Studying non-chert lithic macro-tools from the Upper Palaeolithic: New functional data from an experimental and archaeological use-wear approach to the Solutrean site at Landry, Dordogne (France)

Abstract

This study presents new functional data from a use-wear study of non-chert macro-tools from the Upper Solutrean open-air site at Landry (Dordogne, France). While the Solutrean is known for its refined chert production, non-chert lithic industries have remained largely understudied. At Landry, a rich assemblage of quartzite, dolerite, basalt, and ignimbrite artefacts provided an opportunity to explore their role within the site’s domestic and economic activities. A sample of 63 non-chert tools was analysed using low- and high-power analysis, and supported by an experimental reference collection created specifically for this purpose. Our results reveal a wide range of activities involving both cutting and percussive actions—especially on hard animal and mineral materials—suggesting functional complementarity with the chert toolkit. The study demonstrates the value of integrating non-chert materials into functional analyses, as it shed light on technical choices, task specialization, and spatial organization within the site. This work highlights the relevance of use-wear analysis in understanding lithic economies in the Upper Palaeolithic, including in contexts where non-chert tools played a secondary but significant role.