The study of core reduction, or how little raw material was transformed into flakes which could be used for tools, is fundamental to the interpretation of most archaeological lithic assemblages. A distinction can be made in this regard between the "manner" of core reduction, or the mechanics of flake removal, and the "method" of its reduction, which focuses upon the sequence of core preparation and tool blank production. The emphasis in current lithic studies has been upon the former aspect of the core reduction process. Evidence for the method of flaking cores in prehistory has not been as widely or thoughtfully addressed and, consequently, a comprehensive theory and methodology for its study is lacking. This dissertation addresses itself to the problems of reconstructing core reduction sequences from archaeological assemblages of chipped stone. It introduces the theoretical background and associated methodology that is necessary to approach the study of the method of core reduction, without the aid of backfitting or the assumptions involved in replicative studies. This approach is based not only on the cores discarded after reduction but also on an interpretation of those features of the flakes that can inform upon their role and place in the core reduction sequence. The potential of the method is assessed through an analysis of blank production at several Middle Paleolithic sites in Northern Bosnia, Yugoslavia. Of these, the sites of Zobiste and Visoko Brdo form the basis of an interpretation of the core reduction strategies practiced in this area during the early Upper Pleistocene. This strategy is shown to be a result of the varying interaction between the nature of the raw material source, the intent of the knapper, and the principles of the lithic reduction process itself. The new data presented and the perspective achieved from the study of the core reduction sequence will be useful for future studies of the Middle Paleolithic in this area and in the comparison of these industries with other regions of the Old World.

En France, les sociétés des derniers chasseurs-cueilleurs du Mésolithique ont principalement été étudiées par le biais de leurs productions lithiques, et essentiellement de leurs armatures. Le travail des matières osseuses n’a traditionnellement été évoqué que pour en signaler la pauvreté apparente, en réalité surtout fondée sur un déficit d’études. Ce présent travail de recherche a pour but de combler cette lacune de connaissances. Il s’inscrit dans le contexte actuel de diversification des types d’approches et des problématiques portant sur le Mésolithique. Il s’agit de proposer une première caractérisation du travail des matières osseuses, pour tenter d’affiner notre définition de la période, tant d’un point de vue chrono-culturel que d’un point de vue palethnologique.Ce travail de recherche a préalablement nécessité la réalisation d’un inventaire de la documentation archéologique disponible à l’échelle nationale. Il a ensuite été mené à bien par l’étude technique et économique de séries provenant d’une sélection de 21 sites du sud et de l’est de la France, répartis entre les Pyrénées, les Causses, les Alpes et le Jura.Ce travail a mis en évidence le fait que le travail des matières osseuses au Mésolithique a constitué un système fondé sur une exploitation bien différenciée de l’os, du bois de cerf et de la dent. Chacune de ces grandes catégories de matière première a été associée à un ou deux schéma(s) de transformation particulier(s) et aux productions qui en découlent. Il a également mis en évidence une forte homogénéité du travail des matières osseuses, tant d’un point de vue chronologique que géographique. Ces résultats ont permis de révéler des rythmes d’évolution différents entre productions lithiques et productions osseuses, ainsi qu’une individualisation chronologique du travail des matières osseuses au Mésolithique. Quelques apports préliminaires d’ordre palethnologique ont pu être proposés, notamment en terme d’exploitation de leurs milieux naturels par les populations mésolithiques. / In France, the last hunter-gatherers of the Mesolithic have mainly been investigated from the perspective of their lithic industry, and especially, through studies devoted to arrowheads. As a result of the apparent scarcity of osseous remains, the work of osseous materials was believed to be at best a marginal activity. The first contribution of this work is to show that this generally admitted idea is in fact the result of a lack of studies. Consequently, its aim is to fill this gap by proposing a first characterization of the work of osseous materials and to assess to what extent it refines our perception of this period from a chrono-cultural, but also from a palethnological perspective. This work participates to the current diversification of approaches and questionings concerning