Paul Fernandes
Paleotime, Archaeology, Department Member
- Université Bordeaux, PACEA, UMR 5199, CNRS, Post-Docadd
- Prehistory, Petroarchaeology, Mineralogy, Micromorphology, Archaeology, Anthropology, and 20 moreTechnology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Lithic Technology, Mediterranean prehistory, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Taphonomy, France, Paleolithic Europe, Prehistoric Settlement, Upper Paleolithic, Lithic Technology (Archaeology), European Prehistory (Archaeology), Middle Palaeolithic, Gravettian, Lithic Resource Identification, Archeopetrology, Dordogne, Geoarchaeology, Ancient Quarrying, and Lithic taphonomyedit
- petroacheology flint provenance researchedit
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National audienc
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En 2014, les fouilles menees a la grotte aux Points ont conduit a la decouverte d’un bloc de silex portant une cupule. La matiere relativement inhabituelle, pour ce type d’objet – que l’on peut qualifier de godet – de meme que son... more
En 2014, les fouilles menees a la grotte aux Points ont conduit a la decouverte d’un bloc de silex portant une cupule. La matiere relativement inhabituelle, pour ce type d’objet – que l’on peut qualifier de godet – de meme que son contexte de decouverte (grotte ornee paleolithique) ont motive la realisation d’une premiere serie d’observations technologiques, taphonomiques et petroarcheologiques destinees a determiner d’une part (1) la provenance de la matiere premiere, (2) les modalites de formation de la cupule, (3) la part de faconnage dont ce bloc a pu faire l’objet et (4) l’ordre de succession des diverses interventions et/ou evenements subis par le bloc ; mais aussi (5) a identifier d’eventuels stigmates d’utilisation/s prehistorique/s (lampe a graisse, recipient a couleur, mortier ou autre). Sa decouverte dans une grotte ornee s’inscrit au sein d’enjeux plus vastes quant aux modalites de frequentation (eclairage) et/ou d’ornementation des grottes de la region qui appellent une mise en contexte vis-a-vis des autres godets attribuables au Paleolithique connus dans la region.
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National audienc
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En 2014, les fouilles menees a la grotte aux Points ont conduit a la decouverte d’un bloc de silex portant une cupule. La matiere relativement inhabituelle, pour ce type d’objet – que l’on peut qualifier de godet – de meme que son... more
En 2014, les fouilles menees a la grotte aux Points ont conduit a la decouverte d’un bloc de silex portant une cupule. La matiere relativement inhabituelle, pour ce type d’objet – que l’on peut qualifier de godet – de meme que son contexte de decouverte (grotte ornee paleolithique) ont motive la realisation d’une premiere serie d’observations technologiques, taphonomiques et petroarcheologiques destinees a determiner d’une part (1) la provenance de la matiere premiere, (2) les modalites de formation de la cupule, (3) la part de faconnage dont ce bloc a pu faire l’objet et (4) l’ordre de succession des diverses interventions et/ou evenements subis par le bloc ; mais aussi (5) a identifier d’eventuels stigmates d’utilisation/s prehistorique/s (lampe a graisse, recipient a couleur, mortier ou autre). Sa decouverte dans une grotte ornee s’inscrit au sein d’enjeux plus vastes quant aux modalites de frequentation (eclairage) et/ou d’ornementation des grottes de la region qui appellent une mise en contexte vis-a-vis des autres godets attribuables au Paleolithique connus dans la region.
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Research Interests: Geology and Humanities
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Les premières manifestations du Paléolithique moyen en Haute-Loire datent du stade isotopique 6, peut-être plus. Elles ont été découvertes dans la grotte de Sainte-Anne 1 à Polignac. L'industrie, majoritairement façonnée en roches... more
Les premières manifestations du Paléolithique moyen en Haute-Loire datent du stade isotopique 6, peut-être plus. Elles ont été découvertes dans la grotte de Sainte-Anne 1 à Polignac. L'industrie, majoritairement façonnée en roches volcaniques, offre une ...
