Tourette-Levens – Grotte du Merle

Identifiant de l'opération archéologique : 8227 Date de l'opération : 2007 (FP) Inventeur(s) : Desclaux Emmanuel (SUP) ; Valensi Patricia (SUP) ; Cauche Dominique (SUP) ; Hanquet Constance (SUP) ; Lecervoisier Bertrand (SUP) ; Moussous Abdelkader (SUP) ; Simon Patrick (MUS) ; Jourdain Lucien (MNHP) ; Carles Lionel (MNHM) La grotte du Merle est une petite cavité située sur la rive droite du Riou, petit affluent du Paillon, connue pour son intérêt préhistorique par les fouilles intensives de de..

Diversité morphologique des populations de bouquetin des Alpes (Capra ibex) dans le Sud de la France du Pléistocène moyen supérieur à l’Holocène

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Primi risultati di un’analisi multidisciplinare di un femore umano associato ai livelli del Musteriano finale (Foyer B) della Grotta del Principe di Monaco (Ventimiglia, IM, Italia).

Durante le campagne di scavo condotte tra il 1895 e il 1902, nella Grotta del Principe di Monaco (Ventimiglia, Imperia, Italia) venne alla luce un frammento di osso lungo (PM-F-3034) dai livelli tardo-musteriani della stratigrafia (Foyer B), attribuiti al MIS4. Questo reperto è rimasto per molto tempo conservato e non identificato nel Museo di Antropologia preistorica del Principato di Monaco, fino alla sua “riscoperta” da parte del Dr. Abdelkader Moussous, durante l’analisi dei resti di grandi mammiferi delle Grotte dei Balzi Rossi, nell’ambito della sua tesi di dottorato (2014); il reperto venne già allora riconosciuto come un resto umano. Al fine di identificarne la corretta determinazione anatomica, l’appartenenza tassonomica e, di conseguenza, comprenderne la relazione con il contesto musteriano associato, si è proceduto all’acquisizione tramite tomografia computerizzata ospedaliera (TC) con conseguenti elaborazioni digitali. Le analisi hanno evidenziato una forte alterazione corticale causata da particolari processi tafonomici avvenuti nel corso del tempo. L’elaborazione virtuale della diafisi umana, riconosciuta come femore (PM-F-3034), ha permesso di condurre analisi morfometriche non invasive (diametri antero-posteriori e medio-laterali, lunghezza biomeccanica, area midollare e corticale, indice pilastrico) (Caffarone, 2020), volte a identificare l’attribuzione tassonomica di questo individuo. Inoltre, considerando la posizione stratigrafica e lo stato di conservazione del resto umano, si è deciso di procedere con l’attribuzione cronologica al radiocarbonio (14C), previo rilevamento di collagene tramite analisi microspettroscopica NIR (microNIR) (Catelli et al., 2020). Contrariamente a quanto ci si poteva aspettare, i valori ottenuti attraverso le analisi virtuali attribuiscono il femore a un individuo appartenente a Homo sapiens, esito confermato anche dall’analisi al 14C che lo colloca cronologicamente nel XV secolo. Questi risultati sottolineano la complessità stratigrafica della Grotta del Principe di Monaco, evidenziando occupazioni diacroniche sin da periodi relativamente recenti. In conclusione, questo studio ha dimostrato che l’analisi antropologica dei resti fossili, unitamente all’analisi al 14C, è fondamentale per una corretta attribuzione crono-tassonomica, compensando le incertezze e le alterazioni indotte durante l’attività di scavo, oltre a quelle prodotte da processi diagenetici che possono aver generato un parziale rimescolamento sedimentario.During the excavation campaigns occurred between 1895 and 1902, a fragment of a long bone (PM-F-3034) was discovered in the late Mousterian levels of the stratigraphy (Foyer B), attributed to MIS4, in the Prince of Monaco’s Cave (Ventimiglia, Imperia, Italy). This find remained for a long time stored but unidentified in the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of the Principality of Monaco until its “rediscovery” by Dr. Abdelkader Moussous, during the analysis of large mammal remains from the Balzi Rossi caves, as part of his PhD thesis (2014); in this circumstance the fragment was recognized as a human remain. In order to identify its correct anatomical determination, its taxonomy and, consequently, to understand its relationship with the associated Mousterian context, it was acquired by hospital computed tomography (CT) with subsequent digital processing. The analysis showed a strong cortical alteration, caused by taphonomic processes that occurred over time. Virtual processing of the human diaphysis, recognized as a femur (PM-F-3034), allowed to conduct non-invasive morphometric analyses (antero-posterior and medio-lateral diameters, biomechanical length, medullary and cortical area, pilastric index) (Caffarone, 2020) aimed to identify the taxonomic attribution of this individual. Furthermore, considering the stratigraphic position and the state of preservation of the human remain, it was decided to proceed with 14C chronological attribution, preceded by the collagen detection by microspectroscopic NIR (microNIR) analysis (Catelli et al., 2020). Contrary to what might have been expected, the values obtained through the virtual analysis attribute the femur to Homo sapiens and it is also confirmed by 14C, that place the human bone chronologically in the 15th century. These results underline the stratigraphic complexity of the Prince of Monaco’s Cave and highlighting diachronic occupations since relatively recent periods. In conclusion, this study has shown that the anthropological analysis of fossil remains, along with 14C, is fundamental for a correct chrono-taxonomic attribution, compensating for the uncertainties and alterations induced during excavation activities, as well as those produced by diagenetic processes that may have generated a partial sedimentary mixing

