Quina on the edge. Insights from a Middle Palaeolithic lithic assemblage of Grotta di Fumane, Italy

Résumé En

Neanderthal behavior is a widely explored topic in Western Eurasia and is commonly driven by reference studies on the lithic industries. Amongst the large variability expressed by this class of cultural materials, the Mousterian Quina techno-complex is one of the most intriguing and could represent an ideal case of study especially in regions lacking data. To contribute to shed light to the Quina in central southern Europe, this paper presents the results of a study carried out on the lithic assemblage found at Fumane Cave, Italy, in sub-units BR4 and BR5 chronologically framed in a cold phase of the Upper Pleistocene around 60 ka. The assemblage is almost exclusively composed of cortical and uncortical large scrapers, a few flakes and cores. The flake-making focused either on large flakes with thin transverse edge, or short and thick flakes. Almost all the flakes have a backing opposed to the retouched edge, derived from the lateralized and alternated reduction of orthogonal and secant surfaces, identified in few cores. Scrapers present three or more orders of stepped-scaled (Quina-type) retouch, shaping simple, double, convergent, lateral-transverse (déjeté), transverse or bifacial types. Morpho-tecnical features of some retouched edges reveal that by means of this type of retouch Neanderthals were able to obtain distinct morphologies also along the same edge of the scraper. These edges processed an omogeneous category of materials (from resistant to very resistant) through a limited range of activities. Overall, this assemblage shares many similarities with the Quina reduction methods and techno-functional lay-outs identified in western european Middle Palaeolithic contexts and provides opportunities to compare evidence at the large European scale.