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International audienc
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Research Interests: Geography and Humanities
Les paleo-rivages du littoral atlantique casablancais et les formations associees sont un lieu privilegie d’etude des variations de niveau de l’ocean au cours du Quaternaire. Dans cette region, les periodes de haut niveau sont le plus... more
Les paleo-rivages du littoral atlantique casablancais et les formations associees sont un lieu privilegie d’etude des variations de niveau de l’ocean au cours du Quaternaire. Dans cette region, les periodes de haut niveau sont le plus souvent marquees par le developpement de profondes cavites entaillant les formations consolidees du cycle eustatique precedent. En periode de regression, ces cavites ont ete comblees selon des dynamiques complexes. A la faveur de travaux d’amenagement du littoral de la localite de Dar Bouazza, au sud-ouest de Casablanca, deux cavites eloignees d’environ 700 m ont ete etudiees : la Grotte des Gazelles et la Grotte de Dar Bouazza. Elles se developpent dans le cordon calcarenitique de Kef Haroun, date du Pleistocene moyen recent, et ont livre des temoins d’occupation humaine attribues au MSA (complexe Moustero-Aterien). La Grotte des Gazelles presente la particularite d’avoir fonctionne en aven-piege, probablement a partir du stade isotopique 3. L’analyse...
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Since 2004, new research has been conducted at Gargas, a decorated cave site located in the center of the Pyrenees mountain chain. Based on combined studies of the raw materials used to manufacture lithic and bone tools and personal... more
Since 2004, new research has been conducted at Gargas, a decorated cave site located in the center of the Pyrenees mountain chain.
Based on combined studies of the raw materials used to manufacture lithic and bone tools and personal ornaments, along with a zooarchaeological
analysis of the faunal remains, we have obtained a more thorough understanding of the resources used by the Gravettian groups that
occupied the cave from 28,000 to 25,000 BP. This economic strategy was practiced in a foothill environment between the mid-mountain zones
and large alluvial plains of the Garonne and Neste rivers, in order to procure both animal (hunted fauna, collection of shed cervid antler) and
lithic (alluvial quartzites, Flysch and Petites Pyrénées flints) resources
In this particular context, we will address the flint procurement strategies employed by the Gravettians, given the absence of this raw material
within a range of 25-45 km around the cave.
While this economic model existed mainly in this foothill environment, we nonetheless observe an extension of the Gravettian economic and
social spheres into the Atlantic and Perigord regions, represented by the materials used for personal ornaments (perforated shells) and some
allochthonous flints.
Based on combined studies of the raw materials used to manufacture lithic and bone tools and personal ornaments, along with a zooarchaeological
analysis of the faunal remains, we have obtained a more thorough understanding of the resources used by the Gravettian groups that
occupied the cave from 28,000 to 25,000 BP. This economic strategy was practiced in a foothill environment between the mid-mountain zones
and large alluvial plains of the Garonne and Neste rivers, in order to procure both animal (hunted fauna, collection of shed cervid antler) and
lithic (alluvial quartzites, Flysch and Petites Pyrénées flints) resources
In this particular context, we will address the flint procurement strategies employed by the Gravettians, given the absence of this raw material
within a range of 25-45 km around the cave.
While this economic model existed mainly in this foothill environment, we nonetheless observe an extension of the Gravettian economic and
social spheres into the Atlantic and Perigord regions, represented by the materials used for personal ornaments (perforated shells) and some
allochthonous flints.
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Le site de Brignol fournit un nouvel ensemble archéologique à rattacher à un faciès très restreint de l'Aurignacien récent, celui à grattoirs Caminade. Représenté à l'heure actuelle de manière significative sur seulement huit sites du... more
Le site de Brignol fournit un nouvel ensemble archéologique à rattacher à un faciès très restreint de l'Aurignacien récent, celui à grattoirs Caminade. Représenté à l'heure actuelle de manière significative sur seulement huit sites du Sud-Ouest français, ce faciès reste jusqu'à aujourd'hui relativement énigmatique au sein du stade récent de la macro-culture aurignacienne. S'agit-il d'un faciès fonctionnel, complémentaire d'un autre faciès de cette même phase chronologique, ou bien au contraire d'une entité régionale et/ou chronologique distincte ? Plusieurs facteurs compliquent l'obtention aisée d'une réponse à cette question. Tout d'abord, des problèmes taphonomiques dans les sites stratifiés obscurcissent notre compréhension de la relation entre les grattoirs Caminade et les autres faciès de l'Aurignacien récent. D'autre part, l'absence, à ce jour, de remontages sur une telle série nous a empêchés de compléter le schéma opératoire existant de ce mode de production, ce qui est nécessaire pour comprendre son articulation avec d'autres modes de productions connues pour cette phase. L'étude technoéconomique de la série lithique de Brignol, des remontages et leur croisement avec des analyses technofonctionnelles, pétroarchéologiques et taphonomiques, fournissent un nouveau jalon pour la compréhension de ce faciès particulier. La description du schéma opératoire de la production des grattoirs Caminade, les données tracéologiques et l'analyse des possibles fonctions du site permettent d'envisager de nouvelles hypothèses à explorer au sujet du fonctionnement de ces objets et plus largement sur le statut de ce faciès au sein de l'Aurignacien récent.
