Back to the lithics: technological comparison of early Upper Palaeolithic assemblages from Al-Ansab/ Jordan, Româneşti-Dumbrăviţa/ Romania and Fumane/ Italy database

The dissertation addresses the technological variability in the European and Levantine early Upper Palaeolithic (eUP). The eUP is often linked to the major dispersal event of H. sapiens into Europe and the final affirmation of our species into the Eurasian continent over the 43–38 ka cal BP timespan. The main feature is the introduction of bladelets, elongated items less than 12 mm wide, whose production processes are the hallmark for technocomplexes. The principal difference is the disassociation of blades and bladelets productions, like in the Early Aurignacian and the Northern Ahmarian, or the use of a single core for both products, like in the Protoaurignacian and the Southern Ahmarian. The interpretations of the different technical behaviours are an internal evolution over time, climatic and environmental adaptations or changed mobility strategies. New results downsized the technological differences between the Protoaurignacian and the Early Aurignacian, while the Southern Ahmarian affinity with the Protoaurignacian is still unclear. The analysis brings together three in situ, abundant, early Upper Palaeolithic assemblages, attributed to different technocomplexes: Al-Ansab 1, Românești-Dumbrăvița I GH3 and Grotta di Fumane A1-A2. The aim is to define the technological role of the bladelets and assess variation or similarity between the assemblages. They have been analysed through chaîne opératoire approach corroborated by morpho-technological attributes of laminar blanks. The results point to a generalised production of bladelets. When the production is intercalated between blades and bladelets, the latter are predominantly showing characteristics linked to a primary goal of the knapping. They are using convexities installed by blades or flakes, and they have a much more regular morphology than blades. The results advocate for the rejection of the current taxonomical framework, as of the present technological criteria, and may imply a more complex dynamic of dispersal.

本论文聚焦欧洲与黎凡特地区早旧石器时代晚期（early Upper Palaeolithic，下文简称eUP）的技术多样性。eUP通常与智人（Homo sapiens）向欧洲的大规模迁徙事件相关，也对应了距今43000至38000年校正年代（ka cal BP）期间，智人最终在欧亚大陆站稳脚跟的过程。

该阶段的核心特征是细石叶（bladelet）的出现：这类宽度不足12毫米的细长石器，其制作工艺是各类技术复合体（technocomplex）的标志性特征。二者核心差异在于：奥瑞纳早期与北方阿赫马里安文化中，石叶（blade）与细石叶的制作流程相互分离；而原奥瑞纳文化与南方阿赫马里安文化中，则采用同一石核同时生产两类石器。

针对这类不同技术行为的解读，主要分为三类：随时间推移的内部演化、对气候与环境的适应性调整，或是迁徙策略的转变。最新研究结果缩小了原奥瑞纳文化与奥瑞纳早期之间的技术差异，但南方阿赫马里安文化与原奥瑞纳文化的亲缘关系仍不明朗。

本研究分析了三处出自原生层位、遗存丰富的早旧石器时代晚期石器组合，分别归属于不同的技术复合体：Al-Ansab 1、Românești-Dumbrăvița I GH3以及Grotta di Fumane A1-A2。本研究旨在明确细石叶的技术功能，并评估各石器组合之间的差异与相似性。

研究采用操作链分析法（chaîne opératoire），并结合石片坯料的形态技术特征进行佐证分析。结果显示，细石叶的生产具有普遍性。当生产流程穿插于石叶与细石叶制作之间时，细石叶大多呈现出契合打制核心目标的特征：细石叶多利用石叶或石片形成的凸面作为打制依托，且其形态规整性远优于石叶。

本研究结果支持摒弃当前基于技术标准的分类体系，这或许意味着智人迁徙的动态过程比此前认知更为复杂。