Stalagmite-inferred European westerly drift with centennial-scale variability in marine isotope stage 5a

International audienceMarine isotope stage (MIS) 5a, a relatively warm period occurring 85-74 thousand years ago (ka, before AD 1950) during the last glacial, provides a window for understanding the linkage between the European westerlies and Mediterranean climate. However, lack of highly-resolved paleoclimate records with absolute chronologies hampers our knowledge of decadal-to-centennial-scale climate changes and forcings in the circum-Mediterranean realm. Here, we present 230Th-dated, 5-yr-resolved stalagmite δ18O and δ13C records from Observatoire Cave (43°44’N, 7°25’E), Monaco, northern Mediterranean, for the period 83.6-80.3 ka, indicating hydrological changes over the region in the first-half of MIS 5a. Multi-centennial arid intervals are recorded in both δ18O and δ13C speleothem records, some of which correspond to North Atlantic ice rafted detritus (IRD) events. A transient simulation of MIS 5a suggests that these arid events could be due to slowdowns of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), with the poleward-migrated westerlies. One or two drought events during the time without significant temperature drops in the high-latitude North Atlantic could be attributed centennial positive-NAO-like states. Furthermore, a significant periodicity of 210 years, matching the De Vries-Suess solar cycle, suggests a possible solar influence on hydroclimate in southern Europe at MIS 5a

Stalagmite-inferred European westerly drift in the early Weichselian with centennial-scale variability in marine isotope stage 5a

International audienceThe Weichselian glaciation is characterized by significant ocean circulation variations starting from ∼115 thousand years ago (ka) and terminating at ∼11.5 ka. The early Weichselian (115–74 ka), especially marine isotope stage (MIS) 5a at 85–74 ka, provides a window for understanding the linkage between the European westerlies and Mediterranean climate. However, lack of highly-resolved paleoclimate records with absolute chronologies hampers our knowledge of decadal-to-centennial-scale climate changes and forcings in the circum-Mediterranean realm. Here, we present 230Th-dated stalagmite-inferred hydroclimate records from Observatoire cave (43°44′ N, 7°25’ E), Monaco, for the period between 88.7 ± 0.4 and 80.3 ± 0.1 ka, covering portions of MIS 5b and 5a. Agreement between Observatoire and circum-Mediterranean stalagmite records confirm large-scale warming over the Atlantic-Europe territory during the transition from MIS 5b to 5a. Subdecadally-resolved Observatoire δ18O and δ13C records express four multi-centennial arid intervals in southern Europe at 84–80 ka in the first-half of MIS 5a, suggesting centennial westerly drifts, a finding supported by a model simulation. Westerly changes and associated arid events can be attributed to slowdowns of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, North Atlantic Oscillation states, and solar activity

Upper Pleistocene sea level changes and human peopling at the northern margin of the Mediterranean Sea: the S-P-Heritage Project

none20openAndrea Zerboni, Irene M. Bollati, Luca Forti, Silvia Gazzo, Abdelkader Moussous, Giovanni Muttoni, Fabio Negrino, Olivier Notter, Manuela Pelfini, Alessandro Perego, Serena Perini, Luca Ragaini, Eleonora Regattieri, Elena Rossoni-Notter, Alessio Rovere, Deirdre Ryan, Marco Serradimigni, Elisabetta Starnini, Matteo Vacchi, Marta PappalardoZerboni, Andrea; Bollati, Irene M.; Forti, Luca; Gazzo, Silvia; Moussous, Abdelkader; Muttoni, Giovanni; Negrino, Fabio; Notter, Olivier; Pelfini, Manuela; Perego, Alessandro; Perini, Serena; Ragaini, Luca; Regattieri, Eleonora; Rossoni-Notter, Elena; Rovere, Alessio; Ryan, Deirdre; Serradimigni, Marco; Starnini, Elisabetta; Vacchi, Matteo; Pappalardo, Mart