Jacques Jaubert
Université Bordeaux, Laboratoire Pacea, Faculty Member
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Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société.
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This contribution assesses the available information concerning the Palaeolithic of Mongolia whose varied geography and climatic conditions probably presented interesting challenges to Pleistocene populations. While almost all periods or... more
This contribution assesses the available information concerning the Palaeolithic of Mongolia whose varied geography and climatic conditions probably presented interesting challenges to Pleistocene populations. While almost all periods or phases from the Late Middle Palaeolithic to the Late Glacial are represented in the region, their documentation is uneven and comes from a variety of different sites. Although a majority of these sites are dated, their geoarcheological context is difficult to evaluate. Assemblages from sites attributed to the Late Middle Palaeolithic are almost interchangeable with those from Central or Western Eurasia and regions with temperate latitudes. The settlement of Mongolia by populations related to the Neanderthals was consider highly probable long before the identification of Neanderthal remains in the Altai and their subsequent confirmation by DNA analyses.
The Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic transition is also discussed, however the available data is insufficient to concretely distinguish a genuine transitional phase between these two periods. The Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) is well represented and dated, but lacks certain markers or type fossils typical of the European or Near Eastern techno-complexes from the same period. The situation is the same for the middle phase of the Late Palaeolithic. A 'gap' in the sequence must logically correspond to the Last Glacial Maximum and before the return of radically different Late Glacial populations characterised by pervasive, and entirely new, pressure flaked bladelet technologies. This development moves the centres of diffusion or the diffusion paths of these technologies for the first time towards the Far East and Beringia.
In regards to the origins, or better, the waves of Pleistocene populations who settled on the Mongolia plateaus, we prefer to see a connection with the temperate latitudes of Eurasia. The most similar, well-documented assemblages are found in western Siberia and the Altai, with the natural point of entry into the region being south of the Baikal and the Selenga Valley.
The Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic transition is also discussed, however the available data is insufficient to concretely distinguish a genuine transitional phase between these two periods. The Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) is well represented and dated, but lacks certain markers or type fossils typical of the European or Near Eastern techno-complexes from the same period. The situation is the same for the middle phase of the Late Palaeolithic. A 'gap' in the sequence must logically correspond to the Last Glacial Maximum and before the return of radically different Late Glacial populations characterised by pervasive, and entirely new, pressure flaked bladelet technologies. This development moves the centres of diffusion or the diffusion paths of these technologies for the first time towards the Far East and Beringia.
In regards to the origins, or better, the waves of Pleistocene populations who settled on the Mongolia plateaus, we prefer to see a connection with the temperate latitudes of Eurasia. The most similar, well-documented assemblages are found in western Siberia and the Altai, with the natural point of entry into the region being south of the Baikal and the Selenga Valley.
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La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers... more
La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers cosignataires ont participé à la phase terrain (2004) qui a consisté en une étude globale et interdisciplinaire de la petite grotte de Mar Tarik dont le remplissage avait été malheureusement affecté par des travaux clandestins qui ont détruit l’essentiel du gisement à l’exception de lambeaux de sédiments indurés et conservés dans la salle du fond. Outre des témoignages de fréquentation ou d’occupations d’âge historique, protohistorique (Chalcolithique) qui ne sont pas décrits ici, les vestiges paléolithiques révèlent une homogénéité évidente, concernant uniquement (ou presque) le Moustérien du Zagros. Une datation U/Th d’un spéléothème antérieur au niveau moustérien a été rapporté au Dernier interglaciaire (OIS 5e). Il est possible de distinguer la faune post-p...
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La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers... more
La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers cosignataires ont participé à la phase terrain (2004) qui a consisté en une étude globale et interdisciplinaire de la petite grotte de Mar Tarik dont le remplissage avait été malheureusement affecté par des travaux clandestins qui ont détruit l’essentiel du gisement à l’exception de lambeaux de sédiments indurés et conservés dans la salle du fond. Outre des témoignages de fréquentation ou d’occupations d’âge historique, protohistorique (Chalcolithique) qui ne sont pas décrits ici, les vestiges paléolithiques révèlent une homogénéité évidente, concernant uniquement (ou presque) le Moustérien du Zagros. Une datation U/Th d’un spéléothème antérieur au niveau moustérien a été rapporté au Dernier interglaciaire (OIS 5e). Il est possible de distinguer la faune post-p...