the Mesolithic period.This research required making an inventory of the available archaeological data at a national level. Then, a technical and economic study of a selection of 21 sites of Southern and Eastern France (Pyrenees, Causses, Alps and Jura) was performed.During the Mesolithic, the work of osseous materials was based on a differential exploitation of each raw material: bone, antler and tooth. Each material was worked following one or two transformation scheme(s). This study also shows that the exploitation and working techniques of osseous materials remained highly unified throughout the considered chronological and geographical frames. These results bring to light, on the one hand, that lithic and osseous productions followed different evolution rhythms and, on the other hand, that the modalities of the work of osseous materials are specific to the Mesolithic. Finally, preliminary palethnological results contribute to a wider issue i.e., the question of the exploitation of their environment by the Mesolithic populations.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2014. / The Middle Stone Age rock shelter site Sibudu contains abundant evidence of pyrotechnology (the controlled use of fire) such as combustion features, ashy layers and lenses and burned bone. I study the use, reuse and discard of fire at Sibudu and the layers Brown/Grey mix and Brown under Yellow Ash 2(i) from the post-Howiesons Poort (post-HP) industry (c. 58 000 years BP) and the layers Pinkish Grey Sand and Pinkish Grey Sand 2 from the Howiesons Poort (HP) techno-tradition (c. 65 000 years BP) are selected for detailed studies. I describe properties of selected combustion features, such as size, form, number of hearth strata, contents (bone, charcoal and stone) and pH values. The post-HP combustion features generally contain a higher proportion of charcoal and are more acidic than the HP combustion features, suggesting post-depositional differences. Twenty actualistic experiments including 39 experimental fires constitute the largest component and contribution of this thesis. The experiments were conducted in two cycles; the first cycle of experiments burned (in different fires) one each of the wood taxa Casuarina equisetifolia, Dichrostachys cinerea, Eucalyptus globulus or Acacia erioloba and the second cycle of experiments burned Dichrostachys cinerea exclusively. Variables such as wood mass, topsoil horizon and number of sequential fires were carefully controlled. The surface and subsurface temperatures of the experimental fires were recorded. The experimental hearths were excavated using similar techniques as those used at Sibudu. Surface temperatures vary greatly even under similar environmental conditions, but subsurface temperatures are more predictable. Five kilograms of wood is sufficient to produce high temperatures for several hours, and slowly adding logs to a fire ensures even temperatures. Sibudu's hearths have a basal black layer with charcoal, but experimental fires do not. Instead they produced 2 – 5 distinct strata, and long-burning fires produced more strata than short-burning ones. Experimental ash dumps lack strata. Areal extent of a hearth is dependent on the wood mass burned, but its depth is dependent on the wood taxon burned. I present spatial analysis of charcoal, bone and knapped stone from the selected Sibudu layers using Kernel density estimation. Higher densities of bone, charcoal and stone are present in the post-HP layers than in the HP. Specialist studies of wood taxa, micromorphology and organic petrology are also included. No specific firewood taxa were preferred, but herbaceous plants were burned at 65 000 years ago, suggesting short fires. This thesis provides a foundation for future research on fire-related behaviour at Sibudu and other Middle Stone Age sites. For example, higher acidity was recorded in the post-HP than in the HP combustion features; this could be caused by different diagenesis and geoarchaeological studies need to be conducted to resolve the issue.. In addition, all the primarily deposited archaeological combustion features in this study were underlain by a basal black layer rich in charcoal, but such layers did not develop in the experimental combustion features and I cannot explain this difference. Thus it is necessary to conduct more studies of the variables affecting the formation and preservation of combustion features. One aspect to study experimentally is the range of attributes controlling surface temperatures of campfires. Amongst the experiments described here, experimental fires burning five kg wood produced maximum surface temperatures in the range of 132 - 848°C, which demonstrates that surface temperatures are unpredictable. The implication is that producing particular temperatures of a fire is not straight-forward and that prehistoric fire users needed planning abilities and a thorough knowledge of pyrotechnology. Both these skills require mental abilities like those of modern people and they also require a sophisticated understanding of environmental conditions.