Bifaces used for percussion? Experimental approach to percussion marks and functional analysis of the bifaces from Terra Amata (Nice, France)

The structural analysis of the bifaces from the site of Terra Amata shows that, for seven pieces, the working edge is the distal part of the tool. Two bifaces bear use marks on this transversal working edge that can be related to use in handheld percussion. A specific experimental programme was developed to test these observations, consisting of striking different materials (fresh bone, dry wood, and fresh wood) with replicas of archaeological pieces made with the same limestone pebbles as those from the site. These experiments confirm the link between the marks on the transversal biface working edges and percussion activities.