Changes in raw material selection and use at 400,000 years BP: A Novel, symbolic relationship between humans and their world. Discussing technological, social and cognitive arguments

Approximately 400,000 years BP, novel technological behaviours appeared in the archaeological record, attested by evidence of the exploitation of previously unused resources and the production of new tools. I have reviewed such innovations, and I discuss them in the frame of the anthropological, palaeoneurological, genetic and behavioural changes that appeared in the Middle Pleistocene. I propose that at this chronology humans started to see the resources as ‘other-than-human’ sentient co-dwellers. The technological innovations expressed this novel cognitive complexity and the possible new things–things, human–things and environment–things relationships. Artefacts and technologies acquired multiple semiotic meanings that were strongly interconnected with the functional value. Ethnoarchaeological evidence suggested the possible symbolic acting beyond these innovations in material culture. This perspective has relevant implications in the archaeology of the ancient Palaeolithic. It suggests the need for a new view of material culture, one that goes beyond the classical list approach in the definition of modern symbolic mediated behaviour. Further, it allows one to overcome the traditional juxtaposition between ancient cultures and Homo sapiens in terms of complexity. The evidence discussed in this paper suggests that the ontological hypothesis could change our view of Middle Pleistocene hominids and the origin and definition of modern behaviour, and test the archaeological visibility of cognition in prehistoryThis study has been supported by the project ‘Re-definiendo forma, uso y expression cultural en el Paleolítico medio’, ref.: SI1/PJI/2019-00488, funded by Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de Madri

Risorse litiche e comportamento tecnico dei Neandertaliani: variabilità culturale e adattamento all'ambiente nel Salento. Grotta del Cavallo, strati L-N e Grotta Mario Bernardini, strato D.// Raw materials and Neanderthal technical behaviour: cultural variability and adaptation to the environment in Salento (South Apulia). Grotta del Cavallo, layers L-N and Grotta Bernardini, layer D.

El Salento (SE de Italia) es un territorio rico de evidencias arqueológicas en cueva de Paleolítico medio. Los yacimientos han sido parcialmente explorados en los años 60 y 70 de 1900. Los materiales líticos han sido divulgado examinando solamente los objetos retocados. Esta tesis se centra en el estudio de los niveles mas antiquos de dos yacimientos cercanos: Grotta del Cavallo y Grotta Mario Bernardini. El obietivo es de analizar la variabilidad tecnica segundo un appoche comportamentale para valuar las estrategias economicas y las capacidades tecnicas de estos grupos humanos. Portanto se ha utilizado el principio teórico de l'análisis tecnológica y el empleo de cadenas operativas como herramienta interpretativa para leer un proceso. Igualmente se han abiertas varias líneas de investigación como el estudio geológico para el aprovisionamiento de materias primas o la anàlisis tecno-morfo-funcional de los retocados. En los últimos quince años habían visto detrás de las industrias líticas de Paleolitico medio una grande riqueza desde el punto de vista de las opciónes técnicas y económicas. Esta tesis mostra esta riqueza en los conjuntos líticos de Grotta del Cavallo, presentando un desconocido cambio técnico en la sequencia y contrinuendo a enriquecer el debate sobre la variabilidad de Paleolítico medio.Salento region (SE Italy) is an area rich in archaeological site concerning Middle Palaeolithic. The caves have been explored during 60's and 70's and are published only partially, using a typological approach focused just on retouched tools. My research concerns the analysis of ancient layers of Grotta del Cavallo and Grotta Mario Bernardini. The goal is to analyze the economic strategies and technical abilities of Neanderthal people in this area. For this reason we use the technological analysis of the manufacturing process based on"chaîne opératoire" and we opened different research-line like geological survey for raw materials or the techno-functional analysis of retouched tools. In the last fifteen years we sow behind Middle Palaeolithic lithic industries a big richness in terms of technical and economical options. This research shows this richness in the assemblages from Grotta del Cavallo, presenting an unknown technical variability and a technical change between layer L and the lower layers. The original data that we propose enrich with our knowledge of technical variability during Middle Palaeolithic showing the existence of a structured system built from human being able to integrate different needs and to adjust to available resources

Effets taphonomiques dans les contextes archéologiques: un protocole expérimental analytique pour améliorer la recherche en archéomalacologie

