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When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", University of Southampton, name of the University School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination http://eprints.soton.ac.uk UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON FACULTY OF LAW, ART and SOCIAL SCIENCES SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES Non-Biface Assemblages in Middle Pleistocene Western Europe. A comparative study. by Hannah Louise Fluck Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2011 1 2 Abstract This thesis presents the results of an investigation into the Clactonian assemblages of Middle Pleistocene souther Britain. By exploring other non-biface assemblages (NBAs) reported from elsewhere in Europe it seeks to illuminate our understanding of the British assemblages by viewing them in a wider context. It sets out how the historical and geopolitical context of Palaeolithic research has influenced what is investigated and how, as well as interpretations of assemblages without handaxes. A comparative study of the assemblages themselves based upon primary data gathered specifically for that purpose concludes that while there are a number of non-biface assemblages elsewhere in Europe the Clactonian assemblages do appear to be a phenomenon unique to the Thames Valley in early MIS 11. However, traditional explanations for this phenomenon, such as cultural variation, cultural migration and pioneer populations are challenged and a new interpretation centred on the concept of a default flaking pattern is proposed. 3 4 Contents Chapter One: The Clactonian in its historical context 18 Part 1: Britain and Non-Biface Assemblage research 21 Part 2: A European perspective 30 Conclusion: the Clactonian a very British problem 40 Another new approach? 42 The layout of the thesis 43 Chapter two: Methodology 45 Criteria for site identification 45 Typology 49 Chapter three: The British Clactonian 64 Clacton-on-Sea 65 Swanscombe 74 Globe Pit 86 Greenlands Pit, Purfleet 86 Rainbow Bar 87 East Farm, Barnham 87 Summary 90 Chapter four: Central and Eastern Europe 93 Vértesszőlős 94 Tzrebenica and Rusko 114 Bilzingsleben and Schöningen 116 Summary and comparison with the Clactonian 119 Chapter five: France 121 Brittany 123 The Dordogne and the Garonne 139 Northern France and Paris Basin 156 Southern France and the Mediterranean 161 Summary and comparison with the Clactonian 172 Chapter six: The Iberian Peninsula 174 Cova del Bolomor, Valencia 175 Atapuerca, Burgos 193 El Aculadero and the Cadiz Littoral 197 Tagus valley 201 Summary and comparison with the Clactonian 203 Chapter seven: Discussion and conclusion 206 What is the Clactonian 206 Clactonian parallels 207 Default flaking pattern: a basic hominin behaviour 209 5 Patterns in the Non-Biface Assemblages 210 Putting it into perspective: What the Clactonian is not 215 Putting it into perspective: what the Clactonian is 217 The influence of local research traditions 221 Conclusion 222 Bibliography 224 Appendix 1: Climate chart I Appendix 2: Gazetteer of sites with non-biface assemblages II 6 7 List of Figures Figure 2.1 – Map of sites in gazetteer 47 Figure 2.2 – Map of sites for detailed study 48 Figure 2.3 – PCT flake from Vértesszőlős 51 Figure 2.4 – Core from les Tares 52 Figure 2.5 – Hammerstone from Vértesszőlős 52 Figure 2.6 – Single removal 53 Figure 2.7 – Alternate flaking 53 Figure 2.8 – Parallel flaking 54 Figure 2.9 – Alternate and parallel flaking 54 Figure 2.10 – Mixed techniques 54 Figure 2.11 – Vértesszőlős raw materials 56 Figure 2.12 – Mint condition flake 57 Figure 2.13 – Slightly rolled flake 57 Figure 2.14 – Very rolled flake 57 Figure 2.15 – Desilicified artefacts 58 Figure 2.16 – Fire-damaged flake 58 Figure 2.17 – Denticulate from Vértesszőlős 60 Figure 2.18 – Scraper from Les Tares 60 Figure 2.19 – Flaked Flake from Les Tares 60 Figure 2.20 – Convergent retouch from Vértesszőlős 61 Figure 2.21 – Biface from Menez Dregan 61 Figure 2.22 - Dimensions 62 Figure 2.23 – Toth types 63 Figure 3.1 – Location of British NBA sites 64 Figure 3.2 – Map showing Clacton localities 66 Figure 3.3 – Schematic stratigraphic sequence for Clacton-on-Sea 67 Figure 3.4 – Size distribution for Clacton assemblages 68 Figure 3.5 – Flake scars for Clacton assemblages 70 Figure 3.6 – Types of flaked pieces from Clacton 71 Figure 3.7 – Toth Types from Clacton 72 Figure 3.8 – Swanscombe localities 74 8 Figure 3.9 – Swanscombe stratigraphy 75 