Analysis of the osseous points from Potočka zijalka in relation to their stratigraphic and spatial position. Testing the hypothesis of the evolution of Aurignacian solid-based points on the examples of Potočka zijalka and La Ferrassie
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3986/AV.76.17Keywords:
osseous points with a massive base, development, Aurignacien, Potočka zijalka, La FerrassieAbstract
The article deals with the flattening quotient (maximum width / maximum thickness) of osseous points with massive base from the sites of Potočka zijalka, Slovenia (117 points) and La Ferrassie, France (91 points) in connection with the assumption about the evolutionary trends of these points in relative time as represented by the original stratigraphy of the two sites. We assume that the development was aimed at increasing the strength of the points used for spears, javelins and perhaps also arrows. While the tendency of flattening quotient of the deer antler points at La Ferrassie is consistent with the evolutionary hypothesis, this is not quite the case with the osseous points from Potočka zijalka. In La Ferrassie, the use of deer antlers, which was transferred from split-based points to points with a massive base, required a different technical solutions of strength than in Potočka zijalka, where bone replaced antler as the raw material for making points. This allowed for better technical results. For various reasons, in which the raw material played an important role, the development of the points in Potočka zijalka was not as straightforward as in La Ferrassie.
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