Micoquien
Encyclopedia
The Micoquien is an early middle paleolithic
industry, that is found in the Eem
and in early episode of the Würm glaciation (about 130,000 to 70,000 BCE). The Micoquien is distinguished technologically by the appearance of distinctly asymmetrical biface
s. Its discoverer and namer was the archeologist and art trader Otto Hauser. Hauser then sold a great number of so-called Micoque-wedges that he found in excavations in La Micoque (in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
, Dordogne, France
) to museums and collectors.
The specially formed handaxes from La Micoque exhibited an often a rounded base. The problem with the term Micoquien is that later excavations have revealed an older time placement for the La Micoque axes, which are now dated in the Riss glaciation..
A wider artifact from the Micoquien is the Keilmesser (bifacially worked knife), which has a clearer chronology in Central Europe. From this some archeologists have proposed substituting the term Keilmesser group for Micoquien. .
Micoquien artifacts are distributed across all of East and Central Europe. In Germany they can be found at Balver Höhle
and Lonetal.
Middle Paleolithic
The Middle Paleolithic is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. The term Middle Stone Age is used as an equivalent or a synonym for the Middle Paleolithic in African archeology. The Middle Paleolithic and the Middle Stone Age...
industry, that is found in the Eem
Eem
The Eem is a river in the north of the Utrecht Province in the Netherlands with a length of approximately .The river is fed by the Vallei Canal and a number of Veluwe creeks, the most important of which are the Heiligenberger Beek, the Barneveldse Beek and the Lunterse Beek, all of which come...
and in early episode of the Würm glaciation (about 130,000 to 70,000 BCE). The Micoquien is distinguished technologically by the appearance of distinctly asymmetrical biface
Biface
In archaeology, a biface is a two-sided stone tool and is used as a multi purposes knife, manufactured through a process of lithic reduction, that displays flake scars on both sides. A profile view of the final product tends to exhibit a lenticular shape...
s. Its discoverer and namer was the archeologist and art trader Otto Hauser. Hauser then sold a great number of so-called Micoque-wedges that he found in excavations in La Micoque (in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil
Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil lies in the Périgord Noir area. It is served by the Gare des Eyzies railroad station...
, Dordogne, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) to museums and collectors.
The specially formed handaxes from La Micoque exhibited an often a rounded base. The problem with the term Micoquien is that later excavations have revealed an older time placement for the La Micoque axes, which are now dated in the Riss glaciation..
A wider artifact from the Micoquien is the Keilmesser (bifacially worked knife), which has a clearer chronology in Central Europe. From this some archeologists have proposed substituting the term Keilmesser group for Micoquien. .
Micoquien artifacts are distributed across all of East and Central Europe. In Germany they can be found at Balver Höhle
Balver Höhle
The Balve Cave is the biggest cultural cave in Europe. It is located in Balve, Germany.-History:The Balve Cave was mentioned in the Thidrekssaga. Since 160 years the annual Schützenfest is a part of the culture. In 1985 the Festspiele Balver Höhle were founded with the mystery play Katharina von...
and Lonetal.