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2026-02-02 14:52:26   •   ID: 2400

Bec de perroquet burin revisited

Figure 1
Figure 1 and 2 show two bec de perroquet burins of my collection from the Vezere Valley. Figure 3 displays similar specimens from the literature#

A burin of this type is a true „fossil directeur“, not only in time but also in space, characteristic for the final Magdalenian („Magdalenien VI“) around 14–13,5 k.a. cal. BP in South West France.
Figure 2


Personally I don’t know of any Stone Age artefact of the old world with a similar design.

The term was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, notably by M. Féaux in 1905, who used 30 burins of this type, stored at the Museum Le Musée d'art et d'archéologie du Périgord in Perigeux, to define it.

Figure 3
A bec de perroquet burin is characterised by its distinct hooked profile that resembles a parrot's beak. The burin is made on a convex truncation created by abrupt retouch. The burin facet (the narrow, chisel-like edge) meets this convex retouched edge at an acute angle, creating the characteristic hooked or curved tip.

Bec de perroquet burins were usually crafted on triangular or circular flakes or on blades, that were truncated along their total circumference.

The parrot-beak design was often the result of multiple resharpening cycles. Each "burin blow" (spall removal) refreshed the edge, extending the tool's life and sometimes producing secondary flakes (burin spalls) that were themselves used as small, sharp engraving tips.

Overall the type is rare. For example: 39 of 1899 (2%) burins from the final Magdalenian at Rochereil were Bec de Perroquets…(Jude 1960 p 14).

Regarding the functional characteristics of the burin, M. Féaux already in 1905 supposed: “The purpose of these tools is rather problematic; however, considering that they are found mainly in Magdalenian sites where engraved bones and wood are quite numerous, this burin seems to be suitable for making the broad, deep lines found in most Magdalenian engravings…..Therefore I suppose that the instrument in question is the principal tool used by Magdalenian man to execute his works of art“.

Research, especially at late Magdalenian sites like La Madeleine (Tursac, France), Grotte des Jean-Blancs (Dordogne, France), Grotte de la Vache (Ariège, France), focusing on traceology and experimental archaeology indeed verified some of these suggestions and in addition highlighted several key purposes for these implements:

1. Advanced Engraving and Sculpturing:

Unlike standard burins used for simple incisions, the curved, "hooked" profile of the parrot-beak burin provided greater mechanical leverage for deep engraving and relief carving.

Mobiliary Art: They were essential for creating the intricate bone and antler figurines (portable art) characteristic of the Magdalenian.

Rock Art: The robust tip allowed carving deep lines into limestone cave walls or stone plaquettes.

2. Processing Hard Organic Materials:

Wear analysis indicates these tools were primarily used on hard organic substances:

Antler and Bone Working:

They were used to "groove and split" reindeer antlers to extract long „baguettes“ for making spear-thrower hooks and harpoon points.

Precision Scraping:

The unique bit shape allowed for the fine finishing of rounded objects, such as bone needles or weapon shafts.

3. Multi Purpose Tool:

In archaeological literature, the "Bec-de-perroquet" burin is frequently discussed as a versatile multi-tool rather than a simple engraving instrument. Microwear analyses have confirmed its use for heavy-duty tasks like scraping organic materials and cutting tendons.

4. The "spear thrower hypothesis":

Some researchers have identified a specific correlation between the occurrence of Bec-de-perroquet burins and the manufacture of hooks for spear throwers (propulseurs).

In order to carve the hook of a spear thrower from a solid piece of antler, a concave finish is necessary.

The Bec de perroquet is geometrically ideal for hollowing out these specific curves and recesses.

Literature:

#Figure 3 is from: Jude, P.E. (1960). La grotte de Rochereil: station magdalénienne et azilienne. In: Archives de l'Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, mém 30. Masson. Note that our burin is almost identical to Fig. 6 in the publication…

Clottes, Delporte et al. (2004) La grotte de La Vache (Ariège) (2 vol). Réunion des musées nationaux.

Jean-Pierre Chadelle (2011): L'outil de l'os pendant le Paléolithique supérieur

Bodu, P., Hantaï, A., & Szmidt, C. (2007): "Le 'Bec-de-perroquet' : un outil emblématique du Magdalénien supérieur." In: XXVIe congrès préhistorique de France, Avignon.

Breuil, H. (1912): "Les subdivisions du Paléolithique supérieur et leur signification." In: Congrès International d’Anthropologie et d’Archéologie Préhistoriques.

Vaughan, R. K. (1985): Use-Wear Analysis of Flaked Stone Tools. University of Arizona Press.

Plisson, H. (1985): Étude fonctionnelle d'outillages lithiques préhistoriques par l'analyse des micro-usures: recherche méthodologique et appliquée. Dissertation, Université de Paris I.

Rigaud, A. (1972): "La technologie du burin à l'abri Fritsch." In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 69 (2), S. 601–608.

Bodu, P., Hantaï, A., & Szmidt, C. (2007): "Le 'Bec-de-perroquet' : un outil emblématique du Magdalénien supérieur." In: XXVIe congrès préhistorique de France, Avignon.

Demars, P.-Y. & Laurent, P. (1989): Types d'outils lithiques du Paléolithique supérieur en Europe. CNRS Éditions, Paris.



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