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In the south west of France the majority of research concerning the Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic transition tends to focus upon the Chatelperronian and Aurignacian at the expense of the end of the Middle Palaeolithic. This contribution... more
In the south west of France the majority of research concerning the Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic transition tends to focus upon the Chatelperronian and Aurignacian at the expense of the end of the Middle Palaeolithic. This contribution attempts to rectify this shortcoming by demonstrating that the classic model of a direct MTA-Chatelperronian filiation is no longer valid as these two techno-complexes are in fact separated by two final Mousterian phases: a Discoid-Denticulate Mousterian followed by a Levallois Mousterian ...
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Resumé : Roc de Combe est l’un des sites de reference pour etudier les modalites de passage Paleolithique moyen récent – Paleolithique superieur initial (Chatelperronien) et Paleolithique superieur ancien (Aurignacien ancien) dans le... more
Resumé : Roc de Combe est l’un des sites de reference pour etudier les modalites de passage Paleolithique moyen récent – Paleolithique superieur initial (Chatelperronien) et Paleolithique superieur ancien (Aurignacien ancien) dans le Sud-Ouest de la France. Fouillépar F. Bordes en 1966 et longtemps reputé pour une « interstratification » – desormais rejetee – servant la these de l’acculturation, il a fait l’objet d’une etude des niveaux attribues au Chatelperronien et àl’Aurignacien, mais les series du Mousterien demeuraient jusqu’àce jour identifiees, cependant non etudiees. Un recent travail universitaire menépar l’une d’entre nous (M.L.M.) permet desormais de disposer d’un bilan techno-economique et typologique confirmant l’attribution de cette serie au Mousterien de debitage Discoide àdenticules, techno-complexe qui clot dans le Sud-Ouest de la France nombre d’archeo-séquences. La presente etude donne les premieres donnees numeriques relatives àcette serie inedite, la positionne dans un cadre chrono-culturel et son contexte regional, en insistant sur un statut petrographique relativement original propre àla Bouriane, region faisant la liaison entre Perigord et Quercy.
Abstract: The middle Palaeolithic lithic industry of Roc de Combe (Payrignac, Lot, France), A new example of Denticulate Discoïd Mousterian. Roc de Combe (Lot, France) is one of the key sites concerning the Late Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in southwestern France. 1966’ excavation, led by François Bordes, has yielded some Mousterian, Chatelperronian, Aurignacian and Gravettian rich assemblages. Here we present the analysis of the unpublished Mousterian lithic assemblages, studied by one of us during a Master degree. From this study, the belonging of this industry to a Denticulate-Discoid Mousterian has been confirmed, a technocomplex usually classically attributed to the final stage of the Mousterian. Several radiocarbon dates confirm this attribution. Finally, our analysis shows an original lithic raw material procurement strategy, due to the site location, peculiar to the Bouriane between Perigord and Quercy.
Key-words: Late Middle Paleolithic (LMP), Isotopic stage 3 (MIS 3), Discoid, Denticulate Mousterian, Perigord, Quercy, lithic technology, raw material.
Abstract: The middle Palaeolithic lithic industry of Roc de Combe (Payrignac, Lot, France), A new example of Denticulate Discoïd Mousterian. Roc de Combe (Lot, France) is one of the key sites concerning the Late Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in southwestern France. 1966’ excavation, led by François Bordes, has yielded some Mousterian, Chatelperronian, Aurignacian and Gravettian rich assemblages. Here we present the analysis of the unpublished Mousterian lithic assemblages, studied by one of us during a Master degree. From this study, the belonging of this industry to a Denticulate-Discoid Mousterian has been confirmed, a technocomplex usually classically attributed to the final stage of the Mousterian. Several radiocarbon dates confirm this attribution. Finally, our analysis shows an original lithic raw material procurement strategy, due to the site location, peculiar to the Bouriane between Perigord and Quercy.
Key-words: Late Middle Paleolithic (LMP), Isotopic stage 3 (MIS 3), Discoid, Denticulate Mousterian, Perigord, Quercy, lithic technology, raw material.
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HAL - hal.archives-ouvertes.fr, CCSd - Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Direct. Accueil; Dépôt: S'authentifier; S'inscrire. Consultation: Par domaine; Les 30 derniers dépôts; Par année de publication, rédaction, dépôt;... more
HAL - hal.archives-ouvertes.fr, CCSd - Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Direct. Accueil; Dépôt: S'authentifier; S'inscrire. Consultation: Par domaine; Les 30 derniers dépôts; Par année de publication, rédaction, dépôt; Par type de publication; Par collection; Les portails de l'archive ouverte HAL; Par établissement (extraction automatique); ArXiv; Les Thèses (TEL). Recherche: Recherche simple; Recherche avancée; Accès par identifiant; Les Thèses ...
В статье представлен технико-типологический анализ каменного комплекса, открытого в 1965 г. в пещере Кхар – одной из немногих палеолитических стоянок в горной области на западе Ирана в Загросе, где прослежены стратифицированные отложения,... more
В статье представлен технико-типологический анализ каменного комплекса, открытого в 1965 г. в пещере Кхар – одной из немногих палеолитических стоянок в горной области на западе Ирана в Загросе, где прослежены стратифицированные отложения, содержащие последовательно залегавшие культурные остатки периодов МИС 2 и МИС 3. Исследование опирается на технико-типологические характеристики артефактов из обеих частей коллекции стоянки в пещере Кхар, которые хранятся в Национальном музее Ирана и Университете Монреаля и ранее не получили должного освещения, особенно с точки зрения технологии. Обсуждаются проблема перехода от среднего к верхнему палеолиту в Загросе, технологические характеристики индустрий барадоста/загросского ориньяка и возможность эволюции традиций от позднего барадоста к раннему зарзи. Анализ коллекции, несмотря на ее малочисленность, позволяет выявить преемственность в стратегиях редукции нуклеусов и методах изготовления орудий в пещере Кхар от позднего этапа среднего палеолита до эпипалеолита. Однако на основании имеющихся данных сделан вывод о том, что технологических свидетельств для подтверждения гипотезы о преемственности между традициями среднего и верхнего палеолита в Загросе недостаточно, подтвердить или исключить возможность постепенного перехода в этом регионе невозможно.
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At the Abbeville/Saint Riquier colloquium, two regional syntheses for southwestern France were proposed. One discussed the northern Aquitaine Basin (Delpech et al., 1995), the other the southern basin of the Garonne and the Pyrenean... more
At the Abbeville/Saint Riquier colloquium, two regional syntheses for southwestern France were proposed. One discussed the northern Aquitaine Basin (Delpech et al., 1995), the other the southern basin of the Garonne and the Pyrenean Piedmont (Jaubert and Servelle, 1996). Since then, research has focused
on the classic sequences of Barbas I, La Micoque and Coudoulous I, or on little published sites, such as Lanne-Darré on the Lannemezan plateau (Colonge, 2005a; Colonge and Texier, 2005). Numerous rescue operations, many still in progress and thus only partially published, have also been conducted in recent years, mainly in geographic zones with diverse pedosedimentary contexts: the Isle Valley (Champ des
Débats (Brenet and Folgado, 1998), the Midi Toulousain and the middle Adour Basin (Colonge, Lelouvier, Bertran and collaborators). Several university theses have also fully or partially addressed this region (Turq, 1992; Millet, 2001; Mourre, 2003; Jarry and Brenet, in progress). These works concerning the first occupations in this region, up until OIS 9 when Middle Paleolithic industries become fully developed, allow revision of the ancient assemblages and presentation of a general synthesis of these industries.
on the classic sequences of Barbas I, La Micoque and Coudoulous I, or on little published sites, such as Lanne-Darré on the Lannemezan plateau (Colonge, 2005a; Colonge and Texier, 2005). Numerous rescue operations, many still in progress and thus only partially published, have also been conducted in recent years, mainly in geographic zones with diverse pedosedimentary contexts: the Isle Valley (Champ des
Débats (Brenet and Folgado, 1998), the Midi Toulousain and the middle Adour Basin (Colonge, Lelouvier, Bertran and collaborators). Several university theses have also fully or partially addressed this region (Turq, 1992; Millet, 2001; Mourre, 2003; Jarry and Brenet, in progress). These works concerning the first occupations in this region, up until OIS 9 when Middle Paleolithic industries become fully developed, allow revision of the ancient assemblages and presentation of a general synthesis of these industries.
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Malgré des conditions d'intervention précaires, une présence sur le terrain de courte durée et un faible volume exploré, le bilan des informations recueillies à la suite de la découverte fortuite du gisement moustérien d'Espagnac s'avère... more
Malgré des conditions d'intervention précaires, une présence sur le terrain de courte durée et un faible volume exploré, le bilan des informations recueillies à la suite de la découverte fortuite du gisement moustérien d'Espagnac s'avère riche, en raison notamment d'une relative densité du matériel archéologique. Dans les grandes lignes, les différentes disciplines sollicitées aboutissent à des résultats concordants et complémentaires.
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La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers... more
La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers cosignataires ont participé à la phase terrain (2004) qui a consisté en une étude globale et interdisciplinaire de la petite grotte de Mar Tarik dont le remplissage avait été malheureusement affecté par des travaux clandestins qui ont détruit l'essentiel du gisement à l'exception de lambeaux de sédiments ...
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Neandertals were effective hunters of large ungulates throughout their geographic and temporal ranges. Equipped with this knowledge, researchers in paleoanthropology continue to seek insight on the rela- tionships between hunting and... more
Neandertals were effective hunters of large ungulates throughout their geographic and temporal ranges. Equipped with this knowledge, researchers in paleoanthropology continue to seek insight on the rela- tionships between hunting and subsistence strategies with other components of the Neandertals’ niche, such as mobility, site use, and lithic technology. The Quina Mousterian deposits from the rockshelter site of Chez Pinaud Jonzac (Charente-Maritime, France; hereafter Jonzac) offer an excellent opportunity to pursue these issues. This paper focuses on the extensive and well-preserved skeletal remains of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) recovered from recent excavations of the site, representing at least 18 individuals that were hunted by Neandertals during the fall through winter. Our zooarchaeological results indicate that all ages of reindeer were hunted but adult individuals predominate. No bias is evident in the comparable frequencies of males and females. These prey were butchered on-site, with abundant evidence of meat filleting and marrow exploitation. In the excavated sample, the absence of hearths and the almost complete lack of burned bones or stones suggest that Neandertals were not using fire to assist with processing the reindeer carcasses. The zooarchaeological results presented here indicate that reindeer were hunted during a restricted window of time when they were seasonally abundant in the local area near Jonzac. Taken together with the lithic industry based on bifacial elements, the evidence is consistent with a pattern of site use by highly mobile hunter-gatherers making frequent, short-term visits. Ongoing research at Jonzac and other Quina Mousterian localities will contribute to a better understanding of Neandertal behavior during cold climate phases.
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La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers... more
La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité
perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers cosignataires
ont participé à la phase terrain (2004) qui a consisté en une étude globale et interdisciplinaire de la petite grotte de Mar Tarik dont
le remplissage avait été malheureusement affecté par des travaux clandestins qui ont détruit l’essentiel du gisement à l’exception de
lambeaux de sédiments indurés et conservés dans la salle du fond. Outre des témoignages de fréquentation ou d’occupations d’âge
historique, protohistorique (Chalcolithique) qui ne sont pas décrits ici, les vestiges paléolithiques révèlent une homogénéité évidente,
concernant uniquement (ou presque) le Moustérien du Zagros.
Une datation U/Th d’un spéléothème antérieur au niveau moustérien a été rapporté au Dernier interglaciaire (OIS 5e). Il est
possible de distinguer la faune post-paléolithique des vestiges pléistocènes par leur état de surface mais sans contexte
stratigraphique et avec un faible échantillonnage, l’histoire des différents stocks de faune, qui est complexe, n’est pas aisée à établir.
De même pour les restes humains attribuables à Homo sapiens sp. Un essai de datation 14C SMA sur un fragment d’os humain
insuffisamment riche en collagène n’a pas donné d’estimation chronologique.
L’industrie lithique montre une chaîne opératoire fractionnée typique d’un site de consommation secondaire avec faible activité de
taille et importation d’outils déjà préparés, les outils retouchés représentant 44 % du total de l’industrie. La production est dominée
par la méthode Levallois, difficile à identifier en cas de ravivages multiples. Les outils retouchés sont typiques du Moustérien du
Zagros: racloirs, racloirs déjetés, convergents, pointes, outils à dos amincis. Une pierre en calcaire fin est gravée de lignes ou
quadrillages géométriques, mais, sans provenance stratigraphique claire, son appartenance au Moustérien, bien que possible, n’est
pas assurée.
perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers cosignataires
ont participé à la phase terrain (2004) qui a consisté en une étude globale et interdisciplinaire de la petite grotte de Mar Tarik dont
le remplissage avait été malheureusement affecté par des travaux clandestins qui ont détruit l’essentiel du gisement à l’exception de
lambeaux de sédiments indurés et conservés dans la salle du fond. Outre des témoignages de fréquentation ou d’occupations d’âge
historique, protohistorique (Chalcolithique) qui ne sont pas décrits ici, les vestiges paléolithiques révèlent une homogénéité évidente,
concernant uniquement (ou presque) le Moustérien du Zagros.
Une datation U/Th d’un spéléothème antérieur au niveau moustérien a été rapporté au Dernier interglaciaire (OIS 5e). Il est
possible de distinguer la faune post-paléolithique des vestiges pléistocènes par leur état de surface mais sans contexte
stratigraphique et avec un faible échantillonnage, l’histoire des différents stocks de faune, qui est complexe, n’est pas aisée à établir.
De même pour les restes humains attribuables à Homo sapiens sp. Un essai de datation 14C SMA sur un fragment d’os humain
insuffisamment riche en collagène n’a pas donné d’estimation chronologique.
L’industrie lithique montre une chaîne opératoire fractionnée typique d’un site de consommation secondaire avec faible activité de
taille et importation d’outils déjà préparés, les outils retouchés représentant 44 % du total de l’industrie. La production est dominée
par la méthode Levallois, difficile à identifier en cas de ravivages multiples. Les outils retouchés sont typiques du Moustérien du
Zagros: racloirs, racloirs déjetés, convergents, pointes, outils à dos amincis. Une pierre en calcaire fin est gravée de lignes ou
quadrillages géométriques, mais, sans provenance stratigraphique claire, son appartenance au Moustérien, bien que possible, n’est
pas assurée.
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... Dans le Sud-Ouest, on notera, et pour la première fois, aux côtés de fouilles programmées (Artenac, Barbas I, grotte XVI, Coudoulous I, Puycelsi, Les Canalettes...), l'apport décisif de l'archéologie préventive avec des... more
... Dans le Sud-Ouest, on notera, et pour la première fois, aux côtés de fouilles programmées (Artenac, Barbas I, grotte XVI, Coudoulous I, Puycelsi, Les Canalettes...), l'apport décisif de l'archéologie préventive avec des fouilles de sau-vetage à l'emplacement du futur Musée ...
La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers... more
La première campagne de terrain de la mission franco-iranienne portant sur le Paléolithique a concerné une cavité perchée du massif de Bisotoun, région de Kermanshah (sud du Zagros, Iran) découverte en 1986. Les sept premiers cosignataires ont participé à la phase terrain (2004) qui a consisté en une étude globale et interdisciplinaire de la petite grotte de Mar Tarik dont le remplissage avait été malheureusement affecté par des travaux clandestins qui ont détruit l’essentiel du gisement à l’exception de lambeaux de sédiments indurés et conservés dans la salle du fond. Outre des témoignages de fréquentation ou d’occupations d’âge historique, protohistorique (Chalcolithique) qui ne sont pas décrits ici, les vestiges paléolithiques révèlent une homogénéité évidente, concernant uniquement (ou presque) le Moustérien du Zagros. Une datation U/Th d’un spéléothème antérieur au niveau moustérien a été rapporté au Dernier interglaciaire (OIS 5e). Il est possible de distinguer la faune post-p...
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The stratigraphic and lithic evidence at the site of Bérigoule is not sufficient for the determination of the age of two Mousterian archaeological layers. Thermoluminescence (TL) dating of heated flint from the two levels provides... more
The stratigraphic and lithic evidence at the site of Bérigoule is not sufficient for the determination of the age of two Mousterian archaeological layers. Thermoluminescence (TL) dating of heated flint from the two levels provides chronometric age estimates. The TL-ages show a high degree of variability, ranging from 54 to 90 ka for Level I and 67 to 111 ka for Level II. The technological and sedimentological analyses suggest a similar age for the artefacts from the two layers, which is supported by the TL-data. All these data suggest that the artefacts of Levels I and II were heated at the end of OIS 5.
