Of horse metapodials debitage during the Upper Magdalenian in Europe: An overview of techniques, methods and operational sequences

This paper aims to point out some common techniques and methods used in the debitage of horse metapodials, from Western to Central Europe during the Upper Magdalenian. Observations suggest that these skeletal elements follow regular operational sequences in spite of the existing distance between regional groups. This survey allows us to draw many lessons from the study of these skeletal elements that are presumed to be of low significance. It identifies two operational sequences of debitage, extraction and bipartition. Descriptions of techniques, procedures, and methods used by Magdalenians are provided in a synthetic way. The variability of productions is also discussed here. Moreover, the technical and subsistence operational sequences have been interlinked for animal exploitation.