Today, it is clear that the study of malacological remains in archaeology has a great potential to reconstruct techno-economic, social, and territorial patterns in the past. In recent years, pioneering research has set a methodological basis for the study of shells from a behavioural perspective. However, taphonomic bias is still poorly understood. In this paper, we present the results of the first phase of the ArchaeoENHANCE project developed within the International Research Network of Taphen (CNRS). A long-term experimental protocol was designed and implemented to improve the systemic comprehension of the malacological collections in archaeological contexts, especially focusing on taphonomic causes and effects in macro and microscopic analyses. The results of the analysis after eighteen months of Shell burial show an unequal development of alterations among the different taxa selected for the project (Patella, Mytilus, Glycymeris and Callista chione). Among taphonomic alterations, mechanical processes are significant, as is dissolution. Although the experimental protocol is still in its first phase, the results show the need for similar long-term projects. We expect that the extension of the experimental protocol will improve the understanding of the effects of taphonomic modifications on archaeomalacological assemblages, which is of interest for elucidating assemblage formation processes and their interpretation.Il est désormais démontré que l?étude des vestiges malacologiques présente un grand potentiel pour la reconstitution des aspects techno-économiques, sociaux et territoriaux des communautés préhistoriques. Ces dernières années, des recherches pionnières ont posé les bases méthodologiques de l?étude des coquillages pour la compréhension des aspects comportementaux des communautés anciennes. Cependant, les aspects taphonomiques sont encore peu compris. Dans cet article, nous présentons les résultats de la première phase de réalisation du projet ArchaeoENHANCE, développé dans le cadre du Réseau International de Recherche de Taphen (CNRS). Un protocole expérimental a été créé et réalisé dans l?objectif d?améliorer la compréhension systémique des collections malacologiques dans les contextes archéologiques, en se concentrant notamment sur les causes et les effets taphonomiques dans l?analyse macro et microscopique. Les résultats de l?analyse après dixhuit mois d?enfouissement ont montré un développement inégal des altérations parmi les différents taxons sélectionnés pour le projet (Patella, Mytilus, Glycymeris et Callista chione). Parmi les altérations taphonomiques, les processus mécaniques et la dissolution sont les plus fréquemment attestés. Bien que le protocole expérimental soit encore dans sa première phase, les résultats ont montré la nécessité de projets similaires sur le long terme. Nous espérons que le développement du protocole expérimental améliorera la compréhension des effets des modifications taphonomiques sur les assemblages archéomalacologiques, qui est de première importance pour la compréhension des processus de formation des séries et leur interprétation.The publication of this paper is supported by the projects SI1/PJI/2019-00488 funded by Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid & UAM, 54.VP51.64662 (Proyecto Puente-UC 2021) financed by Consejeria de Universidades, Igualdad, Cultura y Delporte del Gobierno de Cantabria, and PID2021-124589NA-I00 financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UE

Combining quantitative approaches to differentiate between backed products from discoidal and Levallois reduction sequences

Backed flakes (core edge flakes and pseudo-Levallois points) represent special products of Middle Paleolithic centripetal flaking strategies. Their peculiarities are due to their roles as both a technological objective and in the management of core convexities to retain its geometric properties during reduction. In Middle Paleolithic contexts, these backed implements are commonly produced during Levallois and discoidal reduction sequences. Backed products from Levallois and discoidal reduction sequences often show common geometric and morphological features that complicate their attribution to one of these methods. This study examines the identification of experimentally produced discoidal and recurrent centripetal Levallois backed products (including all stages of reduction) based on their morphological features. 3D geometric morphometrics are employed to quantify morphological variability among the experimental sample. Dimensionality reduction though principal component analysis is combined with 11 machine learning models for the identification of knapping methods. A supported vector machine with polynomial kernel has been identified as the best model (with a general accuracy of 0.76 and an area under the curve [AUC] of 0.8). This indicates that combining geometric morphometrics, principal component analysis, and machine learning models succeeds in capturing the morphological differences of backed products according to the knapping methodThis research has been supported by the project SI1/PJI/2019-00488 funded by Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid and Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. FR research studies are also supported by the project ID2019-103987GBC33 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovatio

The contribution of 2D and 3D geometric morphometrics to lithic taxonomies: Testing discrete categories of backed flakes from recurrent centripetal core reduction

