Blade and Trapeze Industries of the European Stone Age

J. G. D. Clark

doi:10.1017/S0079497X00016716

Blade and Trapeze Industries of the European Stone Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 May 2014

J. G. D. Clark

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J. G. D. Clark: Affiliation:
Disney Professor of Archaeology, University of Cambridge

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It is the purpose of this article to analyze and discuss the flint industries characterized by the production of trapezes from blades that as a rule were broad and regular, industries which appeared in many parts of the continent during the closing phase of the local mesolithic. After a word on classification (fig. 1) the evidence for the occurrence of these industries will be summarized on a geographical basis (fig. 2). Finally, some discussion will be offered as to their significance, above all in relation to the spread of neolithic culture.

Type: Research Article
Information: Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 24 , December 1958 , pp. 24 - 42

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0079497X00016716 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1958

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^{page 24 note 1} This article has been written without having had access to Barrière's, C.Les Civilisations Tardenoisiennes en Europe Occidentales (Editions Bière, Bordeaux, 1954)Google Scholar.

^{page 24 note 2} Mathiassen, Therkel's distinction (Aarbøger, 1937, pp. 94–5)Google Scholar between narrow and broad trapezes is of marginal relevance, since our main concern here lies with industries based on broad blades, but it is one which will be employed on occasion.

^{page 26 note 1} Schwabedissen, H., Die mittlere Steinzeit im westlichen Norddeutschland, p. 134. Neumünster, 1934Google Scholar.

^{page 26 note 2} For references, see Clark, J. G. D., Prehistoric Europe: the economic basis, p. 36. London, 1952Google Scholar.

^{page 26 note 3} Leisner, G. & Leisner, V., Die Megalithgräber der Iberischen Halbinsel: Der Suden, p. 406. Berlin, 1943Google Scholar. The present author also pleads guilty, see his The Mesolithic Settlement of Northern Europe, fig. 51, Cambridge, 1936Google Scholar.

^{page 28 note 1} Among the most important accounts are: Ribiero, Carles, ‘Les Kioekkenmoeddings de la Vallée du Tage’ C. R. Congr. int. d'Anthr. et d'Arch. préhist. (Lisbon, 1880), pp. 279–90Google Scholar; Oliveira, F. de Paula e, ‘Nouvelles fouilles faites dans les kioekkenmoeddings de la vallée du Tage’, Comm. da Comm. dos Trabalhos Geologicos de Portugal, t.II, Mem.I, pp. 57–81. (Lisbon, 1888–1892)Google Scholar; Correia, A. A. Mendes, ‘Les nouvelles fouilles à Muge (Portugal)’, C. R. Congr. int. d'Anthr. et d'Arch. préhist. (Paris, 1931), pp. 357–72Google Scholar; Breuil, H. and Zbyszewski, G., ‘Revision des industries mésolithiques de Muge et de Magos (Collections du Service Géologique du Portugal)’, Com. dos Serviços Géologicos de Portugal,’ t.XXVIII, pp. 149–96. (Lisbon, 1947)Google Scholar; Roche, Abbé J., ‘L'industrie préhistorique du Cabeço d'Amoreira (Muge). Porto, 1951Google Scholar. I would also like to acknowledge Dr Michael Thompson's kindness in allowing me to consult his Doctoral Thesis (Cambridge) based on first-hand examination of the material preserved form the middens.

^{page 28 note 2} Garcia, L. Pericot y, ‘La cueva de la Cocina (Dos Aguas)’, Arch, de Prehistoria Levantina, 11(1945), pp. 39–71Google Scholar.

^{page 29 note 1} op. cit., p. 29.

^{page 29 note 2} op. cit., p. 191.

^{page 29 note 3} op. cit., p. 156.

^{page 29 note 4} La España Primitiva, pp. 117–18.

^{page 29 note 5} op. cit., pp. 122–31 ff.

^{page 29 note 6} op. cit., pp. 406–9 and figs. 8–11; see also Marquez, C. C. and Leisner, G. & Leisner, V., Antas do Concelho de Reguengos de Monsaraz, pl. iv. (Lisbon, 1951)Google Scholar.

^{page 30 note 1} La España Primitiva, pp. 117–18.

^{page 30 note 2} Caton-Thompson, G., ‘The Aterian Industry: its place and significance in the Palaeolithic World’, J.Roy. Anthr. Inst., LXXVI (1947), pp. 87–130. See pp. 118–19Google Scholar.

^{page 30 note 3} Gobert, E. G. and Vaufrey, R., ‘Deux gisements extrêmes d'Iberomaurusien’, L'Anthropologie, XLII (1932), pp. 449–90Google Scholar; Vaufrey, R., Préhistoire de l'Afrique. T.I. Le Maghreb, p. 289. Paris, 1955Google Scholar.

