of local raw materials are present at Santa Elina, suggesting a similar cultural strategy for the pioneering exploitation of new territories. A true dialogue with the ‘native’ academic community would have certainly added more interesting arguments to this debate than the validity of dating methodologies, the expertise of the ‘technologists’ in charge of the analysis, or the comparisons with ancient East Asian and African technologies. As presented here, the new data from Pedra Furada are old news for us: it is just more of the same old game between rocks and dates. It has little to say about how people creatively made their living in new territories, but says a lot about how modern academic politics works.

References GUIDON, N., A.-M. PESSIS,F.PARENTI,M.FONTUGNE &C.GUERIN´ . 1996. Nature and age of deposits in BOEDA¨ , E., A. LOURDEAU,C.LAHAYE,G.FELICE,S. Pedra Furada, Brazil: reply to Meltzer, Adovasio & VIANA,I.CLEMENTE-CONTE,M.PINO,M. Dillehay. Falsehood or untruth? Antiquity 70: FONTUGNE,S.HOELTZ,N.GUIDON, A.-M. PESSIS, 408–15. A. DA COSTA &M.PAGLI. 2013. The AHAYE ERNANDEZ OEDA¨ ELICE late-Pleistocene industries of Piau´ı, Brazil: new L ,C.,M.H ,E.B ,G.F ,N. data, in K. Graf, C. Ketron & M. Waters (ed.) GUIDON,S.HOELTZ,A.LOURDEAU,M.PAGLI, Paleoamerican odyssey: 445–66. College Station: A.-M. PESSIS,M.RASSE &S.VIANA. 2013. Human Texas A&M University Press. occupation in South America by 20,000 BC: the Toca da Tira Peia site, Piau´ı, Brazil. Journal of BUENO,L.,L.PRATES,G.POLITIS &J.STEELE. 2013a. Archaeological Science 40: 2840–47. A late Pleistocene/early Holocene archaeological http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.02.019 14C database for South America and the isthmus of MELTZER,D.,J.ADOVASIO &T.DILLEHAY. 1994. On a Panama: paleoenvironmental contexts and Pleistocene human occupation at Pedra Furada, demographic interpretations. Quaternary Brazil. Antiquity 68: 695–714. International 301: 1–2. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.quaint.2013.04.008 PARENTI, F. 1992. Le gisement quaternaire de la Toca do Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada (Piau´ı, Bresil)´ dans le BUENO, L., A.S. DIAS &J.STEELE. 2013b. The late contexte de la prehistoire´ Americaine.´ Fouilles, Pleistocene/early Holocene archaeological record in stratigraphie, chronologie, evolution culturelle. Brazil: a geo-referenced database. Quaternary Unpublished PhD dissertation, Ecole´ de Hauts International 301: 74–93. http://dx.doi.org/ Etude´ en Sciences Sociales, Paris. 10.1016/j.quaint.2013.03.042 PARENTI,F.,M.FONTUGUE &C.GUERIN´ . 1996. Pedra DIAS, A.S. & L. BUENO. 2013. The initial colonization Furada in Brazil and its ‘presumed’ evidence: of South America eastern lowlands: Brazilian limitations and potential of the available data. archaeology contributions to settlement of America Antiquity 70: 416–21. models, in K. Graf, C. Ketron & M. Waters (ed.) Paleoamerican odyssey: 339–58. College Station: Texas A&M University Press.

