Abstract :
[en] As one of the earliest techno-complexes of the Upper Palaeolithic, the Proto-aurignacian is known for its bladelet production, which dominates in numbers the other lithics artefacts found in the same contexts. Some of the largest numbers of Proto-Aurignacian retouched bladelets were found in Fumane (Italy) and Les Cottés (France), and have been associated with several functions, including projectiles. Among the artefacts assumed to represent projectile elements, many exhibit use-wear that diverges from that typically found on apically hafted points and therefore other hafting arrangements need to be considered. In Europe, weapon designs with lateral insets are known to exist as early as the Gravettian, though they are better known in later contexts, where organic components have more often been preserved. To evaluate whether similar weapon systems could also have been used during the Proto-Aurignacian, a comprehensive research program is required in which attention is first devoted to the reconstruction of the hafting system. This can be achieved through detailed wear studies and experimental work during which the impact of different variables is tested while using adequate replications of the retouched bladelets.
We present the results of a sequenced, multi-step experimental program during which we explored the influence of several variables, including hafting materials (glues and mastics, bone and wooden points), design choices, barb orientation and angle, as well as propulsion modes (bow, spear-thrower and hand-held spears) to understand the formation of impact wear on lateral insets. A combination of mechanical and actualistic experiments was used, which lead to the development of a large reference framework that permits tackling both methodological and archaeological questions.
