Heat Treatment of Chert in the Early Mesolithic at Rottenburg-Siebenlinden (Southwest Germany)

Archaeological research at the open-air site Rottenburg-Siebenlinden in Southwest Germany reveals that heat treatment of chert—a technique previously documented only in cave sites—was more widespread among Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers than believed. By analyzing lithic assemblages from horizon III using gloss contrast criteria and surface roughness measurements, scientists identified evidence of heat treatment applied to a broader range of raw materials during blank production. This finding challenges prior assumptions about material flexibility and technological practices in Central European prehistory, suggesting that heat treatment was a regular and adaptable practice among these early societies.

Huber, H., Tafelmaier, Y., Kind, C.-J., & Schmidt, P. (2023). Heat Treatment of Chert in the Early Mesolithic at Rottenburg-Siebenlinden (Southwest Germany). Lithic Technology, 49(2), 209–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2023.2244779