Evidence for Neanderthal Hand Preferences from the Late Middle Palaeolithic Site of Buhlen, Germany: Insights into Neanderthal Learning Behaviour

Abstract

Bifacially backed knives (“Keilmesser”) are known from different European Middle Palaeolithic contexts. However, this specific tool type is both so characteristic of and so frequent within Central and Eastern European late Middle Palaeolithic bifacial assemblages which are generally classed together as “Micoquian” that they should more appropriately be described by the term “Keilmessergruppen” (KMG). The KMG sites of Central Europe date into late OIS 5 until mid-OIS 3. The present paper summarizes the morphological characteristics of this eponymous tool type, evaluates the evidence for its functional use, and examines the morphological variability of the Keilmesser uncovered at the site of Buhlen, Germany, in terms of their chaînes opératoires of manufacture and their use and re-use until their final discard. The Buhlen finds provide detailed data for the complex and highly standardized Keilmesser manufacture and reduction concept. A certain degree of individual variation of the Buhlen assemblage of lateralized asymmetric tools must, however, be interpreted as evidence for Neanderthal hand preferences. The Buhlen data further contribute to an improved understanding of Neanderthal learning behaviour.