Changes in hafting practices during the Middle Stone Age at Ifri n' Ammar. (30th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tomasso, Sonja; Cnuts, Dries; Mikdad, Abdeslam; Rots, Veerle
• Is Part Of: Quaternary international. Volume 555(2020)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 32
• Publication Date: 2020-07-30
• Subjects: Hafting -- Use wear -- Residues -- Northwestern African Middle Stone Age -- Ifri n' Ammar; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2020.03.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-6182

Abstract

Abstract: The present use wear and residue analysis aims at identifying hafting practices during the Middle Stone Age at Ifri n'Ammar to improve insight in assemblage variability through time. Particular attention was devoted to the characteristics of the tanged and non-tanged tools to determine whether these morphological varieties were linked with different prehensile modes. The functional evidence suggests that the process of hafting seemed to be embedded in the technical system, and was not restricted to specific tool morphologies, or tool functions, but concerned a variety of tool types and functions, which is particularly relevant for a better comprehension of the Aterian. Moreover, the detailed analysis of hafting traces identified the integration of animal materials within the process of stone tool hafting as a key factor for changes in stone tool morphologies during the Aterian.