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944 P S 02 Lowe 2012; Stringer 2004; Finlayson 2003; d’Errico 1996; nyt eepce Gra 90 ohi 92 utrr17;Frsir20) Indeed: 2003). Forestier hence 1977; was Hutterer ka 1972; 3 Solheim 1970; to (Gorman 30 expected from be technology to Hoabinhian in only to Asia ago materials Southeast plant years in of million ago contribution millennium major 2 a present around was until persisted that and (Forestier industry are 2010) tool Zhao there notably & cobble include show (Hou the These China that apply. of not Europe example does powerful outside model the research pan-European universalist prehistoric view the in anthropological where purely regions developments this To added vision. ‘normal’ be the may again become has species hominin oad 7k (Brown ka 17 towards populations human modern of expansion the for paradigm ( current dominant The Forestier Hubert models new World, New psd a ogcniee h atadwscranytems icse ftehominin the (L of us? discussed not most and Neanderthal the them the hominin certainly why and was several question years, and the of last raising thousand co-existence extinctions: the hundred considered The several long for Europe. was mode Western episode common continental periglacial the a old only was fact of species in concerns that what of model end, history universal the dead a facts Palaeolithic, as Upper projected to the has Middle disciplines from these that transition significant very implies the or article and modern) European present universal. only being the of from far underlying basis are certainties the epistemology European and on The mainly data. established African been has It palaeoanthropology. useisof subspecies ∗ oospessapiens sapiens Homo CHMITZ ROUS o h atdcd,floigtedsoeyo h lrshmnnta disappeared that hominin Flores the of discovery the following decade, past the For hte ouigo h aetc-xsec ftopriua oiis(eneta and (Neanderthal hominins particular two of co-existence latest the on focusing Whether http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6182(98)00005-6 utrayInternational Quaternary Brazil. in boundary Pleistocene-Holocene Brasil. 1RueRen ae nteaalblt fbmo,hrwo n rattan” and culture hardwood folk bamboo, elaborate of an availability develop for the to which on tribes forests, based tropical food-gathering in nomadic obtaining the properties of enabled taken special example be the should of account Tropics, and the conditions, of Palaeolithic climatic the into insight proper a obtain “to M 14Mus 7194 UMR ,A.&E.F ..19.Opvaet Pleistoc povoamento O 1990. P.I. , eit eArqueolog de Revista tal. et ´ -ahr,Prs703 France 75013, Paris e-panhard, tal. et oosapiens Homo OGAC 03.SuhatAi a akdb utoia niomn,adthe and environment, subtropical a by marked was Asia Southeast 2013). ¸ 02 Bates 2012; A ´ u ainldHsor auel NS–UV,Isiu ePal de Institut UPVD, – CNRS – Naturelle d’Histoire National eum 99 rhelg fthe of Archaeology 1999. . ∗ slreydie ytehsoia eeomn fpeitr and prehistory of development historical the by driven largely is ) 35:21–41. 53–54: ´ aAmericana ıa tal. et nSuhatAi (Zeitoun Asia Southeast in 04 Morwood 2004; tal. et nc do enico :33–68. 1: ˆ 2013). uetForestier Hubert 945 tal. et tal. et V IALOU olg tto:TxsAMUiest Press. University A&M Texas Station: Americans College South Paleo of evidence ancient (ed.) Flegenheimer vdneo h oxsec fmnand man Glossotherium of coexistence the of evidence 04 Smith 2004; 04 n h eonto fseveral of recognition the and 2004) .20.SnaEiarcsetr Brazil: rockshelter, Elina Santa 2003. A. , tal. et ev ´ 00,tec-xsec fseveral of co-existence the 2010), eque ˆ vnHeee 92 77). 1972: Heekeren (van nL iti .Slme&N. & Salemme M. Miotti, L. in , tal. et hr h ot id blow: winds south the Where tal. et C niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity 05 Lorenzo 2005; 93 Hublin 1993; ´ otlgeHumaine, eontologie 21–28. : tal. et tal. et

Debate New World, new models

The field data from the South American site of Valeda Pedra Furada show that the inhabitants either retained or developed a local industry on cobble tools at a relatively early period. These new data are supported by a coherent chronological framework that has been established from two independent methods. They entail the description and identification of a hitherto unknown episode in the human colonisation of this continent. The ‘psychological’ barrier evoked by the authors also holds because the cobble tool assemblages are described according to the simplified, restrictive and very functional European model based on Modes 1, 2, 3 and more (Clark 1969; Carbonnell et al. 2010; Barsky et al. 2013). Preceding the Acheulean assemblage (Mode 2), Mode 1 is supposed to reflect a certain archaism and early date for cobble/pebble tool cultures with small flake tools, cultures that are connected with the African emergence through to the earliest settlement of Europe. Nevertheless, in several tropical regions of the world this equation is no longer respected, as for example in Southeast Asia with the Hoabinhian (Forestier 2000; Zeitoun et al. 2008), in the Philippines (Pawlik & Ronquillo 2003), in Korea (Yi 2011) or in western Africa (Soriano 2003). The results of the typo-technological and functional analysis show that the stone tools from Vale da Pedra Furada were undoubtedly knapped and used according to specific technical criteria. Partly geographical determinism and partly cultural choice, this South American case is an anthropological response to the environment (both climate and geology/raw material sources) and the ecology. To understand them objectively, these lithic assemblages from the Late Pleistocene archaeological sequence in Brazil must be studied outside the constraints of the European model. They must be recognised as an authentic Brazilian techno-functional convergence without any biological, cultural and chronological connection with the Old World. To conclude, the Vale da Pedra Furada site (Piau´ı, Brazil) allows us to glimpse a new geographical area conquered by modern humans where the dominant bio-cultural paradigm built in Europe may not be valid. Indeed, the latter appears to be an exception which does not work in other regions. It is precisely that which is important about this paper, especially from a fundamental epistemological perspective.

