Solutrean

Leaf tips, bay leaf tips, willow leaf tips and cusps

The Solutrean is an archaeological culture of the Upper Palaeolithic, which until 18,000 BC, spread during the last cold maximum of the Weichsel ice age from about 22,000 in Western Europe. The eponymous locality is Solutrense Pouilly, near Mâcon in the department of Saône- et- Loire ( Burgundy, France). The site is below a distinctive rock that consists of a tectonically inclined fossil coral reef and is widely visible as terrain point.

Excavations at Solutré were started shortly after the discovery of the first discoveries in 1866. The first excavations were carried out by the French geologist Henry Testot -Ferry and Adrien arcelin. As a cultural stage of the Paleolithic Solutrean was first used in 1869 by Gabriel de Mortillet.

Chronology and regional distribution

The relatively short time period of the Solutrean follows from approximately 21,000 years BP rather abruptly to the Gravettian, without a slow and continuous transition could be seen.

The earliest datable finds layers and rock art of the Solutrean are in the Ardèche valley and especially in the Périgord (France), its main area of ​​distribution. Moreover, it was in Cantabria (Northern Spain ) and on the Spanish Mediterranean coast (near Valencia) and disseminated in Portugal. Though earlier also further east sites with leaf tips were attributed to the Solutrean, it is now regarded as limited to Western Europe. Only for the Magdalene cave located in the Eifel, a short colonization of Solutréens is discussed.

Under unclear circumstances, the Solutrean to 17,500 years BP as suddenly disappear again as it had appeared, as subsequent culture established the Magdalenian.

Climate and wildlife

Climatically the Solutrean is even in the coldest section ( Würm III) of the Würm glaciation. The Upper and Lower Solutrean were very cold and dry. In the middle Solutrénen ruled by the more moderate and humid conditions of the Laugerie interstadial, in the final Solutrean of the Lascaux interstadial.

The fauna was clearly dominated by reindeer, later, cattle, deer, ibex, wolf, mammoth and the horse joined Solutrense added.

Finds

Typical of the Solutrean are items that have been produced by knocking thinner blades made ​​of flint. Characteristic are the retouched area by means of a new printing technique leaf and cusps, of which a deposit of about 20,000 -year-old leaf tips in Volgu (near Digoin ) was found. The in Chalon -sur -Saône exhibited at the Musée Denon, up to 40 cm large, ultra-thin ( five to six millimeters thick ) peaks are among the most impressive of the entire European Paleolithic stone tools. Of course, many devices from the Aurignacian remained in use, especially scraper. More rarely, there are graver, back blade and drill - also often provided with edge and surface retouching.

In France, leaves a four-division in Lower Solutrean, Middle Solutrean, Upper Solutrean and Solutrean end (French Solutrean final) make reference to the Fund inventory. At some places of discovery only a proto- Solutrean is prefixed. Leittypen the following substages are projectile points:

  • Proto - Solutrean: irregular, only very little retouched blade tips
  • Lower Solutrean: simple, smooth -made Twin Peaks
  • Middle Solutrean: double-sided retouched laurel and willow leaf tips
  • And upper end Solutrean: cusps, that could be easily fitted

Projectile points for spears and More were made ​​of antler or bone.

With the decline of the cultural level of the Solutrean also disappeared for they typical, perfectly crafted blade tips to emerge later in the Neolithic period (arrowheads) and in the Copper Age ( for example, Daggers of dynastic Egypt ) again.

Discoveries and Inventions

The invention of the needles made ​​of bone with eye in the Upper Solutrean facilitated tailoring ( coat ) clothing. Also occur for the first time on Loch rods.

Hearths were found, up to 18 x 9 meters, on which several animals could be fried at the same time. Almost all the bones found have been pitched for the recovery of the bone marrow. In the eponymous Solutré was found on a steep mountainside the bones of more than 100,000 wild horses.

On Fourneau du Diable at Bourdeilles (Dordogne ) is surrounded by a square stone hut.

Works of art

Far away from the entrance cave areas were explored, which manifests itself in rock carvings and reliefs of animals. Also cabaret found: Engraved bone, painted stone tile with figures and earrings, indicate a developed understanding of art. It lacks, however, almost completely full sculptures.

Animal reliefs carved originate from Roc de Sers (Charente) and from Fourneau du Diable. As a fairly rare animal representations act musk ox and wild cats.

Sites

  • Bidon (Cave ) - Ardèche
  • Chabot (Cave ) - Gard
  • Cussac - Dordogne
  • Gorge d' Enfer (Cave ) - Dordogne
  • Cave of Isturitz (Cave ) - Pyrénées- Atlantiques
  • Jeans - Blancs ( Abri ) - Dordogne
  • La Grèze (Cave ) - Dordogne
  • Lascaux - Dordogne
  • Laugerie Haute - Dordogne. Contains the most complete profile of the Solutrean.
  • Laussel - Dordogne
  • La Mouthe - Dordogne
  • Fourneau du Diable ( Abri ) - Dordogne
  • Pataud ( Abri ) - Dordogne
  • Roc de Sers - Charente
  • Solutrense Pouilly - Saône -et -Loire. Type locality.
  • Volgu - Saône -et -Loire
  • Chufín (Cave ) - Santander
  • El Castillo (Cave ) - Cantabria
  • Parpalló (Cave ) - Valencia
Absolute dating Index fossil Louis Laurent Gabriel de Mortillet Before Present Lamella Bâton de commandement
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