When size matters: qualitative and quantitative data on bladelet-making at the Early Ahmarian site of Al-Ansab 1 (Jordan)

Bladelets are suggested as the hallmark of Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) industries (Le Brun-Ricalens, 2005; Le Brun-Ricalens et al., 2009). Bladelet-making is central in defining EUP technocomplexes and the debate is still ongoing (Bon, 2002; Teyssandier et al., 2010). Here, new data on a significant sample of the stratified Early Ahmarian site of Al-Ansab 1 (Jordan) are presented. It is shown that bladelets constitute the majority of the blanks and the goal of the lithic production at the site. They are obtained through unipolar knapping of single platform cores, constraining a central area by means of embedded maintenance blade blanks and flank flakes. Bladelets are defined as the laminar blanks less than 12 mm wide. They are overwhelmingly represented in target products, i.e. straighter and more regular, while blades perform maintenance roles. Bladelet negatives are represented on laminar blanks and cores of all sizes. The presented analysis is part of a PhD project focusing on a comparison between bladelet-makings in different EUP sites along the putative “Eastern Trajectory”.