Research Interests: Geography, Archaeology, Geology, Geomorphology, Geoarchaeology, and 15 moreLandscape Archaeology, Biostratigraphy, Fluvial Geomorphology, Fossil, Early Pleistocene, Interdisciplinary research, Biochronology, Archéologie, Basalts, Basalt, Early humans, Archeology, Basalte, Late Early Pleistocene, and Human palaeontology
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A new vertebrate fauna associated with lithic artefacts from the Early Pleistocene of the Hérault Valley (southern France) dated around 1.57 Ma. A new vertebrate fauna associated with lithic artefacts from the Early Pleistocene of the... more
A new vertebrate fauna associated with lithic artefacts from the Early Pleistocene of the Hérault Valley (southern France) dated around 1.57 Ma. A new vertebrate fauna associated with lithic artefacts from the Early Pleistocene of the Hérault Valley (southern France) dated around 1.57 Ma. Some lithic artefacts associated with an Early Pleistocene (Upper Villafranchian) vertebrate fossil assemblage have been found from a quarry exploited for basalt in the lower Hérault Valley (Languedoc, southern France)
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The Bois-de-Riquet archeological site (L ezignan-la-C ebe, H erault, France) provides significant paleon-tological and archeological data about the first occupations of Western Europe. Although only partially excavated, the site has... more
The Bois-de-Riquet archeological site (L ezignan-la-C ebe, H erault, France) provides significant paleon-tological and archeological data about the first occupations of Western Europe. Although only partially excavated, the site has already yielded an exceptionally rich paleontological assemblage as well as some stone artefacts. The archeostratigraphical unit " US2 " is encased within a basalt flowstone radiometrically dated to 1.57 Ma. The sedimentary infill has preserved large and small mammal fossils, as well as coprolites. Biochronological interpretations suggest an age of around 1.3e1.1 Ma for the accumulation. A few basalt artefacts were exhumed alongside the fossil bones. Interpretation of the lithics has required the elaboration of a strict selection protocol based upon extensive knapping experiments with local basalt. This paper presents results from the interdisciplinary study of the Bois-de-Riquet site in the aim of contextualizing these discoveries. The microstratigraphical analysis of the deposits is presented with recent geological interpretations in order to contribute a better understanding of the main features of this assemblage, and its remarkable preservation within the thermal and textural boundary between a basalt flowstone's base and its entablature.
ABSTRACT Plio-Pleistocene climate oscillations in the different regions of Western Europe substantially influenced the evolutionary history of European leporids. Distinguishing rabbits (Oryctolagus) from hares (Lepus) in the archeological... more
ABSTRACT Plio-Pleistocene climate oscillations in the different regions of Western Europe substantially influenced the evolutionary history of European leporids. Distinguishing rabbits (Oryctolagus) from hares (Lepus) in the archeological and palaeontological record of Pleistocene Europe is complicated due to the variability of their size and morphology. Here, we present the first description of two Pleistocene leporid species from Bois-de-Riquet (Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Hérault) in southern France. The first, Oryctolagus cf. giberti, exhibits similar characteristics to rabbit species documented in Spain and, thus, for the first time is recorded outside the Iberian Peninsula. The second leporid is a hare represented by very limited number of non-diagnostic remains, which, unfortunately, precludes an exact species identification. Already known from Lower Pleistocene deposits in Central Europe and Spain, the presence of Lepus sp. in southern France sheds new light on the geographic extension of these species. In this respect, Bois-de-Riquet is an important paleontological site that can further our understanding of the evolutionary history and expansion of European leporids.
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Il y a une vingtaine d’années, des dents de mammouths ont été retrouvées dans les déblais de la décharge de la commune d’Aubais (Gard, Sud-Est de la France). Des opérations de fouille de sauvetage, de tri et de tamisage ont par la suite... more
Il y a une vingtaine d’années, des dents de mammouths ont été retrouvées dans les déblais de la décharge de la commune d’Aubais (Gard, Sud-Est de la France). Des opérations de fouille de sauvetage, de tri et de tamisage ont par la suite été menées et ont permis d’identifier la présence de 19 taxons de vertébrés continentaux. Les carnivores dominent (n=10), suivis par les herbivores (n=5), les oiseaux (n=1) et les léporidés (n=2) dont les restes sont les plus abondants. Aucun reste de micromammifères n’a en revanche été retrouvé. Les observations sédimentologiques croisées aux données géologiques locales permettent d’affirmer l’homogénéité de la faune piégée dans une ancienne doline creusée dans des niveaux burdigaliens. Les restes osseux étaient à l’origine en bon état de conservation mais ont été fragmentés lors de leur extraction par des engins de terrassement (fracturation et griffures d’engins). Le type d’extraction du sédiment à l’origine de ces déblais n’a pas permis de procéder à une étude taphonomique. Les différentes études fauniques permettent de positionner chronologiquement le gisement au cours du stade isotopique 6. Aucune trace d’activités humaines et carnivores n’a été détectée et la faune de la décharge d’Aubais permet de mieux comprendre l’environnement dans lequel évoluaient les groupes humains de la région à fin du Pléistocène moyen.
