Analytical potential of 2D shape analysis to study Epigravettian lithic assemblages

In this paper we apply for the first time a 2D shape analysis to a sample of Epigravettian lithic artefacts with the aim of evaluating the potential of such approach. The lithic sample comes from layer 9c2 (Evolved Epigravettian, Upper Palaeolithic) of Grotta Paglicci (Apulia, southern Italy). After extracting the outline coordinates from highresolution images using the software DiaOutline, we conduct Elliptic Fourier Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, and Linear Discriminant Analysis in the R package Momocs to investigate the internal variability of the sample. The results of the analysis are extremely promising and highlight significant separation between common tools, laminar blanks, and backed tools. Furthermore, this analysis can be useful to evaluate the technical investment in the retouching of the blanks to manufacture backed points.