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016. / ABSTRACT Sibudu rock shelter was occupied by hunter gatherer groups of modern humans during the Middle Stone Age between 77 and 38 000 (38 ka) years ago. Sibudu is in the summer rainfall region and is situated about 15 km inland of the eastern coast of South Africa. The site includes technological industries such as Still Bay and Howiesons Poort that are distinguished by specific stone tool types. Woody taxa identified from archaeological charcoal in this site, indicate changes in vegetation and wood use. Archaeological charcoal specimens, specifically from hearths on three putative occupation floors, were analysed for behavioural information about wood selection and use. Two of the stratigraphic layers, BYA2 (i) and SPCA, are approximately 58 ka old and the MOD layer is approximately 49 ka old. All three layers contain tools from the post-Howiesons Poort industry. Identifications of woody taxa were made by means of a comparative charcoal reference collection and the InsideWood database. Charcoal was studied under stereo and reflective light microscopes. Woody taxa identified confirmed that the coldest, driest phase of occupation was at approximately 58 ka. Bushveld woods, including five Acacia types, have been identified in charcoal from MOD layer, ~49 ka. The vegetation mosaic was different from today’s coastal forest and savanna near Sibudu. The availability of natural wood around Sibudu, visible in the type of wood burnt in hearths, has changed since 58 ka and 49 ka for either climatic or anthropogenic reasons or for a combination of these. In all three layers, the wood bundles include tinder, fuel, and a selection of woody plants that today are known to have medicinal bark, leaves and wood. People may have selected wood for burning properties (for example, temperature, light and coal production) and for medicine. Woods suitable for making firesticks for starting fires by means of friction are present. Wood from Spirostachys africana (tambotie) occurs in one hearth in each of the three layers. Since Spirostachys africana is normally avoided in cooking fires as it is poisonous, this suggests that the wood was selected deliberately and burnt for insecticidal smoke or other medicinal purposes. Tarchonanthus parvicapitulatus (syn. T. camphoratus) charcoal occurred in layer SPCA. This adds to the previous evidence of the use of aromatic plants at Sibudu, where sedge bedding was topped with aromatic, insecticidal Cryptocarya woodii (river-quince) leaves (Wadley et al. 2011. Science 334 (6061): 1388-1391). Wood use is different between hearths and surrounding sediments and between occupations dating 58 ka and 49 ka. Keywords: phytomedicine, Sibudu, Spirostachys africana, Acacia, charcoal analysis, wood anatomy / LG2017

Ochre is found at many Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites and its use is often attributed by archaeologists to enhanced mental abilities and symbolism. However, the links between the visible uses of ochre, cognition and symbolism have not been clearly demonstrated. Here it is argued that by understanding ochre processing technology and some of the stages involved in using ochre, one can determine the skill, knowledge and cognitive abilities required to execute those activities. In order to understand the usetraces found on ochre, and to enable the identification of them, as well as the types of ochre used, experiments were first performed with geological ochre specimens. Ochre pieces collected from the Sibudu surrounds were used experimentally for a variety of grinding, scoring and rubbing activities. All use-traces created on the ochre piece during an activity were macro- and microscopically examined, recorded and compared. Experimental ochre pieces ground against a coarse or fine-grained slab develop parallel striations. Grinding results in significant changes to the surface shape of the ochre, and often results in faceted edges. Scoring can be performed with the intention to create powder, or to create a design. The incisions created from scoring often do not reach all the edges of the used surface and they regularly have frayed terminations. A frayed incision termination shows that the incision was created by multiple scoring strokes. When ochre is scored to manufacture powder the incisions that are generated are parallel groups of grooves with erratically oriented grooves as well. Grooves created through both grinding and scoring have microstriations within them and they show a range of profile shapes. The most common use-wear from rubbing ochre on soft materials is smoothing, edge rounding and polish. Microstriations and metallic lustre occasionally form during rubbing. The collection of utilised experimental ochre formed a comparative collection for the examination of the Sibudu ochre. The main body of this research comprises a study of the Middle Stone Age ochre assemblage from Sibudu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sibudu has a large Middle Stone Age ochre assemblage of over 9000 pieces of ochre from layers dating between ~77 ka and ~37.6 ka. All pieces were examined to determine the types of ochre used and to inspect all use-traces present on the pieces. The assemblage comprises 5449 ochre pieces iv >8 mm, including 682 pieces with markings from use. The pre-Still Bay (~77 ka) and Howiesons Poort (~65–62 ka) layers have the highest percentage of utilised pieces. Bright-red ochre was preferentially selected for use throughout most of sequence. There is evidence of the preferential selection of specific types of ochre for use in the Sibudu assemblage. Shale and pieces with medium hardness values are common throughout the sequence. Grain sizes change through time – pieces with clayey grain sizes are favoured during the Still Bay and Howiesons Poort, whereas silty grain sizes are preferred in the younger Middle Stone Age occupations. High frequencies of bright-red amongst the utilised pieces, coupled with high frequencies of yellow or orange pieces with no evidence of use, suggest that colour choices were deliberate and not a product of postdepositional heating. Chemical analysis of a sample of utilised pieces indicates that they all contain iron, silicon, aluminium and calcium; many pieces contain hematite and some contain maghemite. Use-traces were divided into activity categories, based on experimental results. Combined grinding and rubbing is the most frequent activity for which ochre pieces were used. Grinding and rubbing use-wear also occurs independently on many pieces. Scored pieces are rare, but are more frequent in the pre-Still Bay (~77 ka) industry than elsewhere in the sequence. Some of the incisions appear to be deliberate engravings, and parallel lines and fan-like marks are the most often repeated patterns. Use-traces acquired during powder-producing activities predominate, implying a desire to create ochre powder. Powder-producing activities were mainly performed with bright-red pieces, while minimal scoring is mainly present on brown-red pieces. Pieces with mica inclusions are not common, but were frequently used for powder-producing activities. Once the activities performed with ochre were established, thought-and-action sequences, or cognigrams, were constructed. This helped establish the steps involved in each activity and the temporal and physical distance between the commencement of a task to its completion. Inferential sequences were constructed to establish the procedures and knowledge needed to complete an activity, thereby establishing the cognitive prerequisites. Cognitive interpretations are made using the concept of enhanced executive functions of the brain. The construction of the inferential thoughtv and-action sequences showed that the various ways that ochre was used have different cognitive requirements. Powder-production alone is not an indicator of complex cognitive processes, although some planning, foresight and knowledge of materials is required. Some of the powder was used in the creation of hafting adhesives, which is a cognitively demanding process requiring attention-switching ability, response inhibition and abstract thought. Grinding ochre and then rubbing the piece on a soft material for the direct transfer of powder does require some complex mental abilities, such as multi-tasking and switching attention. Scoring a piece of ochre with a sharp tool does not necessitate enhanced executive functions, but some engravings demonstrate foresight, intentionality and an awareness of space and symmetry that may demonstrate abstract thought. This research provides a complete description of the Middle Stone Age ochre assemblage at Sibudu, and establishes the way that ochre was used at the site. This contributes to the debate on the advent of enhanced behaviours in the past by providing insight into the cognitive abilities required by the ochre users. It offers a method of analysing ochre use in the past by drawing on cognitive theory and the visible applications of ochre. Both simple and complex cognitive abilities were required for ochre activities at Sibudu. The requirement for cognitively complex abilities in some of the ochre-related activities at Sibudu suggests that the people living there during the MSA had advanced mental capabilities like modern humans living today. This research shows how ochre use can be employed as a proxy for cognitive capabilities, and can therefore shed light on the evolution of the modern mind.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016. / This study is within the context of the Howiesons Poort Industry of the Middle Stone Age. This is a dynamic period of increasing behavioural and material complexity. In the lithic assembles, this can be seen in a strong bias towards the selection of high-quality fine-grained rocks. This has often been interpreted as evidence for long distance travel, reciprocal exchange, or even increased mobility. This study aims to determine what influence the mechanical properties of rock types exerted on the Middle Stone Age assemblages at Sibudu. This requires a consideration of the distribution of rock types across the landscape surrounding Sibudu Cave. The study was limited to hornfels and dolerite as these rock types dominate the Sibudu assemblage, and quartz and quartzite that were sometimes used at the site are exceedingly difficult to collect in large enough sample sizes to conduct experiments. It was important to carry out tests on the mechanical properties of hornfels and dolerite and to characterise them. Hardness, roughness, elasticity and brittleness dictate the ease of knapping as well as the durability of flaked tools and these rock properties can be measured by the mechanical tests described here. To understand how these properties affect the assemblage in practice, dolerite and hornfels flakes were produced and used experimentally for cutting and scraping leather. The edge damage produced was compared. Finally, preliminary analysis was undertaken of square C4, layer PGS, which forms part of the oldest Howiesons Poort layer at Sibudu. The information and insights gained from the mechanical tests and experimental work were used to interpret the role of mechanical properties for the archaeological sample of PGS. The results show that all rocks used at Sibudu are local, and do not support any models of long distance travel/trade, reciprocal exchange, or models of increased mobility. Dolerite and hornfels form the bulk of the assemblage at all times (except briefly in the post-Howiesons Poort), and there is a bias towards the selection of fine-grained rocks during the Howiesons Poort. Dolerite can be characterised as hard, tough, elastic, and rough, while hornfels is hard, brittle, and fine-grained. These properties affect knapping and the qualities of a tool’s edge. The properties of hornfels allow for knapping accuracy and predictability, and it is better suited to blade production and cutting. However, tool edges are not robust. Dolerite is not as easy to knap, but produces tools with a robust edge that are particularly suited to scraping. Each rock type appears to have fulfilled a different function at Sibudu. Most rock studies geochemically source rocks, establish models of rock procurement or show trends in rock selection for artefact classes. Mechanical studies of rocks have typically formed part of heat treatment debates (Brown et al 2009; Domanski & Webb 1992, 1994; Webb & Domanski 2008). Through the combined approach of mechanical testing, experimental knapping and tool use, and lithic analysis, this research provides a context for possible rock procurement choices at a time in the past when many African sites reveal a changing pattern of rock selection. / LG2017

A Masters Dissertation submitted to the faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand in fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters` degree. Johannesburg 2016. / The Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels (c. 100 – 72 ka) (thousand years) at Blombos Cave, South Africa, contain buried remnants of human existence and their activities (these include ochre-stained shell beads, processed ochre pieces, bone tools, stone tools, and ochre processing toolkits). A preliminary study on the occupation layers at Blombos Cave was done in order to chemically and physically characterise the sediment deposits. The interpretation of the information preserved in these sediments, as a result of human activities, was achieved by using the following characterisation techniques: FT-IR, ICP-OES/MS, CHNS analysis as well as pH and EC measurements. Fluctuations in the bio-essential trace elements (K, P, Mg, Ca, S, Fe, Al, Cr, Na, Cu and C) and in the markers of in situ burning (P, K, C, Ca and Mg) through the MSA levels suggested a non-contiunous anthropogenic occupation of the cave. Further, the dark coloured layers were indicative of periods when heavy human activities, such as fire use, were encoutered. These layers were characterised by high levels of P, K, C, Ca and Mg, also elevated pH and EC levels were observed. The calcite origin for these sediment deposits was confirmed to be pyrogenic. The layers found to contain large bone, ochre and shell densities (with no evidence of fire use) had high levels of Fe, P high Ca and low EC. The calcite origin for these sediment deposits was geogenic. Biogenic calcite was only observed in the more recent CA and CC layers. Substantial amounts of ochre assemblages were recovered from the MSA levels at Blombos Cave. Among these was an ochre processing toolkit recovered from the CP layer (c.100 ka). Ochre is abundant in African archaeological sites after 165 ka and is likely to have played a symbolic role in the lives of prehistoric people. It contains an iron-oxide mineral as well as accessory minerals. When mixed with a binder (such as fat or water) ochre can be used as a pigment. A large number of fragmented bone remains were found in the M1 and M2 levels. It is suggested that the majority of the fragmentation occurred while the bones were in a fresh state; implying marrow extraction by the site occupants. The exploitation of bone marrow was crucial in order to extract the fat and use it as a binder during the pigment production. Some of the broken and marrow-extracted bones were heated and used as fuel during seasons when wood was scarce while the other bones were deliberately engraved for symbolic intent. The characterisation of the ochre processing toolkit was achieved by mineralogical analysis and elemental fingerprinting. FT-IR analysis revealed that the general matrix of the ochre samples comprised of hematite (Fe2O3) or goethite (α-FeO(OH)) as the main chromophores and clay minerals (such as kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4), muscovite [(KF)2(Al2O3)3(SiO2)6(H2O)] and illite [K(Al4Si2O9(OH)3)]), calcite (CaCO3) and quartz (SiO2) as the main accessory minerals. PXRD analysis confirmed Fe2O3, Al2Si2O5 (OH)4, [K(Al4Si2O9(OH)3)] and SiO2 to be the predominant mineral phases in the ochre, implying this specific type of ochre was preferred during the production of the pigment. Fe2O3 contributed the red hue and the aluminosilicates their clayey properties making them good extenders of the pigment. Multivariate statistics and Fe ratios made it possible to identify elements important for differentiating the ochre recovered from the CP layer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA one-way) showed a statistically significant difference between the ochre residues in terms of trace elemental profiling. The variance suggested different geological origins for the ochre. FT-IR was used as a screening technique for any organic residues associated with the toolkit and GC-MS was used to identify the preserved organic residues. These were mostly lipids and terpenes. The identified bio-molecular markers; stearic acid and dehydroabietic acid were exploited to give insight on the origin of the residues. Stearic acid suggested the use of animal fat while dehydroabietic acid implied the use of a resin (potentially as a binder in the pigment). The characterisation investigations revealed that the prehistoric populations at Blombos Cave specifically sourced hematite and aluminosilicate- containing ochre pigments in order to fulfil their social and cultural demands. The MSA site occupants’ chemical understanding of these materials suggested they were technologically advanced. Keywords: Blombos Cave, MSA levels, ochre, mineralogical analysis and elemental fingerprinting. / LG2017

Les microlithes sont retrouvés souvent en grand nombre dans les niveaux archéologiques attribués au Mésolithique. Dès leur découverte durant le dernier quart du XIXe, ils ont attiré toute l’attention des préhistoriens, d’une part, par leurs dimensions réduites et la variabilité de leurs formes dites parfois géométriques et, d’autre part, parce qu’ils étaient les seuls représentants de ce qui pouvait alors passer pour un outillage préhistorique au sein d’un assemblage lithique déconcertant et d’une industrie particulièrement pauvre en outillage osseux. Notre propre travail naît du constat que les classifications traditionnelles des microlithes attribués à la période Mésolithique ne sont pas suffisantes pour caractériser les systèmes techniques dont ils sont issus. Si ces classifications sans lien avec une réalité fonctionnelle précise ont servi à sérier le Mésolithique et à en décrire la variabilité géographique, la variabilité mise en évidence ne permet pas d’expliquer les dynamiques culturelles expliquant cette diversité des faits techniques. Nous avons donc appréhendé le microlithisme comme un équipement, plus précisément une partie d’un équipement vulnérant répondant à un besoin physico-technique fondamental pour les sociétés de chasseurs de l’Holocène, à savoir acquérir leurs ressources carnées. L’observation à la loupe binoculaire de l’ensemble de notre corpus nous a permis d’accéder à une vision très précise des caractéristiques morphologiques des supports et des méthodes de retouche. Celle-ci nous a conduite à proposer de nouveaux critères pour la classification morphotechnique des microlithes. En