Scraping hide in the early Upper Paleolithic: Insights into the life and function of the Protoaurignacian endscrapers at Fumane Cave

Abstract Endscrapers are specialized tools that usually recovered in great quantities every Upper Paleolithic site Europe. Although they make their first ephemeral appearance the Middle–late Middle transitional technocomplexes, endscrapers commonly appear toolkits from initial and early traditions onwards. Nevertheless, and, general, domestic have attracted relatively little attention debates revolving around significance of technological change, tool function, specialization after end Paleolithic. With aim to overcome this paucity information, here, we present results a techno-functional study performed on large endscraper assemblage late Protoaurignacian layers at Fumane Cave northeastern Italy. We analyzed these artifacts using technological, morpho-metrical, typological, functional approaches. Despite morphological variability, use-wear traces reveal consistency high levels for tools. Almost all recorded developed hide working with transverse motion. Moreover, find no evidence were involved production bone antler during Protoaurignacian. Macroscopic microscopic wear lateral edges point considerable number hafted endscrapers, which implies systematic time investment planning depth. Comparison few industries been highlights marked differences production, morphology, use reinforces our view Aurignacian as complex not directly related preceding European traditions.