Méthodes et rythmes du débitage laminaire au Châtelperronien : comparaison avec le Protoaurignacien

Several scenarios have been proposed to explain the origin and the development of the Châtelperronian, the last manifestation of Neanderthal populations in western Europe. The technical, cultural, symbolic and genetic links between Châtelperronian and Aurignacian groups, i.e. between the last Neanderthals and the first anatomically modern humans, are at the center of current debates. Recently, the idea of a gradual evolution from the Châtelperronian to the Protoaurignacian has been proposed. Here, a detailed analysis of blade production in three Châtelperronian layers from Quinçay and a comparison with Protoaurignacian blade production demonstrates the differences between these two industries. The methods and the goals of blade production are clearly different. A cultural evolutionary link between the Châtelperronian and Protoaurignacian based on the techniques of blade production cannot be supported.