Agnes Testu
University of perpignan, UMR 7194 CNRS MNHN, Faculty Member
- Paleontology, Archaeology, Paleoecology, Taphonomy, Biochronology, Carnivora, and 20 moreLarge Carnivores, Prehistoric Archaeology, Palaeolithic Europe, Palaeolithic archaeology, Mesolithic archaeology, Prehistoric transitions, Environmental archaeology, Archaeozoology, Pleistocene fauna, Palaeoclimate, Refugia and recolonisation, Spatial analysis, Palaeolithic art and symbolism, Felidae, Hyaenidae, Canidae, Pleistocene Vertebrate, Pleistocene Fossils, Zooarchaeology, Vertebrate Paleontology, Evolution and Human Behavior, Paleolithic Europe, Vertebrate taphonomy, Lower Paleolithic, Pleistocene mammals, Predation, Quaternary palaeontology, Palaeoecology, Palaeontology, and Pleistoceneedit
Research Interests: Physics and Humanities
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Research Interests: Geography and Humanities
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Evaluation of the duration of the anthropic occupations and of the degree of mobility of human Middle Pleistocene populations at the Caune de l'Arago (Tautavel, France). First results of an innovative multidisciplinary method using Machine Learning to define human behaviors and environment during...more
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International audienceÉtude génétique de la diversité et de l'alimentation de l'hyène des cavernes à partir de coprolithes de six sites du sud de la France A genetic survey for cave hyena diversity and food consumption. Insight... more
International audienceÉtude génétique de la diversité et de l'alimentation de l'hyène des cavernes à partir de coprolithes de six sites du sud de la France A genetic survey for cave hyena diversity and food consumption. Insight from DNA analysis of coprolites from six cave sites in the south of Franc
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Diversité des occupations humaines en contexte glaciaire à la Caune de l’Arag
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Entre 700 000 et 100 000 ans, soit pendant toute la duree du Pleistocene moyen, quinze metres de depots sedimentaires se sont accumules dans la vaste Caune de l’Arago. Ce remplissage a livre, en cinquante ans de fouilles methodiques, les... more
Entre 700 000 et 100 000 ans, soit pendant toute la duree du Pleistocene moyen, quinze metres de depots sedimentaires se sont accumules dans la vaste Caune de l’Arago. Ce remplissage a livre, en cinquante ans de fouilles methodiques, les temoignages de nombreux sols d’occupation humaine et d’associations de faunes locales successives. En l’etat actuel des fouilles, cinquante-trois niveaux correspondant a des sols d’occupation homogenes ou a des palimpsestes ont pu etre individualises. Tout le materiel archeologique mis au jour a fait l’objet d’une localisation par les recensements des coordonnees cartesiennes, les releves des coupes stratigraphiques, tous les metres, dans les sens longitudinal et transversal de la caverne et l’examen des projections d’objets sur des plans verticaux, tous les dix centimetres, dans les sens transversal et longitudinal. Dans ce tome VI consacre a l’individualisation des unites archeostratigraphiques, sont presentees pour chaque niveau, sur des graphiqu...
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The study of ungulate assemblages is essential to understand hominins and carnivore behavior and interactions. For this reason, many studies involve the taphonomic analysis of faunal remains, focusing on the identification of the various... more
The study of ungulate assemblages is essential to understand hominins and carnivore behavior and interactions. For this reason, many studies involve the taphonomic analysis of faunal remains, focusing on the identification of the various biotic actors. This study looks at the horse assemblages from Mousterian and Aurignacian Units I, II and III from Bize-Tournal cave with the aim to characterizing the nature of this accumulation. Here we show that the horse remains in these units are mainly the consequence of carnivoran activity. Unit II also clearly evidences the fact that the assemblage is the result of hyena activity. Our analysis indicates a predominance of cranial remains and lower long limb bones (metapodials). The mortality profiles of the three units are different, although two are classic of a cursorial predator. Taphonomical and statistical analysis indicated that carnivores were the main modifying agent at the three units. Our results demonstrate that hominins played a mi...
Research Interests: Geography, Archaeology, Geology, Taphonomy, Mousterian, and 8 moreAurignacian, Cave, Carnivore, Carnivores, Neanderthal, Hyena, Canis, and Ungulate
Abstract This paper presents new archaeological material and first dates on Upper Pleistocene layers at the site of La Crouzade cave (Gruissan, Aude, France). The site was first excavated by T. and P. Helena at the beginning of the... more
Abstract This paper presents new archaeological material and first dates on Upper Pleistocene layers at the site of La Crouzade cave (Gruissan, Aude, France). The site was first excavated by T. and P. Helena at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the excavations were recently completed during three years (2016–2018) of systematic campaigns. We obtained dates from Middle Palaeolithic layers using two methods: AMS 14C dates were obtained from bone and charcoal, and combined ESR-U series dating was undertaken on horse teeth. Together, these methods allowed us to date this Mousterian sequence to 49,776–44805 cal BP for the deepest level (layer C8) and from 42,000 ± 3000 years BP for the top (layer C6). The Upper Palaeolithic layers are preserved only as patches in the actual excavation area, but a date was obtained from a piece of charcoal collected from a small hearth preserved in the first layer (C5) above Middle Palaeolithic deposits, which indicates an age similar to that of a modern human maxillary previously analysed and re-dated here from 36,014 to 34402 cal BP, confirming its stratigraphic attribution. The Middle Palaeolithic lithics at the site were first described as para-Charentian cultural facies following typological analyses. The revision of the earlier collection supplemented with the new material, using a technological approach, allow to identify two layers dominated by Levallois production followed by discoid production (Layers C8 and C6) surrounding an original assemblage (layer C7), characterised by a dominant Levallois production completed by three secondary production systems of equal importance, including discoid, SSDA and a Quina-like production. The faunal spectrum predominantly comprises an assemblage of Pleistocene large mammals, and biochronological studies corroborate the dates obtained.
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ABSTRACT
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Research Interests: Geography, Archaeology, Geology, Geomorphology, Geoarchaeology, and 15 moreBiostratigraphy, Fluvial Geomorphology, Fossil, Early Pleistocene, Interdisciplinary research, Biochronology, Archéologie, Acheulean, Basalts, Basalt, Early humans, Archeology, Faunal Assemblage, Basalte, and Human palaeontology
Ongoing research at the Bois-de-Riquet site (Lézignanla- Cèbe, l’Hérault, France) has significantly increased the archeological data available for this exceptional Lower Pleistocene occurrence. Since its discovery in the 1990’s, the rich... more
Ongoing research at the Bois-de-Riquet site (Lézignanla- Cèbe, l’Hérault, France) has significantly increased the archeological data available for this exceptional Lower Pleistocene occurrence. Since its discovery in the 1990’s, the rich paleontological level situated within a basalt flowstone radiometrically dated to 1.57 Ma (archeostratigraphical unit: ‘US2’) has yielded a well preserved large and small mammal assemblage. New biochronological evaluations based on the entire faunal assemblage allow an age evaluation of around 1.3-1.2 Ma for this level (late-Early Pleistocene). A small lithic assemblage in basalt is attributed to anthropic intrusion.
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que reflejan la depredación selectiva. La fauna se puede correlacionar con las asociaciones faunísticas de Europa de finales del Pleistoceno Medio a principios del Pleistoceno Superior. El conjunto lítico de la cueva del Ángel parece... more
que reflejan la depredación selectiva. La fauna se puede correlacionar con las asociaciones faunísticas de Europa de finales del Pleistoceno Medio a principios del Pleistoceno Superior. El conjunto lítico de la cueva del Ángel parece encajar dentro de la diversidad regional de una bien desarrollada industria no-Levallois del Achelense Final. Una estimación preliminar de la edad 230Th/234U, la revisión del conjunto lítico y la evidencia de la fauna, favorecen el posicionamiento cronológico del sitio en un período que va desde el final del Pleistoceno Medio a principios del Pleistoceno Superior (MIS 11 -MIS 5). 3DODEUDV del Ángel, Cuaternario, Pleistoceno Medio, Achelense, Bison, carnicería, hogar. 7+(+817(56 $EVWUDFW The Angel Cave archaeological site is an open-air sedimentary sequence, resultant of a collapsed cave and part of a karst complex. The faunal assemblage dominated by horses, large bovids and cervids has been subjected to intense anthropic actions reflecting selective pre...
Research Interests: Geography, Prehistoric Archaeology, Art, Lithic Technology, Paleolithic Europe, and 15 morePleistocene, Mediterranean archaeology, Prehistory, Quaternary, Lower Palaeolithic, Prehistoria, Acheulean, Middle Pleistocene, Arqueología Prehistórica, Cuaternario, Bison paleontology, Achelense, Cueva del Angel, Acheulan, and Junta de Andalucía
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.
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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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que reflejan la depredación selectiva. La fauna se puede correlacionar con las asociaciones faunísticas de Europa de finales del Pleistoceno Medio a principios del Pleistoceno Superior. El conjunto lítico de la cueva del Ángel parece... more
que reflejan la depredación selectiva. La fauna se puede correlacionar con las asociaciones faunísticas de Europa de finales del Pleistoceno Medio a principios del Pleistoceno Superior. El conjunto lítico de la cueva del Ángel parece encajar dentro de la diversidad regional de una bien desarrollada industria no-Levallois del Achelense Final. Una estimación preliminar de la edad 230Th/234U, la revisión del conjunto lítico y la evidencia de la fauna, favorecen el posicionamiento cronológico del sitio en un período que va desde el final del Pleistoceno Medio a principios del Pleistoceno Superior (MIS 11 -MIS 5). 3DODEUDV del Ángel, Cuaternario, Pleistoceno Medio, Achelense, Bison, carnicería, hogar. 7+(+817(56 $EVWUDFW The Angel Cave archaeological site is an open-air sedimentary sequence, resultant of a collapsed cave and part of a karst complex. The faunal assemblage dominated by horses, large bovids and cervids has been subjected to intense anthropic actions reflecting selective pre...
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The fossil record of Panthera pardus in Europe in the Early and Middle Pleistocene is scarce and the origin of this species thus remains unclear. The re-examination of material from some late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene sites, formerly... more
The fossil record of Panthera pardus in Europe in the Early and Middle Pleistocene is scarce and the origin of this species thus remains unclear. The re-examination of material from some late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene sites, formerly assigned to various species of pantherine cats, combined with new studies, shows the occurrence of Puma pardoides (Owen, 1846) during this period and leads to a reconsideration of medium-sized felids evolutionary and biogeographical patterns. Panthera pardus was present in Europe during the early Middle Pleistocene, replacing Puma pardoides. The taxonomic status of the feline from the Caune de l’Arago lower levels here discussed completes the fossil record of Pleistocene medium-sized felids. Its particular morphology reflects the intraspecific variability of P. pardus, and could be a representative of an ancestral form. Its chronological position (MIS14) provides key material for a better definition of Pleistocene felids biochronological frame.
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Les niveaux fossilifères de la Caune de l'Arago représentent un excellent outil pour comprendre les relations entre les renouvellements de faunes et les changements climatiques au Pléistocène moyen dans une zone assez restreinte. De même,... more
Les niveaux fossilifères de la Caune de l'Arago représentent un excellent outil pour comprendre les relations entre les renouvellements de faunes et les changements climatiques au Pléistocène moyen dans une zone assez restreinte. De même, les assemblages fossiles italiens du Galérien moyen témoignent des variations des conditions paléoenvironnementales. Une comparaison biochronologique et paléoécologique des faunes de grands mammifères de ces deux régions méditerranéennes peu différentes a été réalisée dans le but d'estimer la possibilité d'une évolution de certains taxons et les différences existant dans la dynamique des renouvellements de faunes au cours du Pléistocène moyen. Les résultats permettent de corréler les assemblages fauniques du « complexe moyen, ensemble stratigraphique I », « complexe moyen, ensembles stratigraphiques II et III », « complexe supérieur, sols A et B » de la Caune de l'Arago avec, respectivement, les unités fauniques italiennes d'Isernia (Galérien moyen), Fontana Ranuccio (Galérien récent) et Torre in Pietra (Aurélien ancien). En France, les assemblages de faune sont caractérisés par l'absence des animaux brouteurs et, inversement, par la présence de taxons boréaux, principalement des animaux paisseurs, qui sont rares, voire absents en Italie. En conséquence, aucun complexe faunique italien n'a pu donner d'indications relatives aux conditions climatiques continentales froides comme cela a été le cas pour les complexes fauniques de la Caune de l'Arago. Toutefois, les changements climatiques majeurs qui caractérisent le Pléistocène moyen peuvent être détectés dans les deux régions. Au cours de l'unité faunique d'Isernia, la température était à son niveau le plus bas et des conditions arides dominaient, alors que pendant l'unité faunique suivante, celle de Fontana Ranuccio, l'humidité et la température ont augmenté, ce qui est constaté pour les faunes d'Italie centrale. De plus, leurs similitudes ayant été comparées, il apparaît que la faune de Visogliano (Italie du Nord-Est) est plus apparentée aux faunes de France qu'à celles d'Italie. Pendant le Pléistocène moyen (unité de Torre in Pietra), une faune tempérée peut être reconnue dans les deux régions. Le renouvellement des faunes était alors lié à des changements climatiques qui ont eu lieu dans la région méditerranéenne, approximativement lors de la transition entre les stades isotopiques 11 et 10, lorsque les interstades sont devenus progressivement plus tempérés et que l'humidité a augmenté.The fossiliferous levels of Caune de l'Arago supply a useful tool to investigate the relationships between faunal renewals and climate changes in a restricted area during the Middle Pleistocene. On the other hand the Italian fossil assemblages of the middle Galerian testified changes of palaeoenvironmental conditions. A biochronologic and palaeoecologic comparison among large mammalian faunas of these quite different Mediterranean regions have been performed in the aim to value possible vicariance of taxa and differences of faunal renewal dynamic during the Middle Pleistocene. After the results of our analysis we can correlate the faunal assemblages from the “Complexe moyen, ensemble stratigraphique I”, “Complexe moyen, ensembles stratigraphiques II and III”, “Complexe supérieur, sols A and B” of Caune de L'Arago sedimentary succession with the Italian Isernia (middle Galerian), Fontana Ranuccio (late Galerian) and Torre in Pietra (early Aurelian) faunal units (FUs) respectively. The French faunal assemblages were characterised by the absence of browsers and, conversely, by the presence of boreal taxa, mainly grazers, that were rare or never occurred in Italy. Accordingly, at no one Italian faunal complex, as expected, we can find any indication of continental cold climatic condition as showed by the faunal complexes of the Caune de l'Arago. Nevertheless, the major climate changes characterising the Middle Pleistocene can be detected in both regions. During the span time of Isernia FU, the temperature was at its lowest and arid conditions prevailed, whereas during the following Fontana Ranuccio FU humidity and temperature increased, as is more evident in central Italy local faunas. Moreover, after the similarity analysis, the Visogliano local fauna (North-Eastern Italy) was more related to the French than to the Italian ones. During the late Middle Pleistocene (Torre in Pietra FU) a moderate faunal reconstruction can be detected in both regions. The renewal was linked to climatic modifications taking place in the Mediterranean area approximately around OIS 11/OIS 10 transition, when interstadials became progressively milder and average humidity increased.
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La quantité importante de niveaux d'occupations humaines identifiées dans le remplissage de la Caune de l'Arago, daté de 700 000 ans à la base et de 100 000 ans au sommet, et leur exceptionnelle richesse, ont donné lieu à une étude des... more
La quantité importante de niveaux d'occupations humaines identifiées dans le remplissage de la Caune de l'Arago, daté de 700 000 ans à la base et de 100 000 ans au sommet, et leur exceptionnelle richesse, ont donné lieu à une étude des types d'habitat et des modes de vie des chasseurs paléolithiques entre 600 000 ans et 400 000 ans. Les résultats des études pluridisciplinaires menées depuis de nombreuses années sur ces niveaux archéologiques permettent aujourd'hui de proposer une typologie de l'habitat en grotte pour le Pléistocène moyen du sud de la France. En effet, quatre types d'habitat ont pu être identifiés et décrits. Ils ont été définis à partir de différents caractères comme l'épaisseur de l'accumulation archéologique, les espèces animales représentées, les saisons d'abattages identifiées, l'état de surface des ossements et leur conservation, les caractéristiques morphotechniques et typologiques des assemblages lithiques, les catégories de matières premières minérales utilisées et le territoire d'exploitation défini à partir de celles-ci. Ces quatre types d'habitat sont : l'habitat de longue durée, où la grotte a été utilisée comme camp résidentiel de base, le campement temporaire saisonnier, où la grotte est utilisée comme campement secondaire, la halte de chasse et le bivouac où la grotte est cette fois considérée comme un refuge pour un séjour de courte durée. Les modes de vie sont étroitement liés au type d'habitat et sont généralement tous orientés vers une activité principale : la chasse. Les activités sont diversifiées dans les occupations de longues durées et saisonnières alors qu'elles sont plus réduites et très spécialisées dans les occupations brèves. En résumé la Caune de l'Arago présente toutes les caractéristiques d'un site à usage multiple qui a été utilisé à de nombreuses reprises par des groupes de chasseurs ou des groupes familiaux d'anténéandertaliens qui ont laissé de nombreuses traces de leurs activités nous permettant de connaître leurs habitats et leurs modes de vie.Several human occupations have been identified within the deposits of the Caune de l’Arago Cave site, dated from 700 000 years to 100 000 years old. The exceptional wealth of these archeological levels provides an opportunity for the study of different types of habitat and behavioral patterns of Paleolithic hunters between 600 000 and 400 000 years ago. Results from preliminary studies, carried out over the last 30 years on these archeological levels, allow for the proposition of a typology for cave habitats during the Middle Pleistocene in the south of France. In fact, four types of habitat were identified and defined. They have been described according to different characteristics such as, the thickness of the archeological accumulation, the animal species represented, the season during which the animals were hunted, the state of conservation of the fossils discovered, the morpho-technological and typological characteristics of the lithics, the categories of raw materials used and the territory exploited by the hominids inhabiting the cave, as defined by the raw materials represented. The four habitation types defined are: the long duration habitat, where the cave was used as a home base; the temporary seasonal habitat, in which case the cave served as a secondary campsite; the hunting stopover and the bivouac, during which the cave was used as a refuge for short term stays. Behavioral patterns appear to be directly related to the type of habitat and oriented towards a principal activity: hunting. The activities performed by the inhabitants of the cave seem to be more diversified during prolonged or seasonal occupations, whereas they appear to be reduced or very specialised during brief stays. Generally, The characteristics studied show that the Caune de l’Arago Cave site had multiple uses over time for Anteneandertalian family groups and hunters who left traces of their activities, allowing us to better understand their lifestyle.