Les micromammifères, marqueurs de l'anthropisation du milieu

Les rapports étroits entre les micromammifères et leurs biotopes sont utilisés depuis de nombreuses années pour reconstituer les paléoenvironnements pléistocènes. Malgré la richesse des informations fournies, très peu de sites holocènes ont été étudiés. La méthodologie présentée, de la phase de terrain à la synthèse des résultats, est illustrée par des exemples holocènes. Les microfaunes nous renseignent essentiellement sur les paléoclimats et les paléoenvironnements, mais aussi sur l'anthropisation des paysages et sur la fonction des structures archéologiques.Micromammals, markers of the humanization of the environment. -- The close relations between micromammals and their biotopes have been used for several years now to reconstitute pleistocene paleoenvironments. Despite the wealth of information thus obtained, very few holocene sites have been studied. The methodology presented herein, from field work up to the interpretation of results, is illustrated with holocene examples. Microfauna teaches us not only about paleoclimates and paleoenvironments, but also about the humanization of landscapes and the functions of archeological structures

Biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental implications of the Middle Palaeolithic and Chatelperronian occupations of La Tour Fondue site in Chauriat (Puy-de-Dôme, France)

This article presents results of the excavations carried out in 2004 on part of the rock shelter of La Tour Fondue at Chauriat (fig. 1). The aim of this intervention was to specify the chronological and stratigraphic position of the human settlements, to characterize them at a cultural level and to establish the local palaeoenvironment. The sedimentary deposits were more than 3.20 m deep (fig. 5 to 7). They yielded a large quantity of micromammals associated with macrofauna. Studying these provided a bioclimatic and palaeoenvironmental framework that can be divided into five stages, starting at the end of Isotope Stage 5 and ending between Isotope Stages 3 and 2. The Middle Palaeolithic human occupations found in the upper levels occurred during a temperate episode with a cold tendency in Isotope Stage 5 (“Chauriat 1” Stage) and lasted until the “Chauriat 4” Stage at the end of Isotope Stage 3. For their lithic industries, Middle Palaeolithic people used tertiary flints found next to the shelter without considering their quality. These materials were used to obtain flakes in Levallois and discoid production modes. The upper levels contain Chatelperronian and unspecified Upper Palaeolithic occupations. The Chatelperronian took place in a climate correlated with an interstadial at the limit between Stages 3 and 2 (“Chauriat 5” Stage). Chatelperronian people were different than their predecessors in favouring better quality raw materials, found about twenty kilometres from the site. The industries of the upper levels aimed at producing straight and short blades blanks knapped with a soft stone hammer for the Chatelperronians, and long and curved blades blanks knapped with a soft organic hammer for the last occupiers of the shelter

Biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental implications of the Middle Palaeolithic and Chatelperronian occupations of La Tour Fondue site in Chauriat (Puy-de-Dôme, France)

This article presents results of the excavations carried out in 2004 on part of the rock shelter of La Tour Fondue at Chauriat (fig. 1). The aim of this intervention was to specify the chronological and stratigraphic position of the human settlements, to characterize them at a cultural level and to establish the local palaeoenvironment. The sedimentary deposits were more than 3.20 m deep (fig. 5 to 7). They yielded a large quantity of micromammals associated with macrofauna. Studying these provided a bioclimatic and palaeoenvironmental framework that can be divided into five stages, starting at the end of Isotope Stage 5 and ending between Isotope Stages 3 and 2. The Middle Palaeolithic human occupations found in the upper levels occurred during a temperate episode with a cold tendency in Isotope Stage 5 (“Chauriat 1” Stage) and lasted until the “Chauriat 4” Stage at the end of Isotope Stage 3. For their lithic industries, Middle Palaeolithic people used tertiary flints found next to the shelter without considering their quality. These materials were used to obtain flakes in Levallois and discoid production modes. The upper levels contain Chatelperronian and unspecified Upper Palaeolithic occupations. The Chatelperronian took place in a climate correlated with an interstadial at the limit between Stages 3 and 2 (“Chauriat 5” Stage). Chatelperronian people were different than their predecessors in favouring better quality raw materials, found about twenty kilometres from the site. The industries of the upper levels aimed at producing straight and short blades blanks knapped with a soft stone hammer for the Chatelperronians, and long and curved blades blanks knapped with a soft organic hammer for the last occupiers of the shelter

Au temps des Gaulois. L’Aquitaine avant César: catalogue d'exposition du Musée d'Aquitaine, Bordeaux, 15 septembre 2012-17 mars 2013

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Implications biostratigraphiques et paléoenvironnementales des occupations du Paléolithique moyen et du Châtelperronien du site de La Tour Fondue à Chauriat (Puy-de-Dôme, France)

International audienceThis work presents the results of the excavation carried out in 2004 on part of the shelter of La Tour Fondue at Chauriat (fig. 1). The aim of this intervention was to specify the chronological and stratigraphic position of the human settlements, to characterize them at a cultural level and to establish the local paleoenvironment. The sedimentary deposits were more than 3.20 m high (fig. 5 to 7). The lower set (levels 5 to 3b) yielded Mousterian industry and fauna. The upper set yielded Chatelperronian industry and fauna (level 3a) and some lithic artefacts which belong to an unidentified Upper Paleolithic settlement (level 2). The paleontological studies demonstrated the essentially anthropological character of the bones remains in the shelter, the carnivores playing only a minor role. Horse remains are dominant in the fauna followed by Bos or Bison and Reindeer (tab. 6 to 14).The large quantity of micromammals collected during the excavation allowed determining a bioclimatic paleoenvironment, largely confirmed by the study of the macro-fauna (fig. 8). The Mousterian activities constituting the lower set took place during a temperate episode with a cold tendency in OIS 5 (« Chauriat 1 » stage). The environment was quite dry and the landscape sharply opened, with some restricted woody areas which declined during the following climatic deterioration (« Chauriat 2 » stage), correlated to OIS 4. During the following stage, dry and correlated to the end of OIS 3 (« Chauriat 3 » stage), the forest almost completely disappeared around the site. The conditions became milder again during the following stage which, from its beginning, corresponded to the end of the Mousterian (« Chauriat 4 » stage). The forest increased again with more humidity. This stage, situated at the end of OIS 3, corresponds very certainly to Les Cottés Interstadial. The evolution of the biozone corresponded to the climatic instability which followed the interstadial. The climate became drier and the forest increased again during the following stage, correlated with an interstadial at the limit between OIS 3 and OIS 2 (« Chauriat 5 » stage). The Chatelperronian took place during this last phase (33 402554 BP (Wk-17109)) at the base of level 2 and the top of level 3a. As it is the case in several sites such as « La grotte du Renne » in Arcy-sur-Cure, the Chatelperronian is found at the end of Les Cottés Interstadial (Girard et al. 1990 ; Pelegrin 1995).The Mousterian lithic industry shows an homogeneity which is certainly attributable to the small size of the series. The behavioural differences are clearer when we compare the Mousterian with the Chatelperronian and with the last Palaeolithic level. From the point of view of raw materials, Mousterian people used flint situated near the shelter without questioning its qualities. Châtelperronian people worried about this more and their territory of acquisition was about twenty kilometers around the site. It is also the case of the last occupants of the shelter who imported material from the Berry region. The Mousterian industry was using Levallois and discoïdal debitages to obtain flakes which are essentially retouched in scrapers (fig. 11 and 12). Chatelperronian people used soft stone to produce rectilinear and short blades and retouched different types of tools (fig. 13 to 16). The last inhabitants of the shelter used organic soft hammers to obtain long and curved blades (fig. 17).Ce travail présente les résultats de l’opération de terrain réalisée en 2004 sur une partie de l’abri-sous-roche de la Tour Fondue à Chauriat. Les objectifs de cette intervention ponctuelle (ravivage de coupe) étaient de préciser la position chronologique et stratigraphique des occupations humaines, de les caractériser sur un plan culturel et d’établir le cadre paléoenvironnemental dans lequel elles se sont développées. Les dépôts sédimentaires qui se développent sur plus de 3,20 m ont livré une grande quantité de micromammifères associés à de la macrofaune. Le cadre bioclimatique et paléoenvironnemental obtenu grâce à leur étude se divise en 5 phases, couvrant la fin du stade isotopique 5 jusqu’à la limite entre les stades isotopiques 3 et 2. Les occupations humaines du Paléolithique moyen constituant l’ensemble inférieur se mettent en place au cours d’un épisode tempéré à tendance froide du stade isotopique 5 (phase « Chauriat 1 ») et perdurent jusqu’à la phase « Chauriat 4 », située à la fin du stade isotopique 3. Du point de vue des industries lithiques, les hommes du Paléolithique moyen utilisent des silex tertiaires situés à proximité de l’abri sans tenir compte de leur qualité. Ces matériaux sont destinés à produire des éclats selon des modes de production Levallois et discoïde. L’ensemble supérieur regroupe les vestiges d’une occupation châtelperronienne et paléolithique supérieur indéterminée. Le Châtelperronien se développe dans un climat corrélé à un interstade marquant la limite entre les stades 3 et 2 (phase « Chauriat 5 »). Les Châtelperroniens marquent leurs différences par rapport à leurs prédécesseurs en privilégiant des matériaux de meilleure qualité, situés à une vingtaine de kilomètres autour du site. Les industries de cet ensemble supérieur sont orientées vers la production de supports laminaires rectilignes et courts, détachés à la pierre tendre dans le cas du Châtelperronien, longs et courbes, débités au percuteur tendre organique pour les derniers occupants de l’abri

