More than 400 Flint Artifacts Used by Neanderthals to Make Tools Found in Northern France

A recent study on the geological and stratigraphic context of the L’Enclos site, located in Mainvilliers (in northern France, near Chartres), has shed new light on human occupation in the region during the Middle Paleolithic. The research has revealed that the lithic artifacts found at the site were preserved within sedimentary colluvium accumulated over a long period in an ancient valley. This is a significant discovery that helps to better understand the dynamics of settlement and land use by Neanderthal populations west of Chartres.

The excavation has recovered a total of 438 flint artifacts, which were sparsely scattered in the study area. From a technological perspective, the analysis of this lithic industry indicates the coexistence of different knapping techniques. Among them, methods such as diversified Levallois, volumetric blade knapping, flake-core extraction, and possibly a discoidal knapping system have been identified. These techniques fall within the technological variability that characterizes the Middle Paleolithic techno-industrial complexes in the region.

The set of flake tools shows a low degree of standardization, with a prevalence of simple scrapers and the presence of some finished or fragmented bifaces. The association of Levallois knapping with bifaces has provisionally classified this industry as a possible Mousterian with bifaces. However, due to the surface alteration of most of the flint tools, it has not been possible to precisely determine their modes of use. Only two bifaces, one core, and one flake have shown clear indications of use, suggesting specific functions such as fire production in the case of one of the bifaces, and percussion tools in the other cases.

France Neanderthal silex artifacts — Recycled biface as core. The initial side edges are still present; after modeling, the piece was subjected to a unifacial bipolar cut. Credit: C. Mathias / Chartres Métropole

The techno-economic analysis of the lithic assemblage from L’Enclos, compared with an experimental corpus and other recent sites in Coulvreux (Eure-et-Loir) and Radray (Loiret), suggests that the materials have been relocated and selected from a mixed-use site dedicated to both the production and consumption of lithic tools. In this sense, the use of transportable bifacial tools made from an undetermined type of flint has been identified, without ruling out the export of supports produced in situ.

The investigations have also revealed the presence of locally sourced flint blocks, characterized by their irregular morphology and their origin from geological formations situated on the limestone base of the Chartres plateau. This material would have been used by Neanderthals to manufacture tools, demonstrating an efficient use of the lithic resources available in the immediate environment.

The study employed the technique of thermoluminescence on heated flint to estimate the age of Neanderthal occupations at the site. The results place human presence at L’Enclos within a broad chronological range, approximately between 57,940 and 42,820 years before the present. This finding is of great importance, as it provides new evidence of Neanderthal occupation west of Chartres during the late phase of the Middle Paleolithic.

Additionally, the excavation has refined the geological context and the chronological-stratigraphic framework of the site, which dates back approximately 350,000 years. These data contribute to enriching knowledge about landscape evolution and human occupation dynamics in the region, offering a more detailed perspective on the mobility and subsistence strategies of Neanderthal communities in this part of central France.

The discovery in Mainvilliers is part of a series of archaeological investigations aimed at better understanding the distribution and behavior of Neanderthals in Western Europe. The combination of different lithic knapping techniques at a single site, along with the presence of bifaces and percussion tools, indicates a notable technological complexity and an effective adaptation to the local environment.

This study has been conducted under the direction of the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), in collaboration with the Regional Archaeology Service of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of Centre-Val de Loire. The excavation and analysis have been led by a team under the direction of Michel Brenet, with the participation of Delphine Capron and Audren Chapon in sector supervision.