On the use of metapodial as tools at Schönningen 13II-4

Abstract

The Schöningen 13II-4 “Spear Horizon” provides an unparalleled view of Middle Pleistocene hominin tech- nological and subsistence behaviours. The site preserves the remains of more than fifty butchered horses in addition to other large mammals, but the associated lithic assemblage is relatively small. As a complement to the lithic tools, Middle Pleistocene hominins at Schöningen used a variety of bone implements related to stone tool manufacture and maintenance. Here we describe a collection of metapodials from the Schö- ningen 13II-4 Spear Horizon interpreted as soft hammers. These bones bear consistent patterns of damage to the proximal and distal ends, indicating their repeated use in heavy percussive activities. We present the results of preliminary experimental studies aimed to better understand how and for what purposes these implements were used, and we conclude that the damage to the Schöningen metapodials is consistent with use in both stone working and bone breaking tasks. Based on the apparent lack of large stone cobbles in the lithic assemblage, the metapodial tools likely replaced hammerstones in the lithic chaîne opératoire and in processing bones for marrow. While it is clear that metacarpals and metatarsals were preferred over other bones for use as soft hammers, there is a relative lack of metapodials among the roughly 15,000 faunal remains in the entire assemblage. This pattern of skeletal part representation indicates that metapodials may have been transported away from the Schöningen 13II-4 site to be used at other locations across the landscape. Together with the well-known spears, these bone implements underscore the importance of non-lithic technologies for Middle Pleistocene hominins