The Uluzzian and Châtelperronian: No Technological Affinity in a Shared Chronological Framework

The Châtelperronian and Uluzzian techno-complexes are identified in western Europe in the same stratigraphic position, between the late Middle Palaeolithic and other Upper Palaeolithic assemblages. Both industries include retouched artefacts with abrupt retouch and arched backs, and radiometric dating indicates that these two technocomplexes belong to the same window of time. Here, we provide a detailed, qualitative technological comparison of two Châtelperronian and two Uluzzian lithic assemblages based on a collaborative, first-hand examination of these collections. This study results from a one-week workshop designed to bring relevant researchers together to conduct an in-person investigation of these lithic industries. Our analysis highlights significant technological divergences between these industries. In short, the Châtelperronian is a blade industry with a minor bladelet component produced by freehand direct percussion, whereas the Uluzzian is a flake-bladelet industry with massive use of bipolar percussion and a minor component produced by freehand, direct percussion. Our results suggest that there are no, or very little, technological affinities between the Châtelperronian and the Uluzzian — despite occupying the same window of time. As an extension, this suggests that there was little to no relationship/contact between the groups producing these industries during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. The distinctiveness of the Châtelperronian and Uluzzian highlights that technological behaviours in western Europe during the 45–40 ka can be very diverse and that general labels such as ‘transitional industries’ are unsatisfactory in describing this diversity.