Anciennes et nouvelles hypothèses d’interprétation du gravettien moyen en France : la question de la place des industries à burins du Raysse au sein de la mosaïque gravettienne

Si le Gravettien est souvent considéré comme une des premières cultures pan-européennes attribuées à l’homme moderne, il est néanmoins entendu que des particularités régionales ont dû exister sur une aussi longue plage de temps et un aussi vaste territoire. Ces moments particuliers n’ont toutefois que rarement été mis en évidence à ce jour. En France, de récents travaux sur le Gravettien moyen (ex-Périgordien Vc de Peyrony) permettent aujourd’hui de relancer les réflexions dans ce domaine (Klaric 2003 ; Pottier 2005). Dans le Sud-Ouest de la France, le Gravettien moyen est divisé en deux phases (d’après la stratigraphie de l’Abri Pataud) : la première est caractérisée par l’abondance des burins de Noailles et la seconde par la dominance des burins du Raysse (David 1995). Les industries du Gravettien moyen paraissent présenter une forte polymorphie due à l’alternance des burins de Noailles et du Raysse et à des quantités très variables d’armatures à dos abrupt (gravette, microgravette et lamelle à dos). Dans la seconde moitié du XXè siècle, cette forte polymorphie conduisit plusieurs auteurs à proposer diverses interprétations culturelles des industries rattachées à cette phase. Jusqu’à maintenant, deux hypothèses ont dominé les discussions, mais aucun argument décisif n’a pu être apporté en faveur de l’une ou de l’autre. La première est fondée sur la séquence de l’Abri Pataud et considère que les phases « noaillienne » et « rayssienne » constituent deux étapes successives d’un faciès culturel (« le Noaillien ») distinct du reste du Périgordien (David 1995 in : Bricker (dir.) 1995 p. 130). La seconde hypothèse propose que les différences entre les industries reflètent une variabilité fonctionnelle. Les fluctuations des quantités de burins de Noailles, du Raysse et des pointes à dos abrupt sont alors interprétées comme le résultat d’activités particulières conduisant à la prolifération de tel ou tel type d’outils (Laville et Rigaud 1973 ; Rigaud 1982). Des recherches récentes (Klaric 2003) et les découvertes réalisées sur un nouveau site rayssien (La Picardie, Indre-et-Loire) semblent finalement contredire cette seconde hypothèse et relancer les discussions à propos de la première. Ces travaux conduisent également à proposer un nouveau scénario interprétatif de la phase rayssienne, cette dernière étant alors considérée comme une sorte d’épisode paléohistorique où les traditionnelles pointes de La Gravette sont absentes (ou quasiment).Although Gravettian is often thought as one of the first pan-European cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic, it is also recognized that regional particularities should have existed on such huge territories (from Portugal to Russia) and long time span (more or less 8 000 years). But these variations have not been well evidenced until now. Recent investigations in France (Klaric 2003; Pottier 2005) allowed re-examination of the “Perigordian Vc” of Peyrony now called “Middle Gravettian”. In South-west France, Middle Gravettian is divided in two phases based upon “l’Abri Pataud” stratigraphy (level 4). The first one is characterised by an abundance of Noailles burins (Noaillian phase) and the second one by the dominance of Raysse burins (Rayssian phase). Investigations in the 1960s through the 1980s, showed a strong typological polymorphism related to quantitative variations of both Noailles and Raysse burins and also abrupt backed-points (Gravette, microgravette and backed bladlelets), sometimes in the same layer. This polymorphism led to different cultural interpretations (Delporte 1961; Laville and Rigaud 1973; Rigaud 1982, 1988; David 1985). Until now, only two main hypotheses have dominated the discussions, but decisive arguments were never brought to support one or the other. The first one is based on “l’Abri Pataud” stratigraphy and considers that both noaillian and rayssian phases constitute a typological and cultural faciès (the “Noaillian”) distinct of the rest of Perigordian (David 1995 in: Bricker (dir.) 1995 p. 130). The second hypothesis proposes that the differences between the industries reflect functional variability: the fluctuations of Noailles, Raysse burins and abrupt backed points being interpreted as the result of peculiar activities leading to the proliferation of different types of tools (Laville et Rigaud 1973; Rigaud 1982). Recent technological investigations (Klaric 2003) and discoveries on a new Rayssian site, “la Picardie” (Indre-et-Loire, France), invalidate the second hypothesis, promulgate discussions about the first one, and finally lead to proposed new “scenarios” of the interpretation of the Rayssian phase. This new idea proposes it to be a particular “palaeohistorical” episode of Gravettian where traditional Gravette-points are almost, or totally, absent