parallèle, nous avons mis en place une batterie d’expérimentations nous permettant de tester le piétinement, la fabrication et l’utilisation des armatures de projectile de ces objets. Ces tests nous ont permis de créer un modèle fonctionnel interprétatif de la fragmentation et de la dispersion des microlithes selon leur position sur la hampe. Ils nous ont également fourni la possibilité d’évaluer leur efficacité et leur rôle selon leurs caractéristiques morphotechniques. La dernière partie de notre travail est consacrée à un retour sur notre corpus archéologique. La synthèse de nos résultats permet d’établir un pont entre nos résultats expérimentaux et nos observations archéologiques de façon à proposer de nouvelles explications sur le fonctionnement des microlithes mésolithiques. / Microliths are often found in large numbers in archaeological layers attributed to the Mesolithic. Since their discovery in the last quarter of the nineteenth century they have attracted the attention of prehistorians, firstly because of their small size and the variability of their shapes – oftentimes described as geometric – and secondly because they were the only representatives of what appeared to constitute a prehistoric toolkit within a little understood lithic assemblage and a particularly meagre bone tool industry. Our own work originates from the observation that traditional classifications of microliths attributed to the Mesolithic period are not sufficient to characterize the technical systems that produced them. Even though these classifications were unrelated to a specific functional reality, until now they were used to classify the Mesolithic and describe its geographic variability. But they did not allow us to highlight the cultural dynamics explaining the diversity of technical artefacts. We thus approached the microlith as a piece of equipment, specifically a wound-generating tool which fulfilled a fundamental physical-technical need for the Holocene societies of hunters; namely that of acquiring meat. The minute observation of our entire collection of microliths using a stereomicroscope allowed us to acquire a clear understanding of the morphological characteristics of the supports and re-sharpening methods that were used. This led us to propose new criteria for the morpho-technical classification of microliths. In parallel, we have developed a series of experiments specifically designed to test the trampling, the manufacture and the usage of these objects as projectile arms. These tests allowed us to create an interpretive functional model of fragmentation and dispersion of microliths according to their position on throwing shaft. These tests also provided the opportunity of evaluating their effectiveness and their role according to their morpho-technical characteristics. The last part of our work is devoted to a re-analysis of our archaeological collection. The summary of our results allows us to establish a bridge between our experimental results and our archaeological observations to propose some preliminary explanations on the workings of Mesolithic microliths.

(in English): This paper focuses mainly on the problem of the Mesolithic-Neolithic contact in the Iron Gates gorge at the turn of the 7th and 6th millenniums BC. A special emphasis is put on the eponymous site of Lepenski Vir. From a geographic point of view, this area represents a natural border between countries Serbia and Romania. There, in different layers and at different locations, were excavated and explored settlements documenting activities and social contact between the Mesolithic and Neolithic populations, as well as the transition from the Mesolithic way of life to the sedentary Neolithic one. The first part of the paper is devoted to an overview of scientific research, a development of views on the process of Neolitization and all the important aspects of culture. The second part deals with the examination of the first form of contact between Mesolithic and Neolithic populations based on the results of natural and archaeological research with theoretical application of the migration model, from the American anthropologist David W. Anthony.

A number of charred surface residues, adhering to ceramic containers, were obtained from various coastal and inland sites in north-west Europe dating from the sixth to the fourth millennium cal bc. In order to investigate the use of these vessels and in particular to identify any marine products, the residues were subjected to carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Variation in carbon isotope ratios between different samples indicated that some vessels may have been used to process marine products. This analysis was corroborated by specific identification of aquatic products following structural and isotopic characterization of lipids extracted from selected samples.