References CARBONELL,E.,R.SALA RAMOS,X.P.RODR´IGUEZ,M. MOSQUERA,A.OLLE´,J.M.VERGES` ,B. BARSKY,D.,J.GARCIA,K.MART´INEZ,R.SALA,Y. MART´INEZ-NAVARRO &J.M.BERMUDEZ´ DE ZAIDNER,E.CARBONELL &I.TORO-MOYANO. CASTRO. 2010. Early hominid dispersals: a 2013. Flake modification in European Early and technological hypothesis for ‘out of Africa’. Early–Middle Pleistocene stone tool assemblages. Quaternary International 223–224: 36–44. Quaternary International 316: 140–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2010.02.015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2013.05.024 CLARK, G. 1969. World prehistory: a new synthesis. BATES,M.,M.POPE,A.SHAW,B.SCOTT &J.-L. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. SCHWENNINGER. 2013. Late Neanderthal occupation in north-west Europe: rediscovery, D’ERRICO, F. 2003. The invisible frontier. A multiple investigation and dating of a last glacial sediment species model for the origin of behavioral sequence at the site of La Cotte de Saint Brelade, modernity. Evolutionary Anthropology 12: 188–202. Jersey. Journal of Quaternary Science 28: 647–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/evan.10113 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.2669 FINLAYSON, C. 2004. Neanderthals and modern humans: BROWN,P.,T.SUTIKNA,M.J.MORWOOD,R.P. an ecological and evolutionary perspective. SOEJONO,JATMIKO,E.W.SAPTOMO & R.A. DUE. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2004. A new small-bodied hominin from the Late http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511542374 Pleistocene of Flores, Indonesia. Nature 431: 1055–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature02999

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946 F 03 e uisn outils Des 2003. – G L F H H H L ORESTIER ORESTIER ORENZO EV ´ ORMAN UTTERER UBLIN OU EQUE ˆ 1–7 ai:IRD. Paris: 315–37. S nin tatesdsfor des actuels (ed.) et Guffroy anciens J. & Froment A. in ’neto ehiu u p aux technique l’invention v 10.1016/S0003-5521(00)80025-4 L’Anthropologie http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2012.09.003 sup esetvsfrteHoabinhian. the for perspectives chronological Thailand): (northwestern Press. Jones R. & Golson J. (ed.) Allen, J. in Palaeolithic, Asian 2–6 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/381224a0 224–26. artefacts. Palaeolithic Upper with Perspectives hiad oeitrminterpretations. interim some Thailand: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2012.03.006 Evolution Human of Spain).Journal Guadalajara, Valdesotos, central VI, in (Jarama Neanderthals Spain last the to fossil human M org/10.1016/j.quaint.2009.09.025 China. in International humans early of presence the ihqe nAi uSdEta Pl au Sud-Est du Asie en lithiques .C S. A Prehistory. France Charente-Maritime, Saint-C at Upper adaptations to Paleolithic transition the for of research implications multidisciplinary Neandertal: late a of Context .&LX Z L.X. & Y. , eg ´ ´ mnieaeirOrl eminaire-atelier RCEREDILLO ETAIS ´ tle sed u-s asliaiainet l’imagination dans Sud-Est du Asie en etal ´ rerfia ta d au et final erieur ´ ,J.-J.,F.S ONDEMI . ..B A.M. F., , ..17.Ecvtosa prtCv,north Cave, Spirit at Excavations 1970. C.F. , ud n Sahul and Sunda ,C.,M.N ,H.,V.Z cha quelques De 2000. H. , ..17.Ritrrtn h Southeast the Reinterpreting 1977. K.L. , 03 h pnarst fHa Hin Huai of site open-air The 2013. . II 79–107. XIII: 96 aeNadrhlassociated Neanderthal late A 1996. . 