^{page 30 note 4} op. cit., pp. 412–13.

^{page 30 note 5} ‘The Mesolithic in the South of France: a critical analysis’, PPS, XVIII (1952), pp. 103–20. See p. 119Google Scholar.

^{page 31 note 1} op. cit., fig. 3.

^{page 31 note 2} Brea, L. Bernabò, ‘La Cueva Corruggi en el territorio de Pachimo’, Ampurias, XI, 1–23. (Barcelona, 1949)Google Scholar.

^{page 31 note 3} Milojčič, V., ‘Die erste präkeramische bäuerliche Siedlung der Jungsteinzeit in Europe’, Germania, 34 (1956), pp. 208–10Google Scholar.

^{page 31 note 4} Péquart, M. & Péquart, St. J., Téviec. Station-nécropole mésolithique du Morbihan. Arch. Inst. de pal. hum. Mém. 18. Paris, 1937Google Scholar; Hoêdic. Deuxième station-nécropole du méolithique cotier Armoricain, (Antwerp, 1954)Google Scholar.

^{page 32 note 1} Coulonges, L., Les gisements préhistoriques de Sauveterre-la Lemance. Arch. Inst. de pal. hum. Mém. 14. (Paris, 1937)Google Scholar.

^{page 32 note 2} Lacam, R., Niederlender, A. and Vallois, H. V., Le Gisement Mésolithique du Cuzuol de Gramat, Arch. Inst. de pal. hum. Mém, 21. (Paris, 1944)Google Scholar.

^{page 33 note 1} op. cit., pp. 38–9 et passim.

^{page 33 note 2} Daniel, M. & Daniel, R., ‘Le Tardenoisien classique du Tardenois’, L'Anthropologie, LII (1948), pp. 411–49Google Scholar. See p. 423 and figs. 5, 6 and 8.

^{page 33 note 3} op. cit., p. 24.

^{page 33 note 4} Lequeux, L., Bull. soc. d'anthrop. de Bruxelles, 1923, pp. 27–122Google Scholar.

^{page 33 note 5} The following sites may be quoted: (Aisne) Fère-en-Tardenois and Montbani (M. & R. Daniel, op. cit. 1948); (Oise) Nanteuil-le-Haudouin', , BSPF, xxxv (1938), pp. 319–25Google Scholar; (Seine-et-Oise) ‘Les Rochers’, Auffargis (Giraud, E. and Vignard, E., ‘Un Rendez-vous de Chasse mésolithique “Les Rochers”, Commune d'Auffargis’, BSPF, XLIII (1946), pp. 248–58)CrossRef Google Scholar; Hédouville (Daniel, R., BSPF, XXXI (1934), pp. 240–47)CrossRef Google Scholar; Piscop (Giraud, E., Vaché, C. and Vignard, E., ‘Le Gisement Mésolithique de Piscop’, L'Anthropologie, XLVIII (1938), 1–27)Google Scholar and Sonchamp (Coutier, L., Blanchard, J. and Vignard, E., ‘Les Pointes de Sonchamp’, BSPF, XLII (1945), pp. 130–4)CrossRef Google Scholar.

^{page 33 note 6} Vielle, E., ‘Pointes des fleches typiques de Fère-en-Tardenois’, Congr. intern. d'Anthrop. de Paris, 1889, p. 196Google Scholar.

^{page 34 note 1} M. & R. Daniel, op. cit., 1948.

^{page 34 note 2} M. & R. Daniel, op. cit., 1948, pp. 415 ff. As the Daniels point out, much of the confusion has been caused by the fact that it was flints collected by E. Taté from Coincy in 1885 (now classified as Sauveterrian) that were publicized by A. de Mortillet as ‘Tardenoisian’, whereas the industry found earlier at the eponymous site enjoys priority and has yielded flints which we now recognize as exemplifying the Tardenoisian.

^{page 34 note 3} Louis, M., ‘Les pointes en forme de feuille et à retouches bifaciales de Lommel (province de Limbourg, Belgique)’, Congr. Préhist. de France, XIIe. sess. 1936, pp. 412–19Google Scholar.

^{page 34 note 4} Ophoven, C., ‘Quelques notes sur le Mésolithique dans les provinces de Liège et de Limbourg (Belgique)’, Bull. soc. roy. beige d'Anthr. et de Préhistoire, LVI (1945), pp. 109–33Google Scholar.

^{page 34 note 5} Lequeux, L., Bull. soc. d'Anthrop. de Bruxelles, 1923, pp. 37–122Google Scholar.