Les niveaux de l'Age du bronze du Mourre de la Barque à Jouques (Bouches-du-Rhône). Première analyse du mobilier et reconstitution paléoenvironnementale - Documents CD-ROM

Renault Stéphane, Forest Vianney, Magnin Frédéric, Margarit Xavier, Mistrot Vincent, Thiébault Stéphanie, Vigne Jean-Denis, Weydert Nicolas, Bourhis Jean-René. Les niveaux de l'Age du bronze du Mourre de la Barque à Jouques (Bouches-du-Rhône). Première analyse du mobilier et reconstitution paléoenvironnementale - Documents CD-ROM. In: Documents d'Archéologie Méridionale, vol. 19-20, 1996. pp. 99-170

Les niveaux de l'Age du bronze du Mourre de la Barque à Jouques (Bouches-du-Rhône). Première analyse du mobilier et reconstitution paléoenvironnementale

Since the fortuitous discovery of two cavities on the locality of le Mourre de la Barque at Jouques in 1992, excavations are being carried out in the western cavity which have revealed the presence of considerable archaeological contents from the protohistoric (Iron Age and Bronze Age) and prehistoric (Neolithic) eras. A first description of the protohistorical sequence, based on the analysis of the archaeological objects, is proposed. Levels related to the early Iron Age, the late Bronze IIIb, the advanced middle Bronze and the early Bronze have been identified. The study is completed by a paleo-economical analysis and an attempt at reconstruction of the paleo-environment which, through a pluridisciplinary approach, contribute some additional elements to the still incomplete documentation of this period.Depuis la découverte fortuite en 1992 de deux cavités au lieu-dit le Mourre de la Barque à Jouques, des fouilles se déroulent dans la cavité la plus occidentale ayant révélé la présence d'un fort remplissage archéologique protohistorique (Age du fer et Age du bronze) et préhistorique (Néolithique). Une première description de la séquence protohistorique, réalisée à partir de l'analyse du mobilier archéologique, est proposée. Ont été reconnus des niveaux se rapportant au premier Age du fer, au Bronze final IIIb, au Bronze moyen évolué ainsi qu'au Bronze ancien. Cette étude est complétée par une analyse paléoéconomique et un essai de reconstitution paléoenvironnementale qui apportent, à travers une approche pluridisciplinaire, quelques éléments supplémentaires à une documentation encore lacunaire pour cette période.Renault Stéphane, Bourhis Jean-René, Forest Vianney, Magnin Frédéric, Margarit Xavier, Mistrot Vincent, Thiébault Stéphanie, Vigne Jean-Denis, Weydert Nicolas. Les niveaux de l'Age du bronze du Mourre de la Barque à Jouques (Bouches-du-Rhône). Première analyse du mobilier et reconstitution paléoenvironnementale. In: Documents d'Archéologie Méridionale, vol. 19-20, 1996. pp. 33-56