Levallois method

The method Levallois is one of the methods of size of the stones employed during the Préhistoire, especially with the Paléolithique means. It is about a method of Débitage based on a particular preparation of the Nucléus.

History

The Levallois method owes its name with the site of the careers of Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine). She was recognized and described as of the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, in particular by V. Commont. F. Border proposed a definition in 1961 of it, by stressing the importance of the predetermination: the form of the future Levallois glare is determined by the preparation of nucleus.

In 1986, E. Boëda showed that the method described by F. Border was only one of the alternatives of Levallois cutting up, the method with preferential glare. It shows that other methods make it possible to produce several glares at the expense of the surface of the same nucleus: they are the recurring methods. He proposes to gather the whole of the Levallois methods within single “a Levallois concept”.

The Levallois concept

The Levallois concept implies a specific preparation of nucleus: the block is arranged in order to obtain two secant convex surfaces. One is the surface of plans of striking, the other is the surface of cutting up. The latter is arranged in order to have convexities which will determine the form and dimensions of (of) the future (S) glare (S) Levallois. The Levallois glares have a plan of fracturing parallel with the plan of intersection of two surfaces of nucleus.

method Levallois with preferential glare : only one great glare is detached from the surface of nucleus after its preparation;
recurring methods: several successive glares are detached from the surface of nucleus, without it being necessary of the repréparer.

If these successive glares converge towards the center of nucleus, it acts of a centripetal cutting up recurring Levallois .
If these successive glares are parallel and start from the same plan of striking, it acts of a unipolar cutting up recurring Levallois .

If these successive glares are parallel and start from two opposed plans of striking, it acts of a bipolar cutting up recurring Levallois .

Other methods, unipolar convergent or bipolar, make it possible to obtain characteristic glares called ' points Levallois .

Chronology and distribution

Levallois cutting up appears as of the Acheuléen in Africa. In Western Northern Europe, it is attested as of the end of the isotopic Stade 10, in industries of average the Acheuléen type but it especially will spread in Eurasia with the Paléolithique means, during the Moustérien (starting from the isotopic Stade 8).

References

E. Boëda: the Levallois concept: variability of the methods , Monograph of the CRA, CNRS (1994) ISBN 2-222-04772-2
M. - L. Inizan, Mr. Reduron-Ballinger, H. Roche, and J. Tixier: Prehistory of Pierre Cut - T. 4: Technology of the cut stone , Meudon, CREP, (1995) ISBN 2-903516-04-9

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