^{page 34 note 6} The Sauveterrian affinities of these industries were pointed out for example by Verheyleweghen, J. in his ‘Contribution à l'étude du mésolithique en Belgique’, Bull. soc. roy. belge d'Anthr. et. de Préhistoire, LXIII (1952), pp. 108–14Google Scholar.

^{page 35 note 1} Hamal-Nandrin, J., Servais, J. and Louis, Maria, ‘Nouvelle contribution à l'étude du préhistorique dans la Campine limbourgeoise (Belgique)’, BSPF, XXXII (1935), no. 3Google Scholar.

^{page 35 note 2} Servais, J. and Hamal-Nandrin, J., ‘Contribution à l'étude du préhistorique dans le Campine limbourgeoise’, Ann. Congr. Féd. Arch. et Hist. de Belgique, XXI sess., Liège, 1909, t.II, p. 202Google Scholar.

^{page 35 note 3} Among other stations may be mentioned Exel, Baelen-sur-Nèthe, Calmpthout and Weelde in Belgium and Budel (Butter, J., Les Silex de Budel. Amsterdam, 1931) in HollandGoogle Scholar.

^{page 35 note 4} Among key references are: Gersbach, E., ‘Die steinzeitliche Besiedlung des kreises Säckingen’, Badische Fundberichte 17 Jhg. (1941–1947), pp. 42–74Google Scholar and ‘Das mittelbadische Mesolithikum’, ibid., 19 Jhg. (1951), pp. 15–44; Gumpert, K., Fränkisches Mesolithikum, Mannus Bibl. bd. 40, Leipzig, 1927Google Scholar, and ‘Eine paläolithische und mesolithische Abri-Siedlung bei Ensdorf in der Oberfalz’, Mannus Z., 25 (1933), pp. 176–206Google Scholar; Gumpert, K. ‘Die Tardenoisien-Abrisiedlung “Hohlstein im Klumpertal”, Ldkr. Pegnitz (Fränkische Schweiz)’, Germania, 32 (1954), pp. 249–60Google Scholar; Maier, P., ‘Mesolithikum aus Stuttgart’, Germania, 16 (1932) pp. 186–7Google Scholar; Nuber, A. H., ‘Zur Schichtenfolge des kleingerätigen Mesolithikums in Württemberg und Hohenzollern’, Festschrift für Peter Goessler, pp. 113–31. Stuttgart, 1934Google Scholar; Peters, E., ‘Das Mesolithikum der oberen Donau’, Germania, 18 (1934), p 81–9Google Scholar; Reinerth, H., Das Federseemoor als Siedlungsland des Varzeitmenschen, pp. 50–7. Augsburg, 1929Google Scholar; Stoll, H. ‘Mesolithikum aus dem Ostschwarzwald’, Germania, 16 (1932), pp. 91–7Google Scholar.

^{page 35 note 5} Flükiger, W., ‘Die mittelsteinzeitliche Siedlung Rüteliacher’, JSGU, 1949/1950. 93–107Google Scholar. See also under E. Gersbach (below).

^{page 35 note 6} H. Schwabedissen, op. cit., pp. 216–19.

^{page 36 note 1} Bandi, H. G. and Lüdin, C., ‘Birsmatten-Basishöhle’, Jhb. d. Bernischen Historischen Museums in Bern, XXXIV (1954). pp. 193–200Google Scholar.

^{page 36 note 2} E. Peters, op. cit.

^{page 36 note 3} Vogt, E., ‘Eine mesolithische Harpune aus Schötz (kt. Luzern)’, JSGU, XLII (1932), pp. 155–60Google Scholar.

^{page 36 note 4} Gersbach, E., ‘Ein Harpunenbruchstück aus einer Grube der jüngeren Linearbandkeramik’, Germania, 34 (1956), pp. 266–70Google Scholar.

^{page 36 note 5} Schwabedissen, H., Die mittlere Steinzeit im westlichen Norddeutschland. Neumünster, 1944Google Scholar.

^{page 36 note 6} ibid., pp. 132, 134.

^{page 36 note 7} ibid., pp. 62, 64–5, 93.

^{page 37 note 1} e.g. Bryk, J., Wiad. Arch., IX (1924), p. 56Google Scholar; B. Czapkiewicz, ibid., pp. 106 ff.; Kostrezewski, J., ‘Quelques observations sur le Tardenoisien en Grand Pologne’, XIV Congr. int. d'Anthrop. et d'Arch. Préhist. Paris, 1931, pp. 400–9Google Scholar; Kozlowski, L., ‘L'époque mésolithique en Pologne’, L'Anthropologie, XXXVI (1926), pp. 47–74Google Scholar.