2–2:1–9 http://dx.doi. 10–19. 223–224: POOR &J.F.J HAO 0:514.http://dx.doi.org/ 531–48. 104: AVAZO EITOUN sd afor la de es ´ ACKER 00 nacelgclve for view archeological An 2010. . ,M.B ´ as 5e 6otbe1998 octobre 16 et 15 eans, ORD btd l’Holoc de ebut ´ 17.Lno:Academic London: 31–71. : ,J.C.D ˆ t rpcls ce du Actes tropicales. ets &M.G ,C.W RAUN A ´ aio (WI): Madison . t ’motnedu L’importance et. ˆ roe pr eriodes ´ P 2 720–25. 62: ARDO ´ IEZ INAYALAI ,F.Z UILBAUD ´ esaire, Palevol ,C.S Peuplements Nature eistoc ´ ˆ nsop ınes 02 New 2012. . ONNEVELD ehistoriques, ene. ´ ` ES ene ` Quaternary &C. Asian 1993. . 2 45–55. 12: E 381: ´ eratoires ´ ,D. uetForestier Hubert : & 947 S L S Y P VAN M S S TRINGER ORIANO OLHEIM MITH AWLIK OWE I .21.Hnae nteIjnBsn nS i(ed.) Yi S. in Basin, Imjin the in Handaxes 2011. S. , ORWOOD 8 79–92. 18: Mali). (Ounjougou, prehistory. Nijhoff. Soejono R.P. by contribution a with td ecsdn ePal le dans cas de Etude adxsi h mi Basin Imjin the in Handaxes &P.C.T h Philippines. the nature02956 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ 1087–91. 431: homininfromFloresineasternIndonesia. pnas.1204579109 USA the http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/ of 13532–37. Sciences of Academy National the hazards. natural to early humans and modern Neanderthals of resilience the illuminate http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2004.11.016 International Neandertals. Quaternary of extinction the and in Europe, origins human modern model, assimilation S .R M. .S C. K H B D T ..C V.L. eut fteSae3Project 3 Stage the of archaeological results glaciation: last the European during the landscape in humans modern (ed.) and Davies W. Neanderthals & Andel Van T.H. the in of Neanderthals, extinction the and stress Climatic coadIsiuefrAcaooia Research. Archaeological for Institute McDonald .H M. R P ..F L.K. L .F C. H UTIKNA OLLARD EWIS ARKER OMLINSON INK OUMOUZELIS ,J.,N.B UE UNTLEY .. .J I. F.H., , EEKEREN ,A.&P.R ATOW ERRIER ,D.R.H .20.Qadacaqenetpsancien! pas n’est archaique Quand 2003. S. , .17.Te‘e ok fSuhatAsian Southeast of look’ ‘new The 1972. W. , .X Z J.-X. , OSI .. .P H. C.B., , ARDIMAN ,A.M IFIELD ULLEN .. ..S R.P. M.J., , ,D.B ,L.S ...T C.S.M. , ,C.P ZEDAKIS ,P.J.V ,V.C.S ARTON ..1972. H.R. , ,J.-L.G h ora fteSa Society Siam the of Journal The ,D.W AC ANKOVI 04 rhelg n g fanew a of age and Archaeology 2004. . ,W.D HAO OBBS HALAMANOV ORI ONQUILLO ,U.C.M ,R.H RICE L ALDES ihcTechnology Lithic EOD 02 ocncahlayers ash Volcanic 2012. . C ,S.B MITH ´ ALIKE ,G.D. ,M.W.M ,A.C HITE ..R A.P. , UADELLI AVIES URNEY C ´ OEJONO C nae el odto Fyssen Fondation la de Annales ,M.M OUSLEY &I.K ...A J.R.M. & niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity ..S C.B. , LOCKEY ,T.H.V oihqed asDogon pays du eolithique ´ ULLER ,P.A ¨ 03 h aaoihcin Palaeolithic The 2003. . h tn g fIndonesia, of age stone The ARANDENTE ,C.G A DEN VAN 3:7–19. 137: -K ,K.E.W 3–0 Cambridge: 233–40. : –1 eu:SUPress. SNU Seoul: 3–21. : OBERTS ,P.K ENZIES ,R.G.R ,C.S.L OROBAR OORE ARAVANI LBERT ,G.O ,C.B TRINGER AMBLE AN ARKANAS 8 79–93. 28: h Hague: The . ,E.J.R ,M.I.B B ,W.M LLEN ,I.A A ESTAWAY ERGH ANE RONK rceig of Proceedings NDEL RSI ,N.S ,L.C C OBERTS ´ ,K.G 05 The 2005. . ,E.L. ,J.P 2004. . RIENZO ,S.L R.A. , OHLING ULLER ,M. ,B. ¨ 0 1–20. 60: IRD IRAKOV IVETTA R Nature ,W.J. 109: RANT ,T. AMSEY ROSS EE & ,G. ,M. ,M. , , , , ,

