Aurignacian Lithic Economy

Preface. 1:Environment, Technology and Mobility. 1.1. Introduction. 1.2. Theoretical Considerations. 1.3. Ethnographic and Archaeological Models. 1.4. Further Theoretical Perspectives. 1.5. The Approach. 1.6. Summary. 2: The Aurignacian: Systematics, Geochronology and Paleoenvironment. 2.1. Introduction. 2.2. The Study Area: The Lower Vézère Valley. 2.3. The Study Sites. 2.4. Geochronology. 2.5. The Aurignacian as a Systematic Concept. 2.6. Paleoenvironment: Sedimentology. 2.7. Large Mammal Fauna. 2.8. Conclusion. 3: Lithic Raw Material Studies in the Périgord. 3.1. Introduction. 3.2. Lithic Raw Material Sources. 3.3. Raw Material Studies: Périgord and Vicinity. 3.4. Raw Materials and Group Mobility. 3.5. Aurignacian Lithic Economy: Expectations. 4: A Study of Lithic Economy. 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. Typology. 4.3. Technology. 4.4. Reduction Intensity. 4.5. Conclusion. 5: Aurignacian Lithic Raw Material Economy. 5.1. Introduction. 5.2. The Study Assemblages. 5.3. Raw Material Economy: General Observations. 5.4. Technology. 5.5. Retouch: Extent and Intensity. 5.6. Summary. 6: Lithic Economy and Aurignacian Mobility Strategies. 6.1. Introduction. 6.2. Materials, Faunal Diversity and Mobility. 6.3. Discussion. 6.4. Lithic Reduction. 6.5. Future Directions.6.6. Conclusion. Index. References.

`...this work has a lot to recommend it. It benefits from clear organization, a generally explicit exposition of approach, data and results, and a cogent synopsis of relevant environmental data. ...Blades' study has provided a useful theoretical framework through which to consider Paleolithic cultural groups, as well as data that can be employed for further testing. This is a welcome addition to the ever-expanding literature in the Western European Upper Paleolithic.' Lithic Technology, 27:I `Works on stone tools are often dry and rather uninspiring in the face of such enormous expectations, but by placing the lithics into a broader ladnscape and ecological context, this work makes a better read than most.' Antiquity, 75:289