^{page 37 note 2} Rothert, L., ‘Neue Fundplätze des Swiderio-Tardenoisien in Ostdeutschland’, Mannus Z. 26 (1934), pp. 220–36Google Scholar; Zotz, L., ‘Das Tardenoisien in Niederschlesien’, Altschlesien, III (1931), pp. 131 ffGoogle Scholar.

^{page 37 note 3} Thus the rich industries from dune sites at Slochy Annapolskie and SJochy Ogrodniki on the right bank of the Bug, some 65 km. below Brest-Litowsk showed no trace of Swiderian forms. Szmit, Z., Wiad. Arch., x (1929), p. 36Google Scholar.

^{page 37 note 4} J. Kostrezewski, op. cit., 1931, p. 407.

^{page 37 note 5} The Prehistory of Eastern Europe. Part 1. Mesolithic, Neolithic and Copper Age Cultures in Russia and the Baltic Area. American School of Prehistoric Research, Bull. 20. Peabody Museum, Harvard Univ., Cambridge, Mass., 1956Google Scholar.

^{page 39 note 1} Prof. Hl. de Vries of Groningen has obtained readings of around 6000 years B.P. for sites at Wetereglen near Magdeburg, at Wittislingen in South-west Germany and again at Sittard in Dutch Limbourg (Ber. v. d. Rijksd. v. h. Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek, VI (1955), p. 15)Google Scholar.

^{page 40 note 1} This point has been well made by Mazálek, M., ‘Zur Frage der beziehungen zwischen Mesolithikum und Neolithikum’, Anthropozoikum, III (1953),, pp. 224–34. PragueGoogle Scholar.

^{page 40 note 2} Hamal-Nandrin, J., Servais, J. and Louis, Maria, ‘L'Omalien’, Bull. soc. roy. beige d'Anthrop., et de préhist. L (1936)Google Scholar.

^{page 40 note 3} ‘Quelques cas de fractures de lames en silex avec préparation d'encoches dans l'Omalien’, Bull. soc. préh.française, LIV (1957), pp. 464–6Google Scholar.

^{page 40 note 4} J. Hamal-Nandrin et al., op. cit., figs. 20–30.

^{page 40 note 5} Buttler, W. and Haberey, W., Die Bandkeramische Ansiedlung bei Köln-Lindenthal, pp. 131–3. Berlin, 1936Google Scholar.

^{page 40 note 6} Gersbach, E., Germania, 34 (1956), pp. 266–70Google Scholar.

^{page 40 note 7} Schwantes, G., Die Vorgeschichte Schleswig-Holsteins, vol. 1, p. 77, fig. 74. Neumünster, 1939Google Scholar.

^{page 40 note 8} Rust, A., Die alt- und mittelsteinzeitlichen funde von Stellmoor, taf. 47Google Scholar, nos. 1–7 and taf. 48 top right. Neumünster, 1943.

^{page 40 note 9} op. cit., 1944, pp. 174–5.

^{page 40 note 10} ibid., pp. 177–8.

^{page 41 note 1} Clark, J. G. D., The Mesolithıc Settlement of Northern Europe, pp. 144–5Google Scholar and figs. 50, 52. Cambridge, 1936.

^{page 41 note 2} Becker, C. J., ‘En Stenalderboplads paa Ordrup Naes i Nordvestsjaelland’, Aarbøger, 1939, pp. 199–280Google Scholar. See esp. pp. 245–8, figs. 13–15.

^{page 41 note 3} Mathiassen, T., Dyrholmen, En Stenalderboplads paa Djursland, p. 62. Copenhagen, 1942Google Scholar.

^{page 42 note 1} Vedbaek, C. L., ‘New finds of Mesolithic ornamented bone and antler artefacts in Denmark’, Acta Archaeologica, IX (1939), pp. 205–23Google Scholar.

^{page 42 note 2} Jørgensen, Svend, ‘Kongemosen, Endnu en Aamose-Boplads fra Aeldre Stenalder’, Kuml, 1956, pp. 23–40Google Scholar.

^{page 42 note 3} Thus Rust records, op. cit., 1939, p. 166, that the micro-burin occurred on the settlement, though no specimens were recovered from the stratified deposits in the lake basin.

^{page 42 note 4} Freundt, E. A., ‘Komsa-Fosna-Sandarna. Problems of the Scandinavian Mesolithicum’, Acta Archaeologica, XIX (1948), pp. 1–68Google Scholar. See esp. pp. 44, 67–8.

^{page 42 note 5} Compare Svend Jørgensen, op. cit., 1956, fig. 9 with A. Rust, op. cit., 1939, taf. 103.

^{page 42 note 6} Compare the example from Kongemosen (Jørgensen, fig. 8, nos. 3–4) with that from Stellmoor (Rust. taf. 84).

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Blade and Trapeze Industries of the European Stone Age

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