A techno-functional analysis of ground stone tools from Late Mesolithic coastal sites in Morbihan (Brittany, France)

Abstract

Ground stone tools are important archaeological pieces of evidence that shed light on the lifestyles of Late Mesolithic human groups that existed along the Atlantic European coast. Therefore, understanding how these tools were produced and used is crucial for assessing the exploitation of the surrounding environments, identifying the activities carried out at these sites, and interpreting their role within the technological systems of prehistoric coastal groups. This article presents a techno-functional analysis of ground stone tools from three Late Mesolithic sites, Beg-er-Vil (Quiberon), Port-Neuf (Hoedic) and Téviec (Saint-Pierre-de-Quiberon), all located on the Morbihan coast (Brittany, France). The aim of this study is to characterise the use of these tools through a combined analysis of their morphology, manufacture, and macroscopic use-wears features, in order to elucidate their role in the exploitation of the surrounding environment. Compared to the ground stone tools found inland, those from the Armorican coast show a greater diversity in terms of the raw materials used and the morphologies of the pebbles selected. The present study demonstrates how tools from these coastal sites would have been employed in a variety of activities, such as food preparation or the crafting of animal materials. The contrast that emerges from an analysis of the diverse activities documented is indicative of a divergence in behavioural patterns, particularly in the context of ground stone tool assemblages. This observation stands in opposition to the results obtained from other areas of analysis, which reveal numerous similarities.