"The success of a production depends on the attention paid to detail": the example of bladelet production with Raysse method (Middle Gravettian, France) [«La réussite d’une production repose sur l’attention prêtée aux détails»: l’exemple des débitages...]

Après un bref rappel historiographique sur le Gravettien moyen français (Noaillien et Rayssien), cet article se propose de faire le point sur les derniers développements concernant les burins-nucléus du Raysse et les lamelles de la Picardie (deux « fossiles directeurs » caractéristiques du Rayssien, c’est-à-dire la seconde phase du Gravettien moyen). Il s’agira de rappeler les objectifs de ces débitages lamellaires et les grands principes techniques qui les régissent tout en détaillant l’ensemble des pièces caractéristiques (burin-nucléus, lamelles de la Picardie, lamelles du Raysse) qui permettent de les reconnaitre. Ensuite, certains aspects morpho-dimensionnels et qualitatifs de la variabilité des lamelles de la Picardie et des burin-nucléus du Raysse seront détaillés à partir de quelques exemples (La Picardie, la Grotte-du-Renne et Solvieux). Pour finir, à partir de l’étude technologique des burins-nucléus du Raysse et de reconstitutions expérimentales, plusieurs détails techniques discrets inédits seront présentés. Ainsi, outre la préparation très particulière des talons à facettage latéralisé oblique, l’incidence du geste de percussion ainsi que le maintien du nucléus apparaissent aussi comme des éléments indispensables à la bonne mise en œuvre de la méthode du Raysse. La compréhension intime de ces éléments de détails relève d’une meilleure lecture technologique des assemblages tout autant qu’elle constitue un élément clef pour l’étude de l’évolution et de la transmission des systèmes techniques.This paper aims to present the last developments about Raysse-burin cores, Picardie bladelets and Raysse bladelets, three typical artefacts of the second stage of French Middle Gravettian a.k.a the “Rayssian” phase (who just follows the classical Noaillian). Through a brief state of the art, reminding how Raysse burins have been discovered by L. Pradel in the 50’s and later described by H.L. Movius and N. David in the 80’s, we will set out how these artefacts have finally been interpreted as burin core. Indeed, technological studies of the beginning of the XXIth century have demonstrated that these so-called “burins” are real bladelet cores for the production of lithic implements now called “Picardie bladelets”. These bladelets are sharp, pointed, elongated and show a dissymmetric section. They are sometimes slightly twisted. All specimens exhibit a simple marginal direct retouch (not necessarily continuous) lateralised on the right side of the microlith. Thanks to the presence of impact fractures, they are interpreted as weapon implements. These artefacts usually replace microgravettes and abrupt backed bladelets in several sites studied (e.g., La Picardie or Reindeer cave). In order to underline the role of the technological approach in this study about the Rayssian phase, we will remind the main technological principles that rule the production on a Raysse burin core. We will also give details about the technical features that allow their recognition in new lithic assemblages, providing relevant examples lately identified in different sites freshly excavated (Bouyssonie cave) or recently re-excavated (Maldidier cave, Les Fieux) and in old collections reassessed (Laussel). Afterwards, based on some archaeological examples (La Picardie, Reindeer cave, Solvieux), we will focus on the morphological, dimensionnal and technical variability of the Picardie bladelets and the Raysse-burin cores. From on site to another, these artefacts tend to exhibit clear dimensional and sometimes technical variability. For example, the comparison of la Picardie and the Reeinder cave bladelets reveals a great variation of dimension. Several hypothesis will be proposed to bring up leads that could explain such a variability. Finally we will detail briefly the main original features and differences we have noticed during our previous investigations conducted these last ten years. In addition, experimental reconstitutions and technological studies of Raysse-burin cores also lead to a better understanding of discreet technical key-details of this original method of débitage. We will focus on the question of the preparation of the patform on Raysse burin core as well as on the type of hammer used for the removal of the bladelets and the kinetic of the gesture required to perform a successful removal. In the conclusion we will examine the consequences of this better understanding of Raysse burin cores technology. We will discuss the reasons that could explain the emergence and the short life-time of this peculiar type of débitage. The major advantage of this method of production lies in the high degree of predetermination of the products obtained asthey finally do not require a high degree of retouch to achieve a functional implement. On the other hand, a disadvantage lies on the lack of flexibility of the chaine opératoire. In term of transmission it is very likely that this method is not so easy to transmit, learn properly. The high number of parameters to master in order to reproduce successfully this method may have been a problem for its spreading. In other words, this peculiar method may have evolved quickly into other forms of more flexible débitage because of it was too much constraining

Des armatures variées et des modes de production variable. Réflexions à partir de quelques exemples issus du Gravettien d’Europe occidentale (France, Portugal, Allemagne)

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Gravettian cranial morphology and human group affinities during the European Upper Palaeolithic.

Archaeologically defined Upper Palaeolithic (UP, 45,000-10,000 years ago) "cultures" are often used as proxies to designate fossil populations. While recent genomic studies have partly clarified the complex relationship between European UP "cultures" and past population dynamics, they leave open numerous questions regarding the biological characterization of these human groups, especially regarding the Mid-UP period (MUP, 33,000-24,000 years ago), which encompasses a pan-European cultural mosaic (Gravettian) with several regional facies. Here, we analyse a large database of well-dated and well-preserved UP crania, including MUP specimens from South-West France (SWF) and Moravia, using 3D geometric morphometrics to test for human group affinities. Our results show that the Gravettian makers from these two regions form a remarkably phenetically homogeneous sample which is different from, and more homogeneous than, the Late UP sample. Those results are congruent with genomic studies indicating a genetic continuity within the Gravettian manufacturers and a discontinuity marked by the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Moreover, our study expands the geographical range of the MUP phenetic continuity to SWF, for which aDNA data are scarce, and clarifies the post-LGM European population structure in SWF, with a possible dual ancestry stemming from different LGM refugia

Les vestiges humains gravettiens dans le Sud-Ouest de la France : bilan du projet Gravett’os

Cette communication présente les principaux résultats du projet Gravett’Os, qui porte sur du matériel anthropologique du Sud-Ouest de la France (découvertes récentes et reprises des collections anciennes) associé au Gravettien (34-24 000 cal BP). Ce projet a permis l’identification de 32 individus provenant de 5 sites (Cussac, Fournol, Gargas, Abri Pataud, Cro-Magnon). Nos études confortent les analyses précédentes sur les comportements au Gravettien : extrême mobilité et division sexuelle du..

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Open access funding provided by Max Planck Society. This project has received funding by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements no. 803147-RESOLUTION (to S.T.), no. 771234-PALEoRIDER (to W.H.), no. 864358 (to K.M.), no. 724703 and no. 101019659 (to K.H.). K.H. is also supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG FOR 2237). E.A. has received funding from the Van de Kamp fonds. PACEA co-authors of this research benefited from the scientific framework of the University of Bordeaux’s IdEx Investments for the Future programme/GPR Human Past. A.G.-O. is supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2017-22558). L. Sineo, M.L. and D.C. have received funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) PRIN 2017 grants 20177PJ9XF and 20174BTC4R_002. H. Rougier received support from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences of CSUN and the CSUN Competition for RSCA Awards. C.L.S. and T. Saupe received support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (project no. 2014-2020.4.01.16-0030) and C.L.S. received support from the Estonian Research Council grant PUT (PRG243). S. Shnaider received support from the Russian Science Foundation (no. 19-78-10053).Peer reviewe

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

: Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Peer reviewe

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2–4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease