Marcel SCHEMMEL

Title

Comparative study of convergent points in Western Europe and South Africa

Summary

While the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) in Europe is associated with the presence of Neanderthals, the Middle Stone Age (MSA) in Southern Africa is generally attributed to Homo sapiens. Although being produced by different human species thousands of kilometres apart, assemblages of both technocomplexes include convergent lithic points. However, the utilization of those points by Palaeolithic foragers is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the goal of this project is to understand the role of the convergent point component in these assemblages and examine in detail how these have been used.

To achieve these research objectives, an in-depth investigation that combines techno-morphological and functional analyses within a comparative perspective will be performed. Differences in tool morphology, raw material and tool function will be addressed in detail, also through dedicated experimental studies. The investigation will include assemblages from three MP sites from France and three MSA sites from South Africa.

The detailed investigation of the convergent point component of these sites will permit to understand whether fundamental differences exist between the MP and MSA assemblages and their respective technologies, including weapon technologies. It will also help to answer the question whether early modern humans and Neanderthals were fundamentally different from this perspective.