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Quaternary International xxx (2014) 1e10

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Quaternary International

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The function of recycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic QesemCave, Israel: An overview of the use-wear data

Cristina Lemorini a, *, Flavia Venditti a, Ella Assaf b, Yoni Parush b, Ran Barkai b,Avi Gopher b

a Department of Ancient World Studies, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italyb Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel

a r t i c l e i n f o

Article history:Available online xxx

Keywords:Lower PaleolithicQesem CaveRecyclingLithicsUse-wear analysis

* Corresponding author.E-mail address: cristina.lemorini@uniroma1.it (C. L

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.0321040-6182/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights

Please cite this article in press as: Lemorinoverview of the use-wear data, Quaternary

a b s t r a c t

The study of lithic recycling in Paleolithic cultures throughout the Old World is increasingly becoming atopic of interest for many scholars. Technological analyses, refitting, and spatial analyses are disclosingthe “recycling behavior” of many contexts, especially those of Lower and Middle Paleolithic sites. Stilllacking, however, is a functional approach to the subject, which would certainly add new pieces to thisintriguing jigsaw puzzle.

Use-wear analysis, one of the most powerful methods to reach functional interpretations in lithic finds,can greatly improve our understanding of Paleolithic recycling behavior. Even in those cases where post-depositional alterations affected lithic items, use-wear analyses may produce important data despite thedecrease in detail or less than optimal conditions of preservation.

At the late Lower Paleolithic site of Qesem Cave, the high degree of conservation and preservation ofthe lithic tools maximizes the inference potential of this method. In this article, functional data aresummarized following a study of a large sample of Amudian parent flakes (flakes from which wereproduced cores on flakes, termed COF-FFs) as well as recycled products (blanks produced from COF-FFs).Confirming the inference potential of use-wear analyses, this data allows for the delineation of functionalpeculiarities of the studied items, which, despite first impression, are anything but expedient. Moreover,the current use-wear analysis expands the scenario outlined by the technological study of the lithicrecycling phenomenon at Qesem Cave, confirming its own role in the complex techno-functional systempracticed by the hominins of Qesem Cave.

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

Odell (1996) stated that although the practice of recycling wasas prevalent in the past as in the present, lithic technologists havepaid little attention to the phenomenon, probably because itsidentification in archaeological contexts was problematic. Never-theless, recent developments in technological analyses, some ofwhich are presented in this volume, have greatly enhanced ourunderstanding of recycling practices and methods in variousPaleolithic contexts. A functional perspective complimenting cur-rent knowledge may be achieved through use-wear analysis.Recent examples of use-wear analyses of recycled items, some ofwhich are presented in this volume, show the potential of thismethod when applied in tandem with a thorough technologicalanalysis. To date, in most lithic studies, recycling behavior is

emorini).

reserved.

i, C., et al., The function of reInternational (2014), http://d

observed primarily through the technological analysis. However,the combination of such data with functional aspects, allows re-searchers to see both sides of the same coin, or the same tool in thiscase, offering a closer view and deeper understanding of themeaning of recycling behavior in Paleolithic times.

At the late Lower Paleolithic site of Qesem Cave, recycling wasfirst identified while studying technological aspects of the exca-vated lithic assemblages (see Assaf et al., in this volume; Parushet al., in this volume). Reconstructing the scale and complexity ofrecycling at this site, results indicate that recycling continuouslyplayed a significant role in lithic production strategies among alllithic assemblages of Qesem Cave.

Assaf et al. (in this volume) and Parush et al. (in this volume)clearly demonstrated that recycling was not a minor technolog-ical aspect, but rather an integral part of the system, as were bladeproduction, scraper production, and the Quina technique (Gopheret al., 2005; Lemorini et al., 2006; Barkai et al., 2006; Shimelmitzet al., 2011). Moreover, following these studies, variability

cycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel: Anx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.032

Fig. 1. Map of the site showing the area from which the lithic studied sample originated (grey squares).

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emerged in lithic recycling in both cores (parent flakes, termedcores on flakes or COF-FFs, see definitions below) and their products(blanks produced from these COF-FFs), indicating a well-established array of recycling. These insights and the significantrole of the lithic industries at Qesem Cave coupled with the highdegree of preservation of the excavated lithic artifacts, called foruse-wear analysis to elucidate the full scope of behavior recorded atthe site.

Use-wear analyses, both completed and those that are still inprogress, clearly show that blades at Qesem were employedparticularly in butchery (Lemorini et al., 2006) while Quinascrapers were long-lasting tools, used (with or without a haft), re-sharpened, and re-used, especially in the processing of hide andwood (A. Zupancich and C. Lemorini, work in progress). Experi-ments with replicas of regular double ventral flakes (see definitionbelow) showed the cutting potential of these products of recycling(Barkai et al., 2010) found at Qesem Cave and their efficacy in slicingmeat and cutting tendons with only a few strokes.

In the present study, we focus on a large sample of COF-FFs andtheir recycled blank products, originating from Amudian assem-blages (see definitions below), randomly selected from variousareas of the cave. Having clarified the state of preservation of theseitems and their interpretative potential, the functional analysis

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described herein was aimed at finding out to what extent therecycled items show functional specialization, that is, whetherdifferent types of recycled items show specific functions.

2. Materials and methods

We studied a total of 237 items comprising 103 COF-FFs and 134products of COF-FF recycling (blanks produced from cores onflakes) from Amudian assemblages originating in different areas ofthe cave (Fig. 1). Below is a short introduction to the terminologyand definitions used in this paper regarding lithic recycling atQesem Cave. More detailed account may be found in Assaf et al. (inthis volume) and Parush et al. (in this volume).

2.1. ‘Parent flakes’/cores-on-flakes/flaked flakes (COF-FFs)

A flake from which a smaller flake (or flakes) was removed. .These items were classified according to the face from which theproduct flake(s) was removed, whether from the ventral face [COF-FF (single/multiple) ventral removal], or the dorsal face (COF-FFdorsal removal), or both (COF-FF ventral and dorsal removals),although ventral removals predominate. COF-FFs at Qesem Cavevary in shape and size. Blanks used as COF-FFs were not

cycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel: Anx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.032

Table 1Analyzed items and rate of use-wear.

Categories of recycled items Itemsanalyzed

Items withuse-wear

% of use-wear

COF-FFs 103 15 15%Recycled items 134 59 44%Regular double ventral 59 18 31%Regular lateral double ventral 58 27 47%Double bulb double ventralKombewa

3 3 100%

Double bulb double ventralnon-Kombewa

14 11 78%

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intentionally fashioned in order to be transformed into COF-FFs butrather selected from the wide array of lithic products available on-and off- site (see Parush et al., in this volume).

2.2. Blanks produced from COF-FFs

Hundreds of small flakes and blades were identified as theproducts of recycling processes. These blanks were classified on thebasis of specific and clear characteristics that also distinguish themfrom regular flakes and blades (Parush et al., 2014, this volume).Four distinctive types of blanks produced from COF-FFs have beenidentified:

� Regular double ventral items. Items with two ventral faces thatwere removed from the ventral face of the COF-FF, often smallerthan 3 cm;

� Regular lateral double ventral items. Items with two ventral facesthat removed one of the lateral edges as well as part of theventral face of the parent COF-FF;

� Double bulb double ventral Kombewa items. Items that wereremoved from the ventral face of the parent COF-FF along withthe original bulb of percussion of the COF-FF resulting in twoventral faces and two bulbs of percussion, one on each of thetwo ventral faces;

� Double bulb double ventral non-Kombewa items. Items whichwere removed with part of the lateral edge of the COF-FF as wellas part of its ventral face along with the original bulb of per-cussion, resulting in two bulbs of percussion, one on each of thetwo ventral faces.

Use-wear analysis (see Van Gijn, 1990, 2010; Rots, 2010) was car-ried out using a stereomicroscope in reflected light (Olympus SZ-PTwith objective 1.8�, oculars 10�, magnification zoom 1.8�e11� atthe Tel Aviv University laboratory and SMNikon objective 1�, oculars10�, magnification zoom 0.75�e7.5� at the University of Rome “LaSapienza”) and a metallographic microscope in reflected light (NikonOptiphot with 10�, and 20� objectives and 10�_oculars at the Tel-Aviv University laboratory and Nikon Eclipse with 10�, 20�, and50� objectives and 10� oculars at the University of Rome “La Sapi-enza”). The stereomicroscope was used to observe and interpretmacro use-wear (edge-removals, edge-rounding) while metallo-graphicmicroscopewasused toobserve and interpretmicrouse-wear(micro edge-rounding, polishes, striations). Prior to their examination,the artifactswerewashedwith soap andwarmwater and successivelywashed in de-mineralized water in an ultrasonic tank for 5 min.

Mechanical and chemical alterations deriving from post-depositional processes were detected with both stereomicroscopeand a metallographic microscope. For a description of differenttypes of patina affecting lithic surfaces refer to Van Gin(1990:51e54, 2010:42e46).

3. Results and discussion

A preliminary qualitative observation of the studied sampleindicated that thenewsurfaces exposedafter theirdetachment fromparent items, namely the ventral surface of the blanks producedfrom COF-FFs and the negative of their detachment on the COF-FFsthemselves were mostly well-preserved. A few exceptional casesexhibited a diffused, very light sheen, due to a very moderate soilabrasion, that did not prevent the interpretation of the use-wear.

A preliminary macroscopic, by the naked eyes, and low magnifi-cation microscopic observation indicated that only a small minorityof theCOF-FFs and the blankswhichwere produced from themshowvery strongcoloredpatina or strongwhitepatinaaffecting theirolder(original) surfaces. This seems to suggest that recycling products

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were rarely produced frommore ancient patinated items originatingoutside the site. However, a more detailed, high magnification look(with themetallographicmicroscope at 100�) at the studied sample,indicates that the original surface of many items was affected by amedium-heavy glossy appearance or by a medium white patina.Compared toothernon-recycled categories in theseassemblages, thephenomenon is about 30% more prevalent in recycled items than innon-recycled categories suchasblades (see Lemorini et al., 2006:923,Fig. 1). In other words, recycling was in many cases performed usingitems that show an alteration typical of prolonged exposure in theopen. This suggests that observations by the naked eye or by low-magnification (with a stereomicroscope) are not sufficient and amore detailed (high magnification) look shows many more caseswith an alteration typical of a prolonged exposure in the open. Thisseems to indicate that the Qesem inhabitants collected quite aconsiderable amount of items for recycling (COF-FFs) from outsidethe cave. Itwill be interesting tofindout if theyalso knapped someofthese items prior to their arrival at the site, for example, to establishsuitability before transporting these items to the cave.

Only a few cases (15%) have been observed where COF-FFs wereused after blanks were detached from them in the recycling process(Table 1). This frequency is quite low when compared to the highpercentage of used blanks which were produced from the COF-FFs(Table 1), especially the lateral double ventral items and the doublebulb double ventral non-Kombewa items. The few double bulbdouble ventral Kombewa items that were analyzed all (100%) showuse-wear, however the sample is too small to reach a conclusion.

Among the four main categories of recycled items (products ofrecycling, see above), the quantitative differences between the groupsreflect the picture that has alreadyemerged in technological analyses.In particular, we are referring to the minor representation of thedouble bulb double ventral Kombewa items in the Amudian samples,and in theYabrudian samples (Assaf et al., in this volume; Parushet al.,in this volume for more information), alongside a majority of regulardouble ventral items as well as regular lateral double ventral items.

3.1. COF-FFs (‘parent flakes’)

The new edges produced by the intersection of the negative ofthe recycled item (the blank which was produced from the COF-FF)and the opposite surface of the COF-FF usually show an irregularshape and a thick edge (average angle of 60�) (Fig. 2). In those rarecases where the items were used, use-wear data suggest that theseedges were applied in different tasks (Table 2, Fig. 3). These itemsweremostly used to process materials of medium hardness, such aswood, as well as harder materials, such as bone (Fig. 4). We carriedout various activities with COF-FF replicas (Fig. 5) that confirmedthe archaeological data, although the edges of the COF-FFs may notperform very precise movements regardless of the processed ma-terial (experimental cutting with COF-FFs replicas showing asharper and more regular edge did not permit a high degree ofprecision).

cycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel: Anx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.032

Table 2Interpreted function of COF-FFs.

Worked material Cutting Engraving Scraping Mixed Total

Fleshy tissues 1 1Fleshy tissues and bone 1 1Fleshy tissues and hide 1 1Wood 1 1Soft material 1 2 1 4Soft-medium material 1 1Medium material 5 5Hard material 1 1Total 3 1 9 2 15

Fig. 2. Examples of parent flakes and blades showing use-wear (dotted line) on

Fig. 3. Parent flake QC F15 d 630-635 (1) showing macro- and micro- use-wear (dotted line)edge-removals (cutting motion; scale bar equal to 1 mm), and (3e4) band of rough polish

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The functional picture that emerges from the archaeological andexperimental data, then, seems to suggest that COF-FFs were rarelyused, and only expediently so, for various tasks. The primaryfunction of these items appears to have been limited to their role ascores for the detachment of new, smaller blanks. Their use afterdetachment of the recycled product(s) seems to have beeneminently situational and restricted to those items in which newedges were produced by chance with a regular shape sufficient forthe item to be functional.

the new edges produced after their detachment from the recycled products.

interpreted as the result of butchering activity; in detail, (2) small, diagonally oriented(contact with fleshy tissues).

cycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel: Anx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.032

Fig. 4. Parent flake QC G22 695-700 (1) showing macro- and micro- use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as the result of a mixed motion of cutting combined with scraping fleshytissues off of bone; in detail, (2) big overlapping edge-removals with a mixed orientation, diagonal and perpendicular (cutting and scraping motions; scale bar equal to 0.5 mm), (3)line of rough polish (contact with fleshy tissues), (4) small, smooth and flat spots of polish (contact with bone).

Table 3Interpreted function of regular double ventral items.

Worked material Cutting Scraping Whittling Mixed Total

Fleshy tissues 1 1Fleshy tissues and hide 1 1Hide 1 1Wood 2 1 1 4Soft material 6 1 1 1 9Medium material 1 2 3Hard material 1 1Total 10 6 2 2 20

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3.2. Recycled blanks (blanks produced from COF-FFs)

The blanks which were produced from COF-FFs exhibit adifferent functional perspective and quite an intriguing one. Ingeneral, all recycled blanks that showed use-wear also exhibit verysharp, regularly shaped edges (Fig. 6).

Experiments we performed with replicas of recycled blanks(Fig. 7) surprisingly revealed that these small objects are extremelyuseful. Their edge sharpness is impressively homogeneous rangingbetween 37� and 41� in angle. Combinedwith the straight profile ofthese edges, these items allow for easily performed activities suchas cutting, slicing, and whittling, all of which are necessary whenremoving pieces of material with brief and sharp gestures carriedout with a high degree of precision. Below, we further detail use-wear findings for three of the four blank categories, excluding thegroup of double bulb double ventral Kombewa items due to thesmall sample studied.

Since many of the recycled blanks exhibit low development ofuse-wear, it seems reasonable to suggest that the activities carriedout by these items were rather short yet very accurate in gestureand therefore required an extremely functional morphology of thetools. These “precision task tools” were used by the Qesem Cavehominins for a variety of activities, mainly the processing of softand soft-medium materials.

3.2.1. Regular double ventral itemsRegular double ventral items (Table 3) were used in a variety of

activities, although cutting is the task which was most frequentlyperformed while soft materials were most prominently processed.Some of the regular double ventral items exhibited multiple usesreferring, in some cases, to different functional lives of the blank.For example, Fig. 8 shows a regular double ventral item (Fig. 8.1)with use-wear interpreted as resulting from the scraping of hardmaterial (Fig. 8.2), cutting a material of medium hardness (Fig. 8.3),and edge-removals that relate to the use of the parent COF-FFbefore the detachment of the recycled blank (Fig. 8.4).

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3.2.2. Regular lateral double ventral itemsThe use-wear analysis of the regular lateral double ventral

items suggests that various activities were carried out with theseimplements on many types of materials (Table 4). Nevertheless,the data hitherto obtained based on use-wear analysis mayindicate a functional differentiation between these items anditems of the other two groups of recycled blanks based on threeaspects: First, the occurrence of more prolonged activities thanin the other two categories. This is based on the presence of well-developed use-wear (Fig. 9.2e4) that indicates extended contactbetween the working edge and the worked material; Second, thehigher representation of plant materials (Table 4), in particularsoft wood (Fig. 9.1e2) and herbaceous plants (Fig. 9.3e4); Last,some regular lateral double ventral items display traces ofinsertion into a haft such as the item shown in Fig. 10.1, whichexhibits use-wear of plant processing on its edge (on the dorsalright side, Fig. 10.2) as well as very localized patches of polish(Fig. 10.3) and edge-removals on its proximal and distal ends. Italso exhibits a light rounding of the cortical side opposite of theworking edge. The localization, morphology, and combination ofthese traces suggest that the left part of the item was subject toslight attrition which was probably related to its insertion into ahaft.

cycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel: Anx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.032

Table 4Interpreted function of regular lateral double ventral items.

Worked material Cutting Engraving Scraping Whittling Mixed Indeterminable Total

Fleshy tissues 1 1Herbaceous plants or soft wood 5 5Wood 1 2 3Soft material 5 1 1 3 3 13Soft to medium material 2 1 3Medium material 1 1 1 3Total 12 1 4 1 7 3 28

Fig. 5. Replicas of parent flakes used for e (1, 2) scraping bone and (3e4) scraping wood; the dotted lines represent the used edge.

Fig. 6. Examples of recycled products exhibiting use-wear; note the regular, straight, and extremely thin used edge in profile.

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Fig. 7. Replicas of recycled products used to process e (1) fleshy tissues and (2) wood.

Fig. 8. Regular double ventral QC I13c 570-575 (1) showing macro use-wear on both (2e3) its new edges and (4) the rest of a previous use on the parent flake/blade; in detail, (2)localized overlapping sub-perpendicularly orientated edge-removals (scarping of hard material), (3) diagonally orientated thin yet quite large edge-removals (cutting of medium-hard material), (4) localized edge-removals; all scale bars are equal to 1 mm.

Table 5Interpreted function of double bulb double ventral non-Kombewa items.

Worked material Cutting Scraping Total

Fleshy tissues 2 2Fleshy tissues and bone 2 2Hide 1 1Herbaceous plants 1 1Soft material 3 3Soft-medium material 1 1Medium material 4 2 6Total 14 2 16

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Given that the regular lateral double ventral group featuring thiscombination of plant working and hafting traces comes from alimited area of the cave (Squares G/10, F/10, G/11 and especially F/11), it could be suggested that they represent a functional special-ization reflected in spatial patterning. In such a case, it seems likelythat these tools would have been involved in the processing ofplants for a possible crafting activity in prolongedworking sessions,hence the need of a firm and precise grip of these working tools,especially in light of their relatively small size.

3.2.3. Double bulb double ventral non-Kombewa itemsUse-wear results of double bulb double ventral non-Kombewa

items (Table 5) show the processing of various types of materialsranging from soft and hard animal materials (Fig. 11) to herbaceousplants. The variety of the processed materials shows a strongorientation to activities requiring cutting (Fig. 12), perhaps indi-cating some functional specialization of the double bulb doubleventral non-Kombewa items. Our sample, however, is too small toreach a definitive conclusion on this count which we hope tocorroborate with more use-wear data from additional layers andareas of the cave.