Debate Is dating an issue?

ZEITOUN,V.,H.FORESTIER &S.NAKBUNLUNG. 2008. ZEITOUN,V.,F.DETROIT´ ,D.GRIMAUD-HERVE´ &H. Pr´ehistoires au sud du Triangle d’Or. Montpellier: WIDIANTO. 2010. Solo man in question: IRD. convergent views to split Indonesian Homo erectus in two categories. Quaternary International 223–224: 281–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.quaint.2010.01.018 Is dating an issue? James Feathers∗

Few areas have been the target of such persistent efforts to demonstrate a human presence in the Americas during the Last Glacial Maximum as the region in and around Serra da Capivara National Park in Piau´ı, north-eastern Brazil. This reflects the 30 years of research in the area by Niede` Guidon, who first brought attention to the possibility of evidence for early humans at Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada in the 1980s (Guidon & Delibrias 1986; Guidon 1989). The current paper by Boeda¨ et al. on the open-air site of Vale da Pedra Furada follows close on the heels of another from the nearby Toca da Tira Peia site by Lahaye et al. (2013), both claiming human presence by c.20ka. My contribution to this discussion stems from my application of luminescence dating to Palaeoindian sites in Brazil (e.g. Araujo et al. 2008, 2013; Feathers et al. 2010; Bueno et al. 2013; Vialou et al. in prep.). I have also done luminescence work in Serra da Capivara, but only of Holocene-age sediments (unpublished). Both Boeda¨ et al.andLahayeet al. employed optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating on sediments to date their sites, and I will briefly review their work. Both used relatively fine grain sizes (20–41μm) of quartz and both employed the commonly used single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocol for determining equivalent dose (De). In neither case did the aliquots for each sample display much spread in values, even for Lahaye et al., who employed smaller, 1mm diameter aliquots. The quartz was sensitive and dominated by the fast-bleaching component, which is typical for Brazilian quartz (Feathers et al. 2010; Guedes et al. 2013). An argument could be made that with sensitive quartz, even 1mm aliquots might suffer from signal averaging among individual grains, so that the true dispersion in De values is hidden and can only be properly evaluated with single-grain data. In other words, evidence for mixing of different aged grains might not be detectable without single-grain analysis. On the other hand, the OSL dates in each case are in the correct stratigraphic order, and in the case of Boeda¨ et al. are in agreement with some 14C dates. But an argument for mixing at either site, however unlikely, is not really germane to the whole debate, because the issue has never been about dating. Rather, it has been about the nature of the artefacts and whether they can unambiguously be attributed to human origin (Meltzer et al. 1994). Boeda¨ et al.andLahayeet al. (2013) make at least two arguments. First, that the breakage patterns on the ‘artefacts’ are different from those on natural cobbles; and, second, that no geologic process can account for the position of ‘artefacts’ of certain size and shape. Boeda¨ et al. make additional technological

∗ Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Box 353412, Seattle, WA 98195-3412, USA

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948 B A A References be would them around controversy the and context better abundant much lessened. more into much sites the these into put would evolved Furada, Santa Pedra as doubt, such da of the sites, Vale earlier record of and few Peia benefit these Tira of the record da colleagues the Toca how her are Elina, problem: and artefacts larger the a Guidon research of give to origins begin should human and we the evidence about specious, arguments unless be the Rather, to or 2014). shown light Kelly to & comes (Waguespack for contrary search the meaningful the to less removed, seems Clovis-first of site restrictions oldest the the with because debate, the of parameter (Vilhena Brazil central state, Grosso Mato have in sites Vialou rockshelter Capivara 2005; da Elina Vialou Serra Santa the Second, from (an that 1964). artefact support diagnostic Krieger out first see some point the history; is well long Clovis can that a is with they say observation really But can that. artefacts, argument Clovis-first are demonstrating a sites battle most Capivara the da uphill Serra an in the sites have at early lithics defenders about the defined argument their if are any Even puts hand, disadvantage. This distinct other points. a the fluted at where biface: Brazil on tradition, of sites, lithic kind Clovis unifacial distinctive rare. very long I a are a by but diagnostics has arguments, Brazil distinctive these of other evaluate much or First, to bifaces comments. expertise few the a have make not can do I observations. functional and o nesadn e ol ooiainwdn osdrby hn hsi h point the is this think I considerably. widens colonisation Bo World New understanding (Munyikwa thought for that originally than evidence earlier of much al because open et and been either have 2004), migrations, may Stanford coastal corridor’ & ‘ice-free of (Bradley the potential Atlantic this the But or glaciers. of 2013) continental (Dixon because of Pacific eroded, because been Clovis, steadily to has prior assumption possible really not was World New origins. which human for for osteoderms, made perforated be two can are case Elina better Santa a from recovered also But artefacts. the eid eeteltisaeas ifiutt itnus rmntrlbekg,adtesame the and breakage, natural natural about from distinguish made to are difficult arguments also are lithics the Here period. RADLEY RAUJO RAUJO hr,a nepnigo h rgnlCoi-rtagmn a htclnsto fthe of colonisation that was argument Clovis-first original the of underpinning an Third, eda ¨ 459–78. &T.S models. paleoenvironmental and methods formation dating in processes, study case a settings: tropical rhelgclScience Archaeological Brazil. central in site a Paleoamerican at processes formation and stratigraphy ..T M.M. ot oteNwWorld. New the to Palaeolithic route possible a corridor: ice-edge Atlantic 01.I hr sn esnt ln oaCoi-rtagmn,te h potential the then argument, Clovis-first a to cling to reason no is there If 2011)...... S A. A.G.M., , F J.K. A.G.M., , ,B.&D.S tal et CHRAGE IZUKA Geoarchaeology c. aei hi rftr eak.Prasaesol olne etedefining the be longer no should age Perhaps remarks. prefatory their in make . 3k n ae.Ta sagpta a o enfildbti tcudb,that be, could it if but filled been not has that gap a is That later. and ka 13 08 aadsBlia rockshelter: Boleiras das Lapa 2008. . 03 aeida pnarstsin sites open-air Paleoindian 2013. . TANFORD TRAUSS EATHERS 5 3186–202. 35: 8 195–220. 28: tal et ,J.K.F 04 h North The 2004, . ol Archaeology World ,M.A npe.,as ae yOL(yteato)t h aetime same the to author) the (by OSL by dated also prep.), in . EATHERS RROYO ora of Journal ,J.P -K versus 36: ALIN AISANI ae Feathers James & ua atrigadteeoeosntr of nature exogenous the and patterning human 949 B D F EATHERS UENO IXON utrayInternational Quaternary reconstructions. paleogeographic insights large-scale new from Asia: northeast from America North &D.C 5 395–436. 25: Brazil. Santa, Lagoa Vermelha, at Lapa integrity stratigraphic and dating Luminescence rhelgclScience Archaeological dating. luminescence and radiocarbon analysis, lithic in integrating site Brazil: open-air central Paleoindian a of process formation ..21.Lt litcn ooiainof colonization Pleistocene Late 2013. E.J. , ,L.,J.F .. .P L. J.K., , OBLENZ EATHERS 00 o l sLuzia? is old How 2010. . IL O ´ ,M.A C &P.D 0 190–203. 40: niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity 8:57–67. 285: RROYO E B LASIS -K ALIN 03 The 2013. . Geoarchaeology ora of Journal ,R.K IPNES

