★ The
Middle Palaeolithic or the "Age of the
Neanderthals", is characterised by the occurrence of several
Middle Palaeolithic cultures. One of the "lithic" or "stone" cultures is called "'Quina Mousterian'"
Discussion
★ Quina Mousterian lithic assemblages in Southern
France mostly date to the Early
Weichselian (70,000-60,000BP), while Quina Mousterian lithic assemblages in
Belgium mostly date to the first half of the Middle
Weichselian (60,000-45,000).
★ Quina Mousterian is usually dominated by transverse scrapers and typically has a
Levallois index of less than 10%.
★ Quina Mousterian lithic assemblages are usually found in caves. Very few Quina assemblages have been found outside cave and rock shelters. However, an important lithic assemblage, which was characterised by the presence of Quina tools and
Levallois core reduction has recently been excavated at the Middle Palaeolithic valley settlements at
Veldwezelt-Hezerwater in
Belgium. The researchers who have excavated the Quina assemblage at the so-called "WFL site" at
Veldwezelt-Hezerwater prefer to call the WFL lithic assemblage: "Levallois core reduction with Quina tools".
External links
★ The Middle Palaeolithic sites at
Veldwezelt-Hezerwater