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1. The performance of tranchet blows at the Late Middle Paleolithic site of Grotte de la Verpillière I (Saône-et-Loire, France).

Author

Frick, Jens Axel, Herkert, Klaus, Hoyer, Christian Thomas, and Floss, Harald

Subjects
PALEOLITHIC Period, RAW materials, GEOLOGICAL time scales, PALEONTOLOGY, SEDIMENTARY basins
Abstract

This paper focuses on the technological characteristics of Keilmesser with a lateral tranchet blow modification on the cutting edge. It examines the underlying technological production of these bifacial objects: this implies the evaluation of their working stage succession, as well as produced forms necessary for the execution of tranchet blow performance. Furthermore, it offers a techno-morphological description of these enigmatic tools. The Keilmesser with tranchet blow and corresponding blanks of tranchet blows from Grotte de la Verpillière I in Germolles (Saône-et-Loire, France) are used as case study. The collection of Keilmesser with tranchet blow and corresponding blanks of tranchet blow has been massively expanded with new fieldwork and the review of ancient assemblages. The majority of the pieces were made on blanks from local raw material. The evaluation of the underlying production concept shows that a Keilmesser with tranchet blow, regardless of the wide range of morphologies and matrix size, always consists of specific parts that are necessary for the production sequence and the assumed function. The production of these pieces follows highly specific working stages, some of which can be interchanged in sequence. However, it is always the goal to obtain a low-angled cutting edge. The performance of a tranchet blow is not only an integral part of production, but it is rather the aim of the entire production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2017
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2. Late middle Miocene caviomorph rodents from Tarapoto, Peruvian Amazonia

Author

Narla Shannay Stutz, Guillaume Billet, Anne H. Walton, Walter Aguirre-Diaz, Laurent Marivaux, Myriam Boivin, Pierre-Olivier Antoine, François Pujos, Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi, Julia V. Tejada-Lara, Rafael M. Varas-Malca, Aldo Benites-Palomino, Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (INECOA), Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (UMR ISEM), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut de recherche pour le développement [IRD] : UR226-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Museo de Historia Natural de Lima (MHN), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich [Zürich] = University of Zurich (UZH), Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie - Paris (CR2P), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales [Mendoza] (CONICET-IANIGLA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires] (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo [Mendoza] (UNCUYO), BioGeoCiencias Lab, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía/CIDIS, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Porto Alegre] (UFRGS), Springfield Technical Community College, The Leakey Foundation,- National Geographic Society,- CoopIntEER CNRS-CONICET (n˚ 252540),- ECOS-SUD/FONCyT (n˚ A-14U01), ANR-10-LABX-0025,CEBA,CEnter of the study of Biodiversity in Amazonia(2010), ANR-17-CE31-0009,GAARAnti,Pont terrestre 'GAARlandia' vs voies de dispersion à travers les Petites Antilles–Couplage entre dynamique de la subduction et processus de l'évolution des espèces dans le domaine des Caraïbes.(2017), University of Zurich, Kriwet, Jürgen, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), École pratique des hautes études (EPHE), and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de recherche pour le développement [IRD] : UR226

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Teeth, Physiology, Fauna, Digestive Physiology, tarsal bone, 10125 Paleontological Institute and Museum, 01 natural sciences, taxonomy, morphology, Peru, Medicine and Health Sciences, Phylogeny, Mammals, Multidisciplinary, biology, Fossils, Amazon rainforest, rodent, Eukaryota, Geology, Miocene Epoch, Plants, Legumes, Biological Evolution, Arms, Geography, 560 Fossils & prehistoric life, Laventan, Vertebrates, Medicine, biostratigraphy, Anatomy, Nomen nudum, [SDU.STU.PG]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology, Research Article, 010506 paleontology, Nuyuyomys chinqaska, Astragalus, Science, Postcrania, Rodentia, Molars, Biostratigraphy, Rodents, 010603 evolutionary biology, Article, animal tissue, mandible, Microscleromys paradoxalis, geographic distribution, Animals, Dentition, Humans, Caviomorpha, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, nonhuman, species diversity, Organisms, caviomorph rodent, Biology and Life Sciences, Geologic Time, 15. Life on land, biology.organism_classification, Archaeology, Middle Miocene, Taxon, Jaw, Neogene Period, Body Limbs, Amniotes, Dentin, fossil animal, Earth Sciences, Cenozoic Era, maxilla, Microscleromys cribriphilus, Digestive System, Head, Zoology, Tooth, paleontology, Ricardomys longidens
Abstract

Miocene deposits of South America have yielded several species-rich assemblages of caviomorph rodents. They are mostly situated at high and mid- latitudes of the continent, except for the exceptional Honda Group of La Venta, Colombia, the faunal composition of which allowed to describe the late middle Miocene Laventan South American Land Mammal Age (SALMA). In this paper, we describe a new caviomorph assemblage from TAR-31 locality, recently discovered near Tarapoto in Peruvian Amazonia (San Martín Department). Based on mammalian biostratigraphy, this single-phased locality is unambiguously considered to fall within the Laventan SALMA. TAR-31 yielded rodent species found in La Venta, such as the octodontoid Ricardomys longidens Walton, 1990 (nom. nud.), the chinchilloids Microscleromys paradoxalis Walton, 1990 (nom. nud.) and M. cribriphilus Walton, 1990 (nom. nud.), or closely-related taxa. Given these strong taxonomic affinities, we further seize the opportunity to review the rodent dental material from La Venta described in the Ph.D. volume of Walton in 1990 but referred to as nomina nuda. Here we validate the recognition of these former taxa and provide their formal description. TAR-31 documents nine distinct rodent species documenting the four extant superfamilies of Caviomorpha, including a new erethizontoid: Nuyuyomys chinqaska gen. et sp. nov. These fossils document the most diverse caviomorph fauna for the middle Miocene interval of Peruvian Amazonia to date. This rodent discovery from Peru extends the geographical ranges of Ricardomys longidens, Microscleromys paradoxalis, and M. cribriphilus, 1,100 km to the south. Only one postcranial element of rodent was unearthed in TAR-31 (astragalus). This tiny tarsal bone most likely documents one of the two species of Microscleromys and its morphology indicates terrestrial generalist adaptations for this minute chinchilloid.

Published
2021

3. Manual Loading Distribution During Carrying Behaviors: Implications for the Evolution of the Hominin Hand.

Author

Key, Alastair J. M.

Subjects
HOMINIDS, HUMAN anatomy, STONE implements, PHALANGES, GRIP strength
Abstract

The human hand is unparalleled amongst primates in its ability to manipulate objects forcefully and dexterously. Previous research has predominantly sought to explain the evolution of these capabilities through an adaptive relationship between more modern human-like anatomical features in the upper limb and increased stone tool production and use proficiency. To date, however, we know little about the influence that other manipulatively demanding behaviors may have had upon the evolution of the human hand. The present study addresses one aspect of this deficiency by examining the recruitment of the distal phalanges during a range of manual transportation (i.e., carrying) events related to hominin behavioral repertoires during the Plio-Pleistocene. Specifically, forces on the volar pad of each digit are recorded during the transportation of stones and wooden branches that vary in weight and size. Results indicate that in most instances, the index and middle fingers are recruited to a significantly greater extent than the other three digits during carrying events. Relative force differences between digits were, however, dependent upon the size and weight of the object transported. Carrying behaviors therefore appear unlikely to have contributed to the evolution of the robust thumb anatomy observed in the human hand. Rather, results suggest that the manual transportation of objects may plausibly have influenced the evolution of the human gripping capabilities and the 3rd metacarpal styloid process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2016
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4. The performance of tranchet blows at the Late Middle Paleolithic site of Grotte de la Verpillière I (Saône-et-Loire, France)

Author

Jens Axel Frick, Klaus Herkert, Christian Thomas Hoyer, and Harald Floss

Subjects
Technology, Science, Raw Materials, Materials Science, Archaeological Excavation, Stone Age, Social Sciences, Hands, Paleoanthropology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Humans, Paleolithic Period, Musculoskeletal System, Petrology, Sedimentary Geology, Limbs (Anatomy), Biology and Life Sciences, Paleontology, Geology, Geologic Time, Lithic Technology, Arms, Archaeology, Anthropology, Physical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Medicine, Sediment, France, Physical Anthropology, Anatomy, Research Article
Abstract

This paper focuses on the technological characteristics of Keilmesser with a lateral tranchet blow modification on the cutting edge. It examines the underlying technological production of these bifacial objects: this implies the evaluation of their working stage succession, as well as produced forms necessary for the execution of tranchet blow performance. Furthermore, it offers a techno-morphological description of these enigmatic tools. The Keilmesser with tranchet blow and corresponding blanks of tranchet blows from Grotte de la Verpillière I in Germolles (Saône-et-Loire, France) are used as case study. The collection of Keilmesser with tranchet blow and corresponding blanks of tranchet blow has been massively expanded with new fieldwork and the review of ancient assemblages. The majority of the pieces were made on blanks from local raw material. The evaluation of the underlying production concept shows that a Keilmesser with tranchet blow, regardless of the wide range of morphologies and matrix size, always consists of specific parts that are necessary for the production sequence and the assumed function. The production of these pieces follows highly specific working stages, some of which can be interchanged in sequence. However, it is always the goal to obtain a low-angled cutting edge. The performance of a tranchet blow is not only an integral part of production, but it is rather the aim of the entire production.

Published
2017