Debate ‘Simple’ need not mean ‘archaic’

GUEDES, C.C.F., A. SAWAKUCHI, P.C.F. GIANNINI,R. MELTZER, D.J., J.M. ADOVASIO &T.D.DILLEHAY. DEWITT & V.A.P. AGUIAR. 2013. Luminescence 1994. On a Pleistocene human occupation at Pedra characteristics of quartz from Brazilian sediments Furada, Brazil. Antiquity 68: 695–714. and constraints for OSL dating. Anais da Academia MUNYIKWA,K.,J.K.FEATHERS,T.RITTENOUR &H.K. Brazileira de Ciˆencias 85: 1303–16. SHRIMPTON. 2011. Constraining the chronology of GUIDON, N. 1989. On stratigraphy and chronology at the Late Wisconsinan retreat of the Laurentide ice Pedra Furada. Current Anthropology 30: 641–42. sheet from western Canada using luminescence ages GUIDON,N.&G.DELIBRIAS. 1986. Carbon-14 dates of postglacial aeolian dune sequences. Quaternary point to man in the Americas 32,000 years ago. Geochronology 6: 407–22. Nature 321: 769–71. VIALOU,D.,M.BENABDELHADI,J.FEATHERS,M. KRIEGER, A.D. 1964. Early man in the New World, in FONTUGNE &A.VILHENA VIALOU. In preparation. J.D. Jennings & E. Norbeck (ed.) Prehistoric man in Peopling in the South America’s center: Santa Elina the New World: 23–84. Chicago (IL): University of (Brazil) a site in late Pleistocene. Chicago Press. VILHENA VIALOU, A. (ed.). 2005. Pr´e-historia´ do Mato LAHAYE,C.,M.HERNANDEZ,E.BOEDA¨ ,G.D.FELICE, Grosso Vol I—Santa Elina.Sao˜ Paulo: Editora da N. GUIDON,S.HOELTZ,A.LOURDEAU,M.PAGLI, Universidade de Sao˜ Paulo. A.-M. PESSIS,M.RASSE &S.VIANA. 2013. Human WAGUESPACK,N.M.&R.L.KELLY. 2014. An update occupation in South America by 20,000 BC: the on New World colonization research: the Toca da Tira Peia site, Piau´ı, Brazil. Journal of Paleoamerican Odyssey conference. Evolutionary Archaeological Science 40: 2840–47. Anthropology 23: 47–48. ‘Simple’ need not mean ‘archaic’ Kjel Knutsson∗

Boeda¨ et al.’s paper reports the results of an archaeological re-investigation in north-eastern Brazil, an area where previous attempts to identify South American pioneer settlements earlier than 14 000 cal BC have been disqualified and rejected. Not least have arguments based on the analysis of lithics been questioned; as this paper makes clear, that is still the case. Boeda¨ and colleagues returned to this area to re-analyse the sequences discussed previously through a new excavation. They have, to my mind, convincingly argued for the presence of artefacts situated in a closed stratigraphic sequence extending as far back as 25 000 years. Within the excavated sediment a series of discrete layers with assumed quartz and quartzite cobble and flake tools have been identified. I will not discuss further the stratigraphic sequence: I assume it to be correctly dated and the chronological logic of the sequence speaks in favour of that. Since the dating of the sequence thus seems unproblematic, the key remaining problem is one that is well known to archaeologists in general and to lithic analysts more specifically. Underlying it is the social evolutionary thinking that permeates Western thinking, which was shaped within the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century intellectual climate and which still, after all these years, albeit mostly on an unconscious level, has consequences for archaeology; simple technologies belong to archaic humans. A second fundamental problem concerns the archaeological construction of data; more specifically the long-standing conflict between the doxa of flint typologies and a more dynamic view of technology which sees lithic assemblages as the result ∗ Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University, Box 626, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden

