Experimental Analysis of Splintered Pieces from Upper Paleolithic Assemblages of Central Asia

Abstract

Purpose. The subject of the article are splintered pieces and their variability from the Upper Paleolithic assemblies from Central Asia, which have not yet undergone special study. The authors employed an experimental approach to verify data obtained through the analysis of archaeological splintered pieces and to explore modification patterns of these tools.\nResults. Experiments included splitting various soft organic materials with splintered pieces, including red deer antler, wood, and bone.\nThe experimental use of splintered pieces allowed to draw the following conclusions. The edge characteristic to splintered pieces was shaped by contact with hammers, but not with the soft material to be processed. Double-edged splintered pieces were produced when the tool was rotated and a new stage of use was performed. The morphology of splintered pieces varies depending on the intensity of their use.\nConclusion. In the case of Central Asian splintered pieces (Tien-Shan and Siberia), the authors believe that only tools are being researched, not cores for the following reasons: 1. very small size of most double- edged splintered pieces, not allowing them to be considered as cores; 2. metric parameters of the splintered pieces are stacked in one reduction model, which is not typical for cores; 3. there is one bladelet core in Kulbulak’s assemblage, which was later used as a splintered piece; 4. morphometric characteristics of experimental tools used for processing of soft organic materials (wood, bone, horn) are almost identical to archaeological ones; 5. use-wear analysis demonstrated the use of all archaeological pièces esquillées as tools for processing hard organic materials; 6. there are other types of cores in the assemblages, which allow for the serial production of small blanks corresponding to those used for the manufacture of tools; 7. there is no shortage of raw materials that could explain the need to use such a miniature core.