Figure 3.10 – Artefact size for Swanscombe assemblages 80 Figure 3.11 – Flake scars for Swanscombe assemblages 81 Figure 3.12 – Types of flaked pieces from Swanscombe localities 82 Figure 3.13 – Toth types from Swanscombe asemblages 84 Figure 3.14 – Stratigraphy for Southfleet Road 85 Figure 4.1 – Map showing Central European NBA sites 93 Figure 4.2 – Leaf imprint from Vértesszőlős 96 Figure 4.3 – Thematic stratigraphy for Vértesszőlős 97 Figure 4.4 – Vértesszőlős site 1 today 97 Figure 4.5 – Schematic drawing of Vértesszőlős localities 98 Figure 4.6 – Location of Vértesszőlős site 98 Figure 4.7 – Samuel skull 99 Figure 4.8 – Red radiolarite near Vértesszőlős 103 Figure 4.9 – Toth types for Vértesszőlős 103 Figure 4.10 – Toth types for Vértesszőlős for red radiolarite 104 Figure 4.11 – Boxplot for artefact length at Vértesszőlős 105 Figure 4.12 – Vértesszőlős fragments 106 Figure 4.13 – Artefact length for red radiolarite 108 Figure 4.14 – Flake scars by raw material from Vértesszőlős 109 Figure 4.15 – Flake scars by artefact type from Vértesszőlős 110 Figure 4.16 – Types of flaked piece for Vértesszőlős 112 Figure 4.17 – Bone handaxe from Bilzingsleben 118 Figure 4.18 – Points from Bilzingsleben 118 Figure 4.19 – Points from Schöningen 119 Figure 5.1 – Map showing French NBA sites 122 Figure 5.2 – St Colomban site 124 Figure 5.3 – Handaxe from St Colomban 125 Figure 5.4 – Graph showing distribution of flaked pieces for St Colomban 128 Figure 5.5 – Toth types for St Colomban 129 Figure 5.6 – Menez Dregan site 131 Figure 5.7 – Menez Dregan excavations 2006 131 Figure 5.8 – Close up of Menez Dregan level 5 134 Figure 5.9 – Section from Menez Dregan 1 134 9 Figure 5.10 – La Micoque 143 Figure 5.11 – La Micoque Level 1 artefacts 147 Figure 5.12 – La Micoque Level 2 artefacts 148 Figure 5.13 – La Micoque Level 3 artefacts 148 Figure 5.14 – La Micoque Level 4 artefacts 149 Figure 5.15 – Les Tares Toth types 154 Figure 5.16 –View of Le Havre littoral 156 Figure 6.1 –Map of Iberian NBA sites 174 Figure 6.2 – Location of Cova del Bolomor 177 Figure 6.3 – Flaked pieces for Bolomor Level XIII 186 Figure 6.4 – Flaked pieces for Bolomor Level XV 186 Figure 6.5 – Flaked pieces for Bolomor Level XVII 187 Figure 6.6 – Flaked pieces for Bolomor Level XIII, XV and XVII 187 Figure 6.7 – Flaking strategie for Bolomor 188 Figure 6.8 – Toth types for Bolomor 189 Figure 6.9 – Toth types for Bolomor Level XIII 190 Figure 6.10 – Toth types for Bolomor Level XV 190 Figure 6.11 – Toth types for Bolomor Level XVII 191 Figure 6.12 – Schematic stratigraphy for El Aculadero 198 Figure 6.13 – Pebble core from Ribeira da Atalaia 202 Figure 6.14 – In situ artefacts from Ribeira da Atalaia 202 Figure 6.15 – Ribeira da Atalaia 203 10 11 List of Tables Table 3.1 – Artefact types from the Clacton localities 68 Table 3.2 – Artefact length for Clacton assemblages 69 Table 3.3 – Experimental results (toth types) from knapping experiment 70 Table 3.4 – Flaking atrategies for Clacton localities 71 Table 3.5 – Retouched tools from Clacton assemblages 73 Table 3.6 – Artefact types from Swanscombe 78 Table 3.7 – Artefact lengths from Swanscombe 79 Table 3.8 – Flaking types from Swanscombe localities 83 Table 3.9 – Retouched tools from Swanscombe localities 83 Table 4.1 – Artefact numbers from Vértesszőlős 96 Table 4.2 – Fauna from Vértesszőlős 100 Table 4.3 – Cortex presence for Vértesszőlős assemblage 101 Table 4.4 – Artefact types and raw material from Vértesszőlős 107 Table 4.5 – Artefact length for Vértesszőlős 107 Table 4.6 – Flaking strategy for Vértesszőlős 111 Table 4.7 – Retouched blanks from Vértesszőlős 113 Table 4.8 – Reetouched tools from Vértesszőlős 114 Table 4.9 – Schöningen summary 117 Table 5.1 – St Colomban assemblage composition 118 Table 5.2 – Artefact length for St Colomban 127 Table 5.3 – Flake scars for St Colomban assemblage 127 Table 5.4 – Flaking techniques from St Colomban 128 Table 5.5 – Summary of Menez Dregan 132 Table 5.6 – Artefact types from Menez Dregan 135 Table 5.7 – Assemblage composition for Menez Dregan levels 136 Table 5.8 – Flaking strategies for Menez Dregan 137 Table 5.9 – Toth types for Menez Dregan 137 Table 5.10 – Retouched tool types for Menez Dregan 138 Table 5.11 – Interpretations of La Micoque 140 Table 5.12 – Artefact length for La Micoque 144 Table 5.13 – Distribution of basic tool types at La Micoque 144 Table 5.14 – Core types from la Micoque 145 Table 5.15 – Flaking techniques from La Micoque 146 Table 5.16 – Toth types for La Micoque