Skills in the processing of animal hard materials: examples from the Rivière collection, Capelleti Cave (Algeria)

The analysis of the Grotta Capéletti pastoral assemblage shows a significant transformation in the use of hard animal materials, mirroring changes seen at other Neolithic Capsian sites. This shift, affecting all material culture, includes the introduction of new lithic tools —such as concave and tanged arrowheads—alongside traditional Epipalaeolithic implements, indicating evolving hunting strategies. Ceramic vessels and new containers made from materials like tortoise shell and ostrich eggshell become common for food preparation. The lithic industry also moves toward producing larger, more expedient tools, replacing the earlier focus on bladelets. In the bone industry, there is a transition from small Epipalaeolithic tools to larger, thicker implements, with the first appearance of tools crafted from animal ribs and scapulae. These innovations, especially in the Rivière collection, highlight advanced technical skills and a strong link between bone and ceramic technologies, reflecting new subsistence strategies tied to animal domestication.