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The Southwest of France has recently seen its documentation updated by repeated excavations of so-called “classic” deposits, by some exceptional discoveries, and also and primarily by the tremendous documentary contribution of res- cue... more
The Southwest of France has recently seen its documentation updated by repeated excavations of so-called “classic” deposits, by some exceptional discoveries, and also and primarily by the tremendous documentary contribution of res- cue archaeology (linear main road or highway work). A quarter of a century after the seminal work of François Bordes, what does this new data offer in terms of the chronology of the Middle Palaeolithic cultural sequence? Reflection based on the work carried out by a Collective Research Action (ACR) between 2003 and 2006 (J.-P. Texier et J. Jaubert, dir.) is extended here with a focus on the chronological succession of the different manifestations of the Middle Palaeolithic (ca 300-40 ka BP) with their chronological variability as the unifying theme. A table combining diachronic archaeological sequences and radiometric dating is presented and, ultimately, a new proposal for the succession of Middle Palaeolithic “facies”.
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Manuscrit auteur, publié dans "Palèo 2 (1990) 89-106" PALÈO - № 2 - Décembre 1990 L'IGUE DES RAMEAUX (Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Tarn-et-Garonne). UN NOUVEAU GISEMENT DU PLEISTOCENE MOYEN. PREMIERS RESULTATS. F.ROUZAUD1, M.... more
Manuscrit auteur, publié dans "Palèo 2 (1990) 89-106" PALÈO - № 2 - Décembre 1990 L'IGUE DES RAMEAUX (Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Tarn-et-Garonne). UN NOUVEAU GISEMENT DU PLEISTOCENE MOYEN. PREMIERS RESULTATS. F.ROUZAUD1, M. SOULIER2, JP ...
Research Interests: Archaeology and Paleo
Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Archaeology, Anthropology, Human Evolution, Stable Isotope Analysis, and 18 moreFrance, Neanderthals (Palaeolithic Archaeology), Middle Palaeolithic, Human, Bison, Seasonality, Humans, Late Pleistocene, Fossils, Animals, Animal migration, Reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, Hominidae, Strontium Isotopes, Dental Enamel, Predatory Behavior, and Sequential Sampling
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Thermoluminescence dating of heated flint artefacts from the Middle Palaeolithic sequence of Chez-Pinaud Jonzac (France) places an assemblage of Quina type Mousterian into MIS 4, while the overlying assemblage of Denticulate Mousterian... more
Thermoluminescence dating of heated flint artefacts from the Middle Palaeolithic sequence of Chez-Pinaud Jonzac (France) places an assemblage of Quina type Mousterian into MIS 4, while the overlying assemblage of Denticulate Mousterian which is followed by two layers with Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition are all assigned to MIS 3. TL dating is used to verify the mixed nature of deposits from which diagnostic Middle as well as Upper Palaeolithic tools were recovered. The TL ages are significantly different for samples from this layer and broadly agree with the archaeological attributions. While the study is generally limited by the low number of heated samples available, a correlation with a generalized chronostratigraphic sequence is possible by including proxy data from the faunal remains associated with the lithic assemblages in question. The Quina Mousterian in southwestern France, therefore, can be placed by chronometric dating methods in MIS 4 to MIS 3.
Research Interests:
The site of Chez-Pinaud (Jonzac, Charente-Maritime) was identified in the 1990s and subsequently excavated as part of a multi-disciplinary project led by J. Airvaux. This work resulted in a monograph (Airvaux dir., 2004). Given the... more
The site of Chez-Pinaud (Jonzac, Charente-Maritime) was identified in the 1990s and subsequently excavated as part of a multi-disciplinary project led by J. Airvaux. This work resulted in a monograph (Airvaux dir., 2004). Given the importance of the archaeological sequence at Jonzac, which is one of the rare sites with a stratigraphy covering the late Middle Paleolithic and early Upper Paleolithic, a team from the University of Bordeaux 1-PACEA and the Max Planck Institute (Leipzig) started a new program of excavation in 2004. In addition to the standard types of analysis, we have applied several approaches that at Jonzac either had not yet been applied or were still incomplete. These include geoarchaeological analyses, analysis of site formation processes, radiometric dating, isotope analysis, taphonomic studies of the faunal assemblage, raw material studies, and usewear analysis. We present here a general overview of this exceptional sequence from the Last Glacial, likely between 50 and 30ka, covering at least some of OIS 3 and 2 for the portions of the site thus far excavated. The first results of the excavations from 2004 to 2007 are summarized here by broad research theme including a history of the site, geology, radiometric dates, microfauna, paleontology, taphonomy, zooarcheology, paleoanthropology, isotopic analysis, and the lithic industries (Quina Mousterian, Denticulate Mousterian, Mousterian of Acheulian Tradition and Aurignacian). This presentation is in advance of a more ambitious, interdisciplinary program of study to address questions such as site use and to place the sequence in the broader regional context, issues which are just touched upon here.
