Identification of "debitage by fracturation" on reindeer antler: case study of the Badegoulian levels at the Cuzoul de Vers (Lot, France)

International audience"Debitage by fracturation" is defined as the fracturing of a block by knapping in order to produce flakes. Until recently, it was considered that this method played a minor role in the production of osseous tools during the European Upper Paleolithic, and that it was rarely applied to reindeer antler, especially after the introduction of "debitage by extraction" in the Gravettian. However, recent studies show that debitage by fracturation may hold a predominant place in antler working during certain chrono-cultural phases. This could be the case of the Badegoulian, a culture contemporary with the Last Glacial Maximum and dated ca. 23,000-20,500 cal BP in Western Europe. This issue is addressed here through the study of the Badegoulian antler assemblage from the Cuzoul de Vers rockshelter (Lot, France). Our analysis shows that the two components of the antler assemblage (110 finished objects and 648 waste products and blanks) are technologically compatible and complementary, and attest to the production of blanks through debitage by fracturation for the manufacture of wedges and projectile points