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Debate ‘Simple’ need not mean ‘archaic’ rest of Scandinavia, often as insets in slotted bone points. Quartz is, to my knowledge, therefore a perfect substitute for flint: you just have to look beyond the technology and see what it actually was to be used for. There is no such thing as a ‘better material’ than quartz—it simply represents another way of making a stone tool. I am sure that the inhabitants of Pedra Furada soon found out how to do it. I totally agree with the arguments presented by the authors of this paper: if quartz is available, why not use it, it works. Quartz, as the authors observe, varies considerably in quality. Splitting beach nodules or taking materials directly from the quartz vein does not normally yield good enough material for creating strong and sharp edges on tools. As an experienced quartz knapper I can testify that what began as a one-hour trip for knappable quartz to the nearest esker normally ended as a tiresome quest over several days to find a good piece. It is not surprising then that the quartz material found on excavated prehistoric sites is of perfect quality for tool-making. It is obvious that the prehistoric tool makers have carefully selected the material they used. Quartz is therefore not used by desperate people trying to survive despite the lack of flint; it was systematically selected for and used by knowledgeable tool makers. Another issue raised by the authors concerns classification. How do you discriminate between a naturally broken quartz cobble and the result of human production? Quartz is hard to read even for a skilled lithic analyst (Callahan et al. 1992; Tallavaara et al. 2010). It is even harder to convince non-specialists, as the authors of this paper have experienced. Their discussion of taphonomy and technical analysis in the supplementary online material is, in my view, well designed and convincing, since they compare the qualities of natural cobbles with quartz from the individual layers in the sequence, the latter assumed to be of human origin. The qualities indicating human manufacture are the character of the striking platform, the number and contiguousness of the flake scars and the duration of the flaking sequence indicated by the flake scars. Since the natural and human-worked quartz material differs in these respects, the human origin of the assumed prehistoric tool material seems obvious. The study of bipolar anvil reduction, split cobbles and worked pebbles seems to be at an early stage but adds to the general picture of human modification of the cobbles from the different layers in the sequence. The final typological classification into pieces with different edge qualities is reasonable, although hard to evaluate at this point. The illustrations help to evaluate the feasibility of their arguments that show convincingly that the worked cobbles must be the result of a planned sequence of gestures based on a mental template. The secondarily modified flakes are mostly Siret flakes; that is, flakes split during knapping. This may not necessarily be a systematic selection criterion: it is simply the way quartz naturally fractures during knapping and thus there will be a high frequency of this type of flake in the assemblage. Intact complete flakes are the exception. Microwear analysis of a number of quartz assemblages from Sweden and Finland actually shows that these split flakes can be used as knives, the right-angle break being a natural ‘backing’ (Knutsson & Knutsson forthcoming). The functional analysis further strengthens the argument that the tools are human-made, but is hard to evaluate from the illustrations and details provided. The references to previous C Antiquity Publications Ltd.

952 C 1988b. – J K a led ete eoe2 0 a BC America cal South Furada. that 000 Pedra shown 20 convincingly da before have Vale authors settled at the already 7 correct, was layer is layer in this assemblage of quartz dating a the the If of value origin real human of the for be argument To weathering. of result here. case a description. the and is analysis not what documentation, is of the This and principles distinguish basic use quartz, follow to of must experimental weathered difficult analysis result is microwear relevant and the it to and be unused surfaces, might relation used, weathered what strongly in of illustrate described to experience used seem and features my micrographs specific identified From the be material. and here, must background than argument size greater the at in presented be analysis, microwear must incompatible the partially micrographs evaluate To include method). the and Knutsson the character and in method general Keeley (the very methods are quartz on use-wear on work References USSILA NUTSSON ALLAHAN orudofm omn,hwvr h irwa nlssi o seta othe to essential not is analysis microwear the however, comment, my off round To psl:Scea rhelgc Upsaliensis. Archaeologica Societas Uppsala: iti V with in sites flint Neolithic Middle from assemblages lithic Upsaliensis. Archaeologica Societas Uppsala: tools 10). quartz experimental of microscopy electron bearbetning. s kvarts till kommentarer ensadaArchaeologica 2008–10. Fennoscandia and 2000 in conducted of studies interpretations and results preliminary south-eastern Finland: in site Mesolithic early 2—an L INDGREN . .K A. T., , aigaduigsoetos h nlsso the of analysis The tools. stone using and Making ,E.,L.F .1988a. K. , sebte,nrhr Sweden northern asterbotten, ¨ 92 rkuble.Kulturhistoriska Frakturbilder. 1992. . RIISKA Tor ORSBERG 4 27–63. 24: atrso olue Scanning use. tool of Patterns &Y.R ,K.K rgas aregna ¨ OSTEDT XX 3–27. XXIX: NUTSSON nefl vid onderfall ¨ 02 Saarenoja 2012. . An11). (Aun &C. (Aun jlKnutsson Kjel ... ykoldebetoolmakers. knowledgeable by 953 K 98 ovninadlti nlss nJ om& Holm J. in analysis, lithic and Convention 1998. – R T ALLAVAARA ANKAMA NUTSSON n nin itr,UpaaUniversity. Uppsala History, Ancient Archaeology and of Department Uppsala: 71–93. 16): 1996 October 18–20, Sweden, Uppsala, at Conference Alternatives .Kuso (ed.) Knutsson K. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2010.05.005 Science Archaeological analysis. fracture quartz of evaluation uigtepoerstlmn fnorthern Fennoscandia. of settlement pioneer the variation during material raw to responses Hunter-gatherer atr rbra inesi rtcFnadand Finland Norway. arctic in pioneers Preboreal eastern R ANKAMA ,T.&J.K ,H.&K.K . ..M M.A. M., , Quart 00 o ae hte:acritical a shatter: flakes How 2010. . Ocsoa aesi Archaeology in Papers (Occasional ora fLti Technology Lithic of Journal ar ¨ ANKAANP 01 183–209. 2011: rceig rmteTidFlint Third the from Proceedings NUTSSON C 7 2442–48. 37: ANNINEN niut ulctosLtd. Publications Antiquity A ¨ A ¨ 01 is vdneof evidence First 2011. . Forthcoming. . ,E.H ERTELL ora of Journal . &T.

