Breaking bad? Discarding the solutrean norms: Chronology, evolution and geographical extent of the badegoulian phenomenon in Western Europe

The Badegoulian technocomplex holds a special place among the West European Upper Paleolithic (UP) cultural traditions. Often understated or even bypassed by main prehistorical overviews, caught between fascinating Solutrean and “classic” Magdalenian technocomplexes, it nonetheless probably marks turning point in evolving trajectory of hunter-gatherers present-day France. deep typo-technological changes, traditionally noted through lithic equipment, have recently been examined framework interdisciplinary programs centered on several key-stratigraphic sequences located south-west combined analyses flint, bone antler assemblages, ornaments faunal remains, together with implementation systematic archaeostratigraphic reassessment radiometric dating, serve to confirm speed strength these changes ca. 23 cal ka BP. Without going into detail Solutrean-Badegoulian transition issue, present paper provides synthetic overview characteristics—and their known variability—on basis osseous equipment that guided original identification. Following three-step structure successively exploring “when”, “what” “where” questions, we will look at current challenges LGM chronocultural research, (false) consensus (true) sticking points.