Caroline Masset

The Magdalenian site of Saint-Germain la Rivière (Gironde, France) has often figured in debates and discussions about the Late Upper Palaeolithic of western Europe. Most of the discussions are based on the material excavated by R. Blanchard - in particular the now well-known burial - as well as the more rigorous excavations by G. Trécolle in the slope deposits. After the detailed study of all this material by M. Lenoir, which allowed the material from the slope and terrace deposits to be attributed to the Lower and Middle Magdalenian, many other studies were done by various researchers on specific aspects of the collections (lithics, personal ornaments, fauna). It became clear, however, that the stratigraphic framework and chronology of the site needed to be reexamined. In order to understand the rise of the classic Magdalenian in Gironde, members of the ANR Magdatis project reexamined many early Middle Magdalenian sites and collections of that area. The thorough work of Trécolle at Saint-Germain-la-Rivière was pivotal to this reassessment. Initially, this involved the analysis of his fieldnotes which led to an archaeostratigraphic reattribution of most artefacts into two principal units, with a potentially problematic interface between these. Once these new archaeostratigraphic divisions had been determined, the analysis of the artefacts could proceed. The comparison of the lithic and bone/antler industries to those of other sites have afforded us new insights into the nature of technical and economic behaviours of this initial Magdalenian of western Europe. In terms of lithic and osseous raw material, we have found a good degree of continuity between the units. The differing treatment of domestic versus hunting flint tools is also an important aspect to consider in the discussion of the changes that took place in hunter-gatherer societies at this time. The bone/antler industry shows some continuity between units (for example the use of the groove and splinter technique), but also some differences (in the upper unit: less diversity in tools; higher frequency of decorated objects). The systemization of a standardized blade production in the upper unit is accompanied by an increase in size of antler points. The production of different lithic projectile morphotypes (backed microbladelets versus scalene bladelets), in parallel with a change in base types within antler points, in addition to the presence or absence of grooves, demonstrate that changes occurred in the toolkits used. A reassessment of the faunal remains also helped to clarify the practices having occurred in each of the two principal stratigraphic units; combined with a taphonomic analysis, the specific subsistence practices in each could be identified. Different hunting strategies were noticed regarding saiga antelope (hunting within female groups versus mixed herds) as well as differing carcass treatment (degree of intensity of marrow extraction, carcass processing techniques). Our analysis also revealed that small-game hunting had been practised (birds and small mammals) already in the earliest Magdalenian phases at the site, thus providing a more complete picture of these reindeer and saiga antelope hunters. Taking into account all of these data and practices allows us to be more specific about the type and pace of technical and subsistence changes having occurred during this period. New 14C dates done directly on bones of identified species or on characteristic organic artefacts also aids us in shedding new light on the two main phases of the Magdalenian. Thea Trécolle excavation and its contents can thus be placed within the overall Saint-Germain-la-Rivière site sequence and compared to other contemporaneous sites in western Europe which have also benefited from a renewed stratigraphic, archaeological and chronological assessment and framework.