Paleolithic lithic assemblages are usually dominated by fakes and display a high degree of morphological variability. When analyzing Paleolithic lithic assemblages, it is common to classify fakes into categories based on their morphological and technological features, which are linked to the position of the fake in the reduction sequence and how removals are organized in a given production method. For the analysis of Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblages, two categories of fakes are commonly identifed: core–edge fakes and pseudo-Levallois points. A third type, core–edge fakes with a limited back, is also commonly found in the archaeological literature, providing an alternative category whose defnition does not match the two previous types but shares many of their morphological and technological features. The present study addresses whether these three fakes constitute discrete categories based on their morphological and technological attributes. 2D and 3D geometric morphometrics are employed on an experimental set composed of the three categories of fakes to quantify morphological variation. Machine learning models and principal components biplots are used to test the discreteness of the categories. The results indicate that geometric morphometrics succeed in capturing the morphological and technological features that characterize each type of product. Pseudo-Levallois points have the highest discreteness of the three technological products, and while some degree of mixture exists between core edge fakes and core edge fakes with a limited back, they are also highly distinguishable. We conclude that the three categories are discrete and can be employed in technological lists of products for the analysis of lithic assemblages and that geometric morphometrics is useful for testing for the validity of categories. When testing these technological categories, we stress the need for well-defned and shared lithic analytical units to correctly identify and interpret the technical steps and decisions made by prehistoric knappers and to properly compare similarities and diferences between stone tool assemblages. These are key aspects for current research in which open datasets are becoming more and more common and used to build interpretative techno-cultural models on large geographical scales. Now more than ever, lithic specialists are aware of the need to overcome diferences in taxonomies between diferent school tradition

Plasma and Red Blood Cells Concentration Profiles of Ktamine after Single Intravenous Administration in an Anaesthetic Protocol in Horses

The aim of this study was to describe the concentration profile of ketamine in plasma and red blood cells following an intravenous (IV) bolus in the horse. Ten healthy standardbred horses (two males and height females) 7.7 ± 4.6 (mean value ± SD) years old and weighting 380 ± 21 kg (mean value ± SD) were recruited. The horses were premedicated with acepromazine (0.04 mg·kg-1·IV). Fifteen minutes later they received romifidine (0.08 mg·kg-1·IV), and 5 minutes after they were administered midazolam (0.06 mg·kg-1·IV). Immediately, anaesthesia was induced by ketamine (2.2 mg·kg-1·IV). Venous blood samples were collected at scheduled time points. Plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) concentration of ketamine was assayed using a high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC/UV-DAD). The high mean recovery rates, the high sensitivity, the good linearity, suggest a clinical applicability of the analytical method. A bicompartmental model resulted as the most appropriate to describe the ketamine concentration—time profile for both plasma and RBCs. The fitted regression line between ketamine plasma concentrations and RBC concentrations supports the good correlation between ketamine concentrations in plasma and in RBCs. The kinetic parameters of ketamine calculated for RBC are equal or very similar to the plasma ones. The study confirms the kinetic behaviour of ketamine used in the horse as anaesthetic inducers in routine surgery. Finally, the bicompartmental model well describes the ketamine profile also in RBCs, that it is very close to the plasma profile, underlining the great importance of RBCs as blood subcompartment

Equine Bone Marrow and Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Cytofluorimetric Characterization, In Vitro Differentiation, and Clinical Application

The aim of the present work was to isolate, cultivate, differentiate, and conduct cellular characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from equine adipose tissue (eAT) and bone marrow (eBM). Isolated and characterized cells were used in racehorses suffering from a superficial flexor tendon injury. Equine adipose tissue collection was performed at the base of the horse tail, whereas eBM was aspirated from iliac crest. Mononuclear cell fraction was isolated and cultured. In vitro differentiation and molecular characterization at P3 of culture were performed. No statistically significant differences in the number of cell doublings were found among different culture passages (P > .05). Doubling time was greater for eBM than eAT (3.2 1.5 vs. 1.3 0.7; P < .05). Positive von Kossa and Alizarin Red staining confirmed osteogenesis. Alcian Blue and Oil Red O staining illustrated chondrogenesis and adipogenesis, respectively. Isolated cells resulted positive for CD90, CD44, and CD105, whereas negative for hematopoietic markers, CD14, CD45, and CD34. Using isolated cells for injured tendon therapy, no adverse reactions were observed, and all inoculated horses returned to race competitions. In vitro results revealed the immunophenotypic characterization of isolated cells similar to that observed in human MSCs from the same sources; furthermore, in the present study, their clinical use proves the safety of eBM-derived and eAT-derived MSCs and a successful outcome for the treated animals that returned to their previous level of sport activity