Abstract EN:

The Ramandils Cave is a key archeological site situated on the Mediterranean coast. The importance of this site derives not only from its geographical and chronological position, but also from the density of the artefacts left by Neandertal populations who settled there on several occasions as early as isotopic stage 5. This study concerns 29 997 lithic objects from five stratigraphical units. The industries, mainly in flint, are all small sized (< 30 mm). Although similar typical Mousterian features have been identified throughout the infill, some technological and typological variations (such as an increase in denticulates in units V and I) are discerned within the different stratigraphical units. The small size of the elements composing this assemblage is a singular characteristic which has been taken into consideration in this study. Indeed, the Ramandils Cave lithic assemblage fits within the variability of Middle Paleolithic sites, however differing by a characteristic size reduction in knapping economy, in matrix and resulting products production. How might we interpret this small size characteristic: as a purely cultural factor or as a result of circumstances ? Results show that this micro-production does appear to be predetermined. The characteristics of the lithic assemblage from Ramandils Cave give them a special status in the debate regarding the definition of micro-Mousterian and in the identification of technocomplexes geared towards micro-production. The goal of this study has been to better understand the technological and economical behaviour of Neandertal populations and provides new information to contribute to data already available concerning the variability of Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblages.