Biography(s) of dated object(s)
Three short educational films, each 2 minutes, showing some of the results obtained by radiocarbon dating on Palaeolithic objects.
The thruster
This film features a reindeer wood thruster hook from the Paleolithic site of Saint-Michel (Arudy, 64). The thruster is a hunting weapon that can project sagaies with more force and precision than a hand-toss. The shape of the thruster hooks changes over time, and radiocarbon dating helps to reconstruct this evolution. The Saint-Michel piece was made about 16,000 years ago.
The barbed points
This film presents two barbed points in cervid wood from the Palaeolithic site of Morin (Pessac-sur-Dordogne, 33). The appearance of these spikes is a technical innovation: the barbed hairs allow the projectile to remain stuck in the prey. Direct radiocarbon dating indicates that one of the spikes was manufactured 15,000 years ago and the other (which has a perforated base and is therefore a real detachable harpoon head) 12,000 years ago.
The saga
This film features a forked tip made of reindeer wood from the Palaeolithic site of Espalungue (Arudy, 64). Peaks of this type are found throughout the North Pyrenees and the northern coast of Spain. The study of the fractures of these points shows that they are hunting weapons, fixed on sagaies by means of a glue and a ligature. Direct radiocarbon dating indicates that this spike was manufactured approximately 16 500 years ago.
Films made by the company Get In Situ through funding from the National Research Agency’s Magdatis.
3D model: X. Muth.
Directed by F. Lacrampe-Cuyaubère.
Screenplay and scientific advice: CNRS (V. Laroulandie, J.-M. Pétillon, M. Langlais).
Objects from the collections of the National Archaeological Museum and the Aquitaine Museum.
Voice: B. Robert.
Music by Mr. Bervoet.
Photos: J.-M. Pétillon, P. Cattelain.
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