Research Interests:
Recent research in the Altai Mountains has provided record of an important Middle and Initial / Early Upper Paleolithic occupation, in caves as in open air sites. A great majority of these assemblages is characterized by the presence of... more
Recent research in the Altai Mountains has provided record of an important Middle and Initial / Early Upper Paleolithic occupation, in caves as in open air sites. A great majority of these assemblages is characterized by the presence of the Levallois reduction technique. However, the status and evolution of the Levallois concept in Altai are yet to be clarified, in order to understand the cultural models that underlie the hominin settlement patterns. Indeed, much of the studies identifying Levallois artefacts in Altai were conducted using a typological method (with the notable exception of Kara-Bom), whereas it is necessary to understand the entire chaîne opératoire of their production to figure out the method and its origin.
A re-examination of the lithic material from Ust’-Kanskaya cave has been carried out to address this issue. This site, located 54 m above the Charysh river, presents a stratified sequence spanning Middle (layers 10 to 4) and Upper Paleolithic (layers 3 and 2), presumably from MIS 6 to MIS 2. The cave was discovered in 1954 by S. I. Rudenko, and was the first Mousterian site identified in Northern Asia, becoming a classical site of the Siberian Paleolithic. The faunal assemblage, constituted of numerous ungulate prey taxa (mountain goat, steppe bison, Mongolian gazelle, etc.), indicates a non-selective hunting strategy. Contrary to a majority of Altai caves, at Ust’-Kanskaya the carnivore presence is limited (Wrinn, 2010), probably due to the fact that the site is located in the middle of a cliff. This exceptional location, offering a panoramic view of the valley, was seemingly an important element of the choice of the site by the hunter-gatherers. The occupations of the cave were episodic, but apparently intensive, given the number of lithic artefacts, the presence of burned and cut-marked bones and the formation of a hearth.
Despite the fact that the time span of the sequence is supposedly very long (around 100 000 years), results show the great homogeneity of the lithic assemblage, dominated by the Levallois reduction technique, with little to no variation throughout the different layers, even those attributed to the Upper Paleolithic. This could be due to a taphonomic phenomenon or mirror an enduring tradition of lithic productions.
A re-examination of the lithic material from Ust’-Kanskaya cave has been carried out to address this issue. This site, located 54 m above the Charysh river, presents a stratified sequence spanning Middle (layers 10 to 4) and Upper Paleolithic (layers 3 and 2), presumably from MIS 6 to MIS 2. The cave was discovered in 1954 by S. I. Rudenko, and was the first Mousterian site identified in Northern Asia, becoming a classical site of the Siberian Paleolithic. The faunal assemblage, constituted of numerous ungulate prey taxa (mountain goat, steppe bison, Mongolian gazelle, etc.), indicates a non-selective hunting strategy. Contrary to a majority of Altai caves, at Ust’-Kanskaya the carnivore presence is limited (Wrinn, 2010), probably due to the fact that the site is located in the middle of a cliff. This exceptional location, offering a panoramic view of the valley, was seemingly an important element of the choice of the site by the hunter-gatherers. The occupations of the cave were episodic, but apparently intensive, given the number of lithic artefacts, the presence of burned and cut-marked bones and the formation of a hearth.
Despite the fact that the time span of the sequence is supposedly very long (around 100 000 years), results show the great homogeneity of the lithic assemblage, dominated by the Levallois reduction technique, with little to no variation throughout the different layers, even those attributed to the Upper Paleolithic. This could be due to a taphonomic phenomenon or mirror an enduring tradition of lithic productions.