Twenty years ago, mammoth teeth were discovered in Aubais landfill (Gard, Southeastern France). Salvage excavations were subsequently conducted and the sediment has been sifted and screened. Therefore, 19 continental vertebrate species have been identified. Carnivores species are dominant (n=10) followed by the herbivorous (n=5), birds (n=1) and leporids (n=2) which are the most abundant. In contrast, no micromammal remains were found. The analysis of the sediments and the local geological data permit to indicate that this fauna is homogeneous and has been trapped in an oldest sinkhole opened in the Burdigalian. The faunal remains were well preserved initially but they were fragmented during their extraction by earth-moving machine (breakage, scratches). Consequently, it was not possible to study the taphonomical processes. The paleontological study allows us to chronologically relate the deposit to the marine isotopic stage 6. Although no indication of human activities has been detected, the Aubais fauna provides a better understanding of the local environment of human groups during the late Middle Pleistocene.
Twenty years ago, mammoth teeth were discovered in Aubais landfill (Gard, Southeastern France). Salvage excavations were subsequently conducted and the sediment has been sifted and screened. Therefore, 19 continental vertebrate species have been identified. Carnivores species are dominant (n=10) followed by the herbivorous (n=5), birds (n=1) and leporids (n=2) which are the most abundant. In contrast, no micromammal remains were found. The analysis of the sediments and the local geological data permit to indicate that this fauna is homogeneous and has been trapped in an oldest sinkhole opened in the Burdigalian. The faunal remains were well preserved initially but they were fragmented during their extraction by earth-moving machine (breakage, scratches). Consequently, it was not possible to study the taphonomical processes. The paleontological study allows us to chronologically relate the deposit to the marine isotopic stage 6. Although no indication of human activities has been detected, the Aubais fauna provides a better understanding of the local environment of human groups during the late Middle Pleistocene.
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Features observed in the skull, girdles and limbs of the Plesiosaur recently discovered at Tournemire (Aveyron) allow its assignment to the genus Plesiosaurus Conybeare, 1821 with the systematic content of Persson. The specimen exhibits a... more
Features observed in the skull, girdles and limbs of the Plesiosaur recently discovered at Tournemire (Aveyron) allow its assignment to the genus Plesiosaurus Conybeare, 1821 with the systematic content of Persson. The specimen exhibits a novel association of anatomical features and ...
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Abstract.- Recent works in the phosphorites of the Quercy area have permitted the identification of 29 faunas, older than the "Grande Coupure". From these, no less than 230 vertebrate taxa are listed. The distribution, association, and... more
Abstract.- Recent works in the phosphorites of the Quercy area have permitted the identification of 29 faunas, older than the "Grande Coupure". From these, no less than 230 vertebrate taxa are listed. The distribution, association, and the degree of evolution of these taxa allow the arrangement of these faunas according to five successive mammalian standard levels, from that of Robiac to that of Escamps, corresponding to a period of tirne included hetween the Marinesian and the end of the Upper Ludian. A detailed survey shows that many modifications occur before the "Grande Coupure" in the composition of these faunas.
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The Bois-de-Riquet archeological site (Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Hérault, France) provides significant paleontological and archeological data about the first occupations of Western Europe. Although only partially excavated, the site has already... more
The Bois-de-Riquet archeological site (Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Hérault, France) provides significant paleontological and archeological data about the first occupations of Western Europe. Although only partially excavated, the site has already yielded an exceptionally rich paleontological assemblage as well as some stone artefacts. The archeostratigraphical unit “US2” is encased within a basalt flowstone radiometrically dated to 1.57 Ma. The sedimentary infill has preserved large and small mammal fossils, as well as coprolites. Biochronological interpretations suggest an age of around 1.3–1.1 Ma for the accumulation. A few basalt artefacts were exhumed alongside the fossil bones. Interpretation of the lithics has required the elaboration of a strict selection protocol based upon extensive knapping experiments with local basalt. This paper presents results from the interdisciplinary study of the Bois-de-Riquet site in the aim of contextualizing these discoveries. The microstratigraphical analysis of the deposits is presented with recent geological interpretations in order to contribute a better understanding of the main features of this assemblage, and its remarkable preservation within the thermal and textural boundary between a basalt flowstone's base and its entablature.
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The Bois-de-Riquet archeological site (Lezignan-la-Cebe, Herault, France) provides significant paleontological and archeological data about the first occupations of Western Europe. Although only partially excavated, the site has already... more
The Bois-de-Riquet archeological site (Lezignan-la-Cebe, Herault, France) provides significant paleontological and archeological data about the first occupations of Western Europe. Although only partially excavated, the site has already yielded an exceptionally rich paleontological assemblage as well as some stone artefacts. The archeostratigraphical unit “US2” is encased within a basalt flowstone radiometrically dated to 1.57 Ma. The sedimentary infill has preserved large and small mammal fossils, as well as coprolites. Biochronological interpretations suggest an age of around 1.3e1.1 Ma for the accumulation. A few basalt artefacts were exhumed alongside the fossil bones. Interpretation of the lithics has required the elaboration of a strict selection protocol based upon extensive knapping experiments with local basalt. This paper presents results from the interdisciplinary study of the Bois-de-Riquet site in the aim of contextualizing these discoveries. The microstratigraphical analysis of the deposits is presented with recent geological interpretations in order to contribute a better understanding of the main features of this assemblage, and its remarkable preservation within the thermal and textural boundary between a basalt flowstone's base and its entablature.