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Studies on the origin of lithic raw materials have become increasingly important since the 1980s. Sourcing studies play a key role in appreciating territory management and group mobility, which are two major issues of the archaeology of... more
Studies on the origin of lithic raw materials have become increasingly important since the 1980s. Sourcing studies play a key role in appreciating territory management and group mobility, which are two major issues of the archaeology of prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies. Most approaches use only part of the potential information contained within archaeological lithic material. The improvement in our understanding of the nature of flint and its formation processes has allowed our interdisciplinary research-group to refine the methods used for its characterisation. A major aspect of this new approach is the 'evolutionary chain of flint' concept. Our work opens up new research directions such as the analysis of flint artefact surfaces which complements the taphonomic approach to archaeological sites in terms of assemblage integrity and site formation processes. We present here preliminary results of ongoing petrographical and geochemical analyses of geological flint samples from Bergerac (France) and Obourg (Belgium). Our approach aims to establish the geological history of flint prior to its collection by humans and to characterise the successive events which affected lithic artefacts after they were discarded. The multi-technical and multi-scale approach presented in this paper appears to be particularly applicable in reconstructing the litho-spaces of archaeological sites in order to contribute to more definition of prehistoric territories.
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In the wake of the discovery of numerous large blade workshops at Le Grand-Pressigny site (Indre-et-Loire, France), which initially aroused great interest, the mid-Loire Valley region became central to studies of flint diffusion. Despite... more
In the wake of the discovery of numerous large blade workshops at Le Grand-Pressigny site (Indre-et-Loire, France), which initially aroused great interest, the mid-Loire Valley region became central to studies of flint diffusion. Despite the quality of the initial work, the widely shared view now is that the capacity for this concept to continue to provide useful archaeological modelling has diminished. Establishing real and actual correlations between archaeological objects and geological samples remains difficult, making it almost impossible to determine the source of certain materials represented in an archaeological series. In response to this problem, the French collective research project "Réseau de lithothèque en région Centre-Val de Loire" assembled about 30 amateur and professional researchers from various European institutions to work on three strategic missions:
Mission 1: establish a list of current lithotheques (“rock-libraries” or comparative collections), verify their contents and complete them if necessary;
Mission 2: link the major types of depositional environments with the properties acquired by flint through its life;
Mission 3: spread knowledge and information both within the project and to all interested persons.
The project is closely associated with similar French programs already in place in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Aquitaine regions. The ultimate objective is to build a national and international community around a common project, bringing participants together regularly to share knowledge and technical expertise.
Mission 1: establish a list of current lithotheques (“rock-libraries” or comparative collections), verify their contents and complete them if necessary;
Mission 2: link the major types of depositional environments with the properties acquired by flint through its life;
Mission 3: spread knowledge and information both within the project and to all interested persons.
The project is closely associated with similar French programs already in place in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Aquitaine regions. The ultimate objective is to build a national and international community around a common project, bringing participants together regularly to share knowledge and technical expertise.
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The training course organised in Cologne from 7th to 12th February 2022 will focus on introducing and updating knowledge on the characterisation of silicites (flint, chert, silcrete, jasperoids) used to make tools by prehistoric... more
The training course organised in Cologne from 7th to 12th February 2022 will focus on introducing and updating knowledge on the characterisation of silicites (flint, chert, silcrete, jasperoids) used to make tools by prehistoric communities. Integrated into action III of the GDR «Silex» (directed by C. Bressy-Leandri, French ministry of culture and communication), its objective is to promote the conceptual advances and the most recently developed characterