DENTICULATES OF THE EARLY MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGES FROM PAYRE (SOUTH-EASTERN FRANCE)

Denticulate represents a common tool in European Lower and Middle Palaeolithic assemblages. To identify its use, characteristics and origin, which can be anthropic or natural, various methods have been applied. Recent studies of Middle Palaeolithic assemblages rich in denticulates show that these tools are often among the thickest tools. In this paper we describe the importance of thickness of selected blanks for the configuration of denticulates at the site of Payre (MIS 8 to 5), situated in Southeast France, along the Rhône River valley. This site belongs to the early Middle Palaeolithic, and the method used for the manufacture of denticulates follows the same rules as in some collections of the recent Middle Palaeolithic.