Despite recent attempts to do so, there is no way to convincingly subdivide the Solutrean cultural stratigraphic unit into general chronological phases based on radiocarbon dating. The presence, absence and relative frequency of supposedly diagnostic foliate points are variable among individual levels and sites for reasons of functional, stylistic and sampling differences. There are inter-regional differences in the radiocarbon age of the Solutrean phenomenon. Attempts to re-establish a unitarian phylogenetic cultural scheme for SW Europe in the period between 21,000 and 17,000 BP are theoretically sterile and bound to fail. -- AATA