Bout-coupé
Encyclopedia
Bout-coupé is a term used by archaeologists to describe a type of handaxe that constituted part of the Mousterian
industry
of the Middle Palaeolithic.
The handaxes are bifacially-worked and in the shape of a rounded triangle. They are traditionally diagnostic of Neanderthal
tool working.
In Britain
, examples are found in river gravels from Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3), a cold temperate period in the middle Devensian. There are no signs of human occupation during the warm Ipswichian interglacial, so the bout coupé handaxes indicate a Neanderthal
re-colonisation of Britain around 50,000 years ago. However, they have been found as early as 60-65,000 years ago at the Lynford quarry site in Norfolk (Boismier, 2002: 56).
For more information on the presence and absence of Homo in Britain in the Pleistocene see the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain (AHOB) web site.
Boismier, B, 2002. Lynford Quarry, A Neanderthal butchery site. 'Current Archaeology'. No. 182, Vol. 182 No. 2, November 2002.
Mousterian
Mousterian is a name given by archaeologists to a style of predominantly flint tools associated primarily with Homo neanderthalensis and dating to the Middle Paleolithic, the middle part of the Old Stone Age.-Naming:...
industry
Archaeological industry
An archaeological industry, normally just "industry", is the name given in the study of prehistory to a consistent range of assemblages connected with a single product, such as the Langdale axe industry...
of the Middle Palaeolithic.
The handaxes are bifacially-worked and in the shape of a rounded triangle. They are traditionally diagnostic of Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
tool working.
In Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, examples are found in river gravels from Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3), a cold temperate period in the middle Devensian. There are no signs of human occupation during the warm Ipswichian interglacial, so the bout coupé handaxes indicate a Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
re-colonisation of Britain around 50,000 years ago. However, they have been found as early as 60-65,000 years ago at the Lynford quarry site in Norfolk (Boismier, 2002: 56).
For more information on the presence and absence of Homo in Britain in the Pleistocene see the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain (AHOB) web site.
External links
Boismier, B, 2002. Lynford Quarry, A Neanderthal butchery site. 'Current Archaeology'. No. 182, Vol. 182 No. 2, November 2002.