Archaeological and Experimental Data from the Bipolar-on-Anvil Debitage in the Middle Paleolithic Site of Los Aljezares (Aspe, Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

Bipolar debitage has been documented in different chronocultural and geographical contexts. In this paper, we analyze the implications of this type of exploitation in a Middle Paleolithic context where it has rarely been recognized. The observation of the archaeological materials is combined with a geological characterization, which has made it possible to determine the qualities and original morphology of the exploited volumes. These aspects are linked to the type of exploitation carried out. These studies are also combined with experimentation, the results of which show the difficulty of identifying and evaluating this technology in the lithic assemblages.