Unravelling the burin-core dichotomy: Historiographic and technological data to develop a new analytical framework for the study of on-edge artefacts

Burins are flexible tools that have been analysed from different perspectives, showing a wide range of technical diversity. The interpretation of this morphotype has oscillated between two dichotomies: form-function and core-tool. In this paper, we analyse the historiographical trajectory of the burin from a typological, technological, and functional perspective to develop a methodological and analytical framework for the study of this morphotype. Likewise, this work aims to propose technical attributes for the study of burins and burin-cores in order to broaden our knowledge about on-edge core reduction strategies. To this end, we have combined historiographical research on burins and burin-cores together with a general overview of the technical attributes of these artefacts in the units 6P and 7P from Cova Gran de Santa Linya. The analysis of the refits and technical attributes on the lithic assemblage show different degrees of complexity in the configuration and reduction of burin-like artefacts. Simple burins are configured on a fracture, a plane or a previous removal and do not usually record notches or lateral retouch. On the other hand, we recovered more complex artefacts that belong to the technical sphere of cores. Qualitative and quantitative data allowed understanding the technical actions involved in the reduction of the lateral edges of the flakes by 1) identifying core management actions through retouching (shaping); 2) understanding the actions for the opening of the knapping surfaces (burin facets) from the edge, 3) exploring the technical actions involved in the lateral and volumetric reduction of flakes. 4) reconstructing the knapping sequences associated with this knapping method aimed at obtaining homogeneous bladelets through different reduction phases on the edge of flakes. As a result, we aim to visualise the role of on-edge cores in the technical organisation of the Palaeolithic occupations and extend our knowledge of the technical behaviour of Upper Palaeolithic groups. Likewise, through this case study we address some of the constraints in the study of Upper Palaeolithic lithic assemblages and allow us to visualise how interpretative biases in the analysis of artefacts may remove expressions of human behaviour in past societies. By limiting these preconceptions, we could fill in some gaps in the interpretation of the archaeological record.