Conference Presentations by Tanguy Burcet
Poster presented on Rock and Roll: 13th International Symposium on Knappable Materials, 4-7 octobre 2021, Tarragone (ES). , 2021
Papers by Tanguy Burcet
Living Archaeology. Unveiling the Past through Experimental Archaeology., 2026
This paper focuses on a new experimental reference corpus that questions the use of soft rock peb... more This paper focuses on a new experimental reference corpus that questions the use of soft rock pebbles by Neanderthal. Small, flat, elongated pebbles have been found in large numbers at the Mousterian sites of Champ Grand (Loire, France) and Grotte Mandrin (Drôme, France). These pebbles form a lithologically and morphologically homogeneous assemblage, but present a significant diversity of traces and combinations of traces. Located on one or two faces or on the edges, these traces mainly take the form of striations, impressions or grooves. In an attempt to characterize the provenance of these various marks, an experimental program was set up to investigate the possible gestures and activities undertaken with these pebbles by Neanderthal populations. Our experiments focused mainly on active (retouchers, hammers, mallets, scratchers) or passive uses (anvils, cutting/scrapping supports). These results are based on more than 60 experiments, during which these pebbles were used to work different material. A brief comparison between the archaeological and experimental material, allows us to consider pebble usage in percussion lancée or percussion posée. This preliminary study therefore provides original data for the functional interpretation of pebbles, and their often-underestimated place in the subsistence activities of Middle Paleolithic populations.
From the Stone to the Man : Creation and application of an experimental use-wear reference corpus on Phtanite
Thesis Chapters by Tanguy Burcet
Université de Bordeaux, 2022
Impacted, incised and striated pebbles which function(s) ? Contribution of functional and
morphom... more Impacted, incised and striated pebbles which function(s) ? Contribution of functional and
morphometric analysis to the study of the Mousterian series of Champ Grand and Grotte Mandrin.
This dissertation questions, through a traceological and morphometric study, the function of soft rock
pebbles bearing remarkable traces (impressions, striations, incisions, polished, depolished) used by the
Neanderthals of Grotte Mandrin and Champ Grand sites. At low magnification, we observed 104
pebbles, mostly of trachyte, which form a lithologically and morphometrically homogeneous
assemblage, presenting a large diversity of traces and combinations of traces. In order to characterise
the mode of formation of these different marks, an experimental programme was set up. Our
experiments mainly concern active (retouchers, hammers, mallets) and passive (anvils, cutting
supports) use on various work materials. The comparison between the experimental and archaeological
corpus and the identification of diagnostic criteria (types of impressions, microstriations, parasitic
striations, locations of stigmata) allows us to propose the use of these pebbles as retouchers, percussion
hammers, cutting supports, abrasers or even tools for working with soft materials in posed percussion.
The preliminary morphometric study of the striae supported the results of the functional analysis in the
identification of precision cutting supports on archaeological pebbles, but did not, however, allow us
to differentiate significantly between the other striae of abrasion and those of more pronounced cutting.
Uploads
Conference Presentations by Tanguy Burcet
Papers by Tanguy Burcet
Thesis Chapters by Tanguy Burcet
morphometric analysis to the study of the Mousterian series of Champ Grand and Grotte Mandrin.
This dissertation questions, through a traceological and morphometric study, the function of soft rock
pebbles bearing remarkable traces (impressions, striations, incisions, polished, depolished) used by the
Neanderthals of Grotte Mandrin and Champ Grand sites. At low magnification, we observed 104
pebbles, mostly of trachyte, which form a lithologically and morphometrically homogeneous
assemblage, presenting a large diversity of traces and combinations of traces. In order to characterise
the mode of formation of these different marks, an experimental programme was set up. Our
experiments mainly concern active (retouchers, hammers, mallets) and passive (anvils, cutting
supports) use on various work materials. The comparison between the experimental and archaeological
corpus and the identification of diagnostic criteria (types of impressions, microstriations, parasitic
striations, locations of stigmata) allows us to propose the use of these pebbles as retouchers, percussion
hammers, cutting supports, abrasers or even tools for working with soft materials in posed percussion.
The preliminary morphometric study of the striae supported the results of the functional analysis in the
identification of precision cutting supports on archaeological pebbles, but did not, however, allow us
to differentiate significantly between the other striae of abrasion and those of more pronounced cutting.