Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2025

Towards a Better Understanding of the Use and Function of Solutrean Laurel Leaf points.

Morgane Bonnamy
  • Fonction : Auteur
Geffray Eloane
  • Fonction : Auteur
Miriam Mesa-Saborido
Patrick Schmidt
Jérémie Vosges

Résumé

As an emblematic tool of the Solutrean technocomplex, the laurel leaf point reflects complex chaînes opératoires and significant techno-economic investment. Its production often involves innovative techniques, such as pressure retouch and heat treatment of the rock. Although heat treatment appears to have been applied specifically to laurel leaf points within the French Solutrean context, it represents only a small proportion of these tools found in assemblages from northern Aquitaine. The additional complexity and high failure risk introduced by this technique raise questions about the functional benefits sought through its application. In addition, laurel leaf points show dimensional variability, which, according to the dominant interpretive model, may reflect functional differences (e.g. projectile points, butchery knives, or tools with symbolic significance). Medium-sized examples are generally interpreted as implements used for cutting tasks during carcass processing. However, few studies have objectively measured or quantified these functional attributions (Banks, 2004; Jacquier et al., 2020; Claud and Mesa, 2025). To evaluate the efficiency of medium-sized laurel leaf points in butchery tasks, and to assess whether heat treatment enhances the cutting performance of their edges, an experiment was conducted in 2023 as part of a Seed Funding Project (TRACES, self-funded; coordinated by Bachellerie and Renard) in collaboration with the OccitAnimaux project (Défi Clef Sciences du Passé, coordinated by S. Costamagno). In addition to generating new experimental references for lithic and faunal materials, the experiment yelded new empirical and traceological data regarding the potential advantages of heat treatment in butchery activities. These initial results inspired the creation of the FoliaS project (Défi Clef Sciences du Passé, coordinated by J. Bachellerie), which brings together an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists and materials scientists. One of the key objectives of this project is to carry out further experiments and analyses to characterize and quantify the cutting efficiency of laurel leaf edges, using techniques such as X-ray microtomography, tribological characterization of cutting edges and wear measurement through abrasimetry. Through several research axes, the project aims to generate new archaeological and experimental data on Solutrean lithic tools while also testing innovative analytical methods. We propose to present the first experimental results from this research.

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Dates et versions

hal-05434636 , version 1 (29-12-2025)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-05434636 , version 1

Citer

Julie Bachellerie, Caroline Renard, Morgane Bonnamy, Émilie Claud, Sandrine Costamagno, et al.. Towards a Better Understanding of the Use and Function of Solutrean Laurel Leaf points.. 7th CONEXP: International Congress of Experimental Archaeology, Oct 2025, Liège (Belgique), Belgium. ⟨hal-05434636⟩
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