The appearance of new projectile propulsion modes is viewed as an important element for understan... more The appearance of new projectile propulsion modes is viewed as an important element for understanding human behaviour during the Palaeolithic. Because the organic components of hunting weapons (the bow, spear‐thrower and arrow, and spear shaft) are only rarely preserved archaeologically, some effort has been invested in experiments to explore how the projecting modes could be identified through the analysis of stone points. The kinetic energy developed by each mode of propulsion has been considered a key variable in these experiments. However, the data used in these studies generally come from a few ballistic studies, with varied results. We present the results of a systematic study conducted with a ballistic pendulum and combined with a classic ballistic analysis. We quantified and compared the kinetic energy developed by the four standard modes of propulsion known for the Palaeolithic. The kinetic energy values that we attained, especially those measured for thrusting spears, clearly differ from what has been assumed up to now, and thus challenge current models on the evolution of hunting technology.
Fouilles préventives dans le parc et sur les abords du Château Noël à Andenelle : du chantier au ... more Fouilles préventives dans le parc et sur les abords du Château Noël à Andenelle : du chantier au laboratoire, dialogue entre la réalité de terrain et la recherche céramologique, in : C. Piechowski (coord.), La derle - Li dièle. L'habile argile du Condroz. Vingt siècles de céramiques en terres d'Andenne (Les dossiers de l'IPW, 22), Namur, 2017, p. 141-150.
The appearance of new projectile propulsion modes is viewed as an important element for understan... more The appearance of new projectile propulsion modes is viewed as an important element for understanding human behaviour during the Palaeolithic. Because the organic components of hunting weapons (the bow, spear‐thrower and arrow, and spear shaft) are only rarely preserved archaeologically, some effort has been invested in experiments to explore how the projecting modes could be identified through the analysis of stone points. The kinetic energy developed by each mode of propulsion has been considered a key variable in these experiments. However, the data used in these studies generally come from a few ballistic studies, with varied results. We present the results of a systematic study conducted with a ballistic pendulum and combined with a classic ballistic analysis. We quantified and compared the kinetic energy developed by the four standard modes of propulsion known for the Palaeolithic. The kinetic energy values that we attained, especially those measured for thrusting spears, clearly differ from what has been assumed up to now, and thus challenge current models on the evolution of hunting technology.
Fouilles préventives dans le parc et sur les abords du Château Noël à Andenelle : du chantier au ... more Fouilles préventives dans le parc et sur les abords du Château Noël à Andenelle : du chantier au laboratoire, dialogue entre la réalité de terrain et la recherche céramologique, in : C. Piechowski (coord.), La derle - Li dièle. L'habile argile du Condroz. Vingt siècles de céramiques en terres d'Andenne (Les dossiers de l'IPW, 22), Namur, 2017, p. 141-150.
Poster présenté aux JAW 2016 : résultats de l'étude anthropologique des squelettes mis au jour su... more Poster présenté aux JAW 2016 : résultats de l'étude anthropologique des squelettes mis au jour sur le site de l'église Sainte-Aldegonde de Balâtre fouillé par l'équipe d'archéologues de la direction extérieure de Namur du SPW à Jemeppe-sur-Sambre en 2015.
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