Typology, technology and use-wear: the necessary integration. An example from the Aurignacian site of San Cassiano (Arezzo, central Italy)

The Athors face the typological, technological and functional study of the Aurignacian industry of San Cassiano, in the municipality of Caprese Michelangelo (Arezzo). The material comes from a surface collection carried out in a rather limited area (approximately 40X50 m), situated to the margins of an ancient lake basin. This lithic complex is characterized for the abundance of elements on flake assimilables to that particular subtype of burin known in literature as Burin des Vachons, to which is currently attributed the function of core for the production of bladelets. With regard to such production, other elements like the carenated end scrapers and prismatic cores play a decidedly subordinate role in San Cassiano. Traceological investigation, integrated with techno-typological analysis, has however layed stress on the complexity of the problem, bringing to light that “Burins des Vachons” were still further used as instruments once exploited as cores. The traces, developed above all on the biseau, indicate the prevailing working of a hard material, carried out through a movement perpendicular to the active margin of the tool in an action similar to that one of planning.