«Another Brick in the wall»: Eco-Techno-Fonctionality of basalt pebbles from the Combe-Grenal Quina Mousterian (lvl 17-26)

Abstract

This study investigates the techno-economic and functional role of basalt pebbles in the Quina Mousterian levels of Combe-Grenal (Dordogne, France). Based on a corpus of hundreds of artefacts recovered from both historical and recent excavations, we combine petroarchaeological, techno-typological, and macroscopic use-wear analyses to reconstruct the past chaînes opératoires and evaluate patterns of selection, transformation, and use. Results show that pebbles were not exploited opportunistically but were carefully selected for their morphology, mechanical properties, and dimensional suitability. They were used in two main ways: as natural percussion and retouch tools, and as cores or blanks subsequently transformed into flakes and retouched implements, some with clear Quina retouch. The recurrence of these behaviours across multiple stratigraphic levels could suggests a stable and deliberate technical tradition. Moreover, the systematic over-representation of basalt, in contrast to other naturally abundant raw materials like quartz, granite or gneiss, indicates a conscious material selection strategy. Use-wear analysis reveals a broad functional spectrum including percussions, retouching, scratching, and cutting, sometimes combined on a single object. These findings support the hypothesis of an integrated and multifunctional role for volcanic pebbles within Neanderthal toolkits, challenging traditional views on the marginality of non-flint materials in Mousterian lithic systems. This study thus contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Neanderthal technological behaviours, particularly regarding raw material economy, selection logic, and the adaptability of lithic strategies within local environmental constraints, revealing known or maybe unknown domestic activities.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, 2026 · DOI ↗