% pubman genre = article @article{item_3047935, title = {{Assessing the integrity of older archeological collections: An example from La Ferrassie}}, author = {Dibble, Harold L. and Lin, Sam C. and Sandgathe, Dennis M. and Turq, Alain}, language = {eng}, issn = {2520-8217}, doi = {10.1007/s41982-018-0010-1}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-09}, abstract = {{Initially excavated in the early twentieth century, La Ferrassie is one of the most important sites for the Middle Paleolithic of Western Europe. Aside from the numerous Neanderthal remains found there, the stone artifacts recovered from the site are featured prominently in discussion and debates of Mousterian variability. Recent renewed excavation of the site, however, suggests a considerable preference in the kinds of stone artifacts saved during the initial excavation. Here, we assess the nature and extent of this selection and its effects on the final collection. Results indicate that large, complete, retouched pieces were preferentially retained by the original excavators, and that the artifact collection available for study represents only 2--3{\textpercent} of the original lithic assemblage present in the deposits. This has significant implications for early interpretations of Mousterian industries that were based on such collections and their potential analytical value.}}, journal = {{Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology}}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {179--201}, }