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4. Conclusions

In conclusion, albeit the relatively large sample that wasstudied herein, the results are still preliminary. So far, use-weardata have shown several functional peculiarities of the recycleditems found in the Amudian lithic assemblage of Qesem Cave.This can be regarded as a starting point for a future in-depthresearch on the subject aimed at comparing use-wear results

cycled lithic items at late Lower Paleolithic Qesem Cave, Israel: Anx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.032

Fig. 9. Regular lateral double ventral QC F10b 650-655 (1) showing use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as cutting of soft wood; in detail, (2) well-developed band of polish rangingfrom rough to smooth, mat, with a tight linkage of the topography of the polish; (3) QC F-11a 630-635 showing use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as cutting of herbaceous plants; indetail, (4) line/band of polish rough with a closed linkage of its topography.

Fig. 10. Regular lateral double ventral QC F11b 640-645 (1) with use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as cutting of plants; in detail, (2) well-developed band of polish rough with aclosed linkage of its topography; (3) bright spot of rough polish interpreted as contact with a haft.

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Fig. 11. Double bulb double ventral non-Kombewa QC I-13b 555-560 (1) exhibiting use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as butchering; in detail, (2) very small diagonally orientededge-removals (cutting motion; scale bar equal to 1 mm) and (3) band of rough polish (contact with fleshy tissues) as well as small and localized areas of smooth and flat polish(contact with bone).

Fig. 12. Examples of double bulb double ventral non-Kombewa items with use-wear (1) QC G13d 560-565 exhibiting use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as cutting of soft material,probably fleshy tissues, that is butchering; in detail, (2) diagonally oriented edge-removals (cutting motion) as well as a line of rough polish (contact with soft material); (3) QC H21630-635 showing use-wear (dotted line) interpreted as cutting of soft material; in detail, (4) small, diagonally oriented edge-removals (scale bar equal to 1 mm).

C. Lemorini et al. / Quaternary International xxx (2014) 1e10 9

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on recycled items from the Amudian and the Yabrudina assem-blages in the cave (F. Venditti and C. Lemorini, work in progress).

Recycling techniques applied at Qesem Cave were directed to-wards achieving a highly distinct functional performance relin-quishing the necessity of high investment in the collection of rawmaterial. In this respect, the rawmaterial (parent COF-FFs) seems tohave been often gathered outside the cave as the alterations onboth the COF-FFs and the dorsal surface of the recycled blanks seemto indicate. Detailed analysis of the surface alterations of theselithics seems to confirm that recycling at Qesem was an indepen-dent knapping trajectory designated for the production of the itemsinvolved in activities carried out in loco, i.e., in designated areaswithin the cave.

Moreover, the technological trajectories in which recycleditems were produced were short and thus well-adapted to satisfyimmediate needs. At the same time, the functional characteristicsof the recycled items were extremely specific: highly sharp andregular active edges in all items, and an emphasis on a stan-dardized elongated morphology for all but regular double ventralitems. The technological behavior defined as recycling thus seemsto have allowed the hominins of Qesem Cave to cope with func-tional needs of high specificity and accuracy of the gesture to beperformed.

Use-wear analysis of recycled items as we have shown here hasthe potential of bringing to light a large variety of skilled activitiescarried out on the spot as well as a large variety of functional cir-cumstances in different moments and different parts of the site.The processing of plants carried out in a localized area by use ofsmall, probably hafted, recycled blanks employed as knives is justan example, a small piece in a big functional puzzle revealed by thisstudy at Qesem Cave.

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Acknowledgements

The authors of this article are grateful to the Israel ScienceFoundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation who kindly sup-ported the workshop as well as to MAE (Ministero delgi AffariEsteri) for its financial support of this research.

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