Research Interests:
The Paleolithic site of Chez-Pinaud Jonzac was discovered in 1997 by a geologist in search of stratigraphic sections and subsequently excavated in 1998–99 and 2003 by a team of researchers led by J. Airvaux. The results of the 1998–99... more
The Paleolithic site of Chez-Pinaud Jonzac was discovered in 1997 by a geologist in search of stratigraphic sections and subsequently excavated in 1998–99 and 2003 by a team of researchers led by J. Airvaux. The results of the 1998–99 excavation, published in 2004, show a site with a deep sequence beginning with a thick layer of Quina Mousterian associated with a well preserved, very rich fauna dominated by reindeer. The upper layers show a transition from a Levallois rich industry to a handaxe rich, non-Levallois MTA industry. Overlying this, Airvaux reported a Châtelperronian industry. However, in the same volume, one of us (MS) raised some doubts over this attribution. Finally, the last archaeological layers, showing variable preservation across the site, could be assigned to the Aurignacian. Given the importance of Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition sites and the high state of preservation in the Quina layers, a new four year project of excavation was begun in 2004 by a team from the University of Bordeaux 1 and the Max Planck Institute. Among the project goals are to clarify the industries at the transition, to date the entire sequence, and to better assess the geology and site formation processes. With regard to the latter, of particular interest are the cultural and natural factors leading to the deposition of the over one meter deep Quina “bone bed” layer. Here we report on the results to date and place them in the context of recent work in the late Middle Paleolithic of southwest France. These results include AMS and TL dates from the transitional layers, isotopic analysis of the fauna and of a single hominin tooth found in an MTA context, and a better understanding of the assemblages and their context.
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In order to understand the behaviours and subsistence choices of Palaeolithic hunteregatherers, it is essential to understand the behavioural ecology of their prey. Here, we present strontium isotope data from sequentially-sampled enamel... more
In order to understand the behaviours and subsistence choices of Palaeolithic hunteregatherers, it is essential to understand the behavioural ecology of their prey. Here, we present strontium isotope data from sequentially-sampled enamel from three reindeer (Rangifer tarandus ssp.) and a single bison (Bison cf. priscus) from the late Middle Palaeolithic site of Jonzac (Chez-Pinaud), France. The results are used to investigate the ranging and migratory behaviours of these important prey species. We found that the bison had isotope values most consistent with a local range, while the three reindeer had values indicating a seasonal migration pattern. Due to the similarity of the patterning of two of the three reindeer and in conjunction with zooarchaeological results, we suggest that they may have been from the same herd, were likely killed around the same point during their seasonal round and may therefore be the product of a single hunting event or a small number of successive hunting events. The isotope analyses complement the zooarchaeological data and have allowed greater insight into the palaeoecology of these species, the palaeoenvironment, and Neanderthal site use and hunting strategies.
Research Interests:
Quina Mousterian lithic industry of the site of Chez-Pinaud (Jonzac, Charente-Maritime) is original. It is based on the production of bifacial blanks by marginal percussion, while Quina Mousterian is usually characterized by the debitage... more
Quina Mousterian lithic industry of the site of Chez-Pinaud (Jonzac, Charente-Maritime) is original. It is based on the production of bifacial blanks by marginal percussion, while Quina Mousterian is usually characterized by the debitage of short and thick supports by internal percussion. Besides, the industry presented here is associated with an exceptionally large bone bed. First analyses show that Reindeer processing might have been a seasonal activity on the site. The use wear analysis allows us to propose new informations on the function of the site during the Quina Mousterian period. Several hundred pieces were observed under a binocular loupe for evidence of use wear traces, after which 98 were thoroughly examined y low and high power analysis. The sample taken consists of pieces, either or not retouched, originating from various stages in the Quina production sequence. The identified modes of use were meat and skin cutting as well as percussion against hard organic matter and minerals, indicating that butchering activities (cutting and percussion) as well as work on fresh hides were carried out on the site. This analysis thus brings new elements consistent with the site being used as a carcass processing workshop. The correction between the modes of use of the tools analysed and their typo-technological characteristics make it possible to shed new light on the meaning of the scrapers « denaturation » process, which in several cases occurred after the scrapers were initially used to chop hard material.