Debate The peopling of South America The peopling of South America: expanding the evidence Eric Boeda¨ 1, Christelle Lahaye2, Gisele Daltrini Felice3,4, Niede` Guidon3, Sirlei Hoeltz5, Antoine Lourdeau1,6, Anne-Marie Pessis3,6, Sibeli Viana7, Ignacio Clemente-Conte8, Mario Pino9, Michel Fontugne10, Marina Pagli1 &Amelie´ Da Costa1

The objective of the Franco-Brazilian mission, established in 2008 at the request of and in collaboration with Brazilian researchers, was to address the issue of the earliest peopling of South America as evidenced in north-eastern Brazil. Such early settlement had been suggested, and in our view demonstrated, by the previous research undertaken at the site of Boqueirao˜ da Pedra Furada. Yet like any discovery, this occurred at a particular point in the history of research. Its acceptance depends on many factors that have often been difficult to accommodate as the evidence has unfolded. Still more fundamental has been the reasoned argument presented by the discoverers, since that is the basis of knowledge. The increasing number of sites and the conjunction of multiple approaches—stratigraphic, taphonomic, experimental, technological and functional—play a key role in the construction of this argument. Whether or not it is accepted will be part of the history of science. With the sites of Boqueirao,˜ S´ıtio do Meio, Tira Peia and now Vale, we know that the settlement of this region of Piau´ı began more than 20–25 000 years ago, and occupation persisted throughout the entire Holocene period. When the data from these sites are compared with those from Santa Elina in the Mato Grosso, the antiquity of human settlement is confirmed and the area occupied at this early period is expanded. Another step has been taken; further steps must clearly follow in order to advance further. We now need to orient our questions differently by addressing behavioural issues.

1 UMR 7041 CNRS ArScAn–AnTET, Universit´e Paris X, Maison de l’Arch´eologie et de l’Ethnologie, 21 all´ee de l’Universit´e, 92023 Nanterre, France 2 Universit´e Bordeaux-Montaigne, UMR 5060 IRAMAT-CRP2A, Institut de Recherche sur les Arch´eomat´eriaux, Maison de l’Arch´eologie, Esplanade des Antilles, 33607 Pessac, France 3 Fundac¸ao˜ Museu do Homem Americano (FUMDHAM), Centro Cultural S´ergio Motta s/n, Bairro Campestre, Sao˜ Raimundo Nonato – PI, 64770-000, Brazil 4 Universidade Federal do Vale do Sao˜ Francisco (UNIVASF), Campus Serra da Capivara, Rua Joao˜ Ferreira dos Santos, S/N, Bairro Campestre, Sao˜ Raimundo Nonato –PI, 64770-000, Brazil 5 Archaeo: Pesquisas Arqueologicas,´ Av. Caranda´ı 99, Parque Georgia, Cuiaba´ – MT, 78085-485, Brazil 6 Departamento de Arqueologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitaria,´ Recife – PE, 50670-901, Brazil 7 Instituto Goiano de Pr´e-Historia´ e Antropologia, Pontificia Universidade Catolitica´ de Goias,´ Av. Universitaria´ 1.440, Setor Universitario,´ Goianiaˆ – GO, 74605-010, Brazil 8 Departamento de Arqueolog´ıa y Antropolog´ıa, IMF-CSIC, Calle Egipc´ıaques 15, Barcelona 08001, Spain 9 Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Edificio Emilio Pug´ın, Avenida Eduardo Morales Miranda, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia, Chile 10 Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, UMR 8212 CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, Domaine du CNRS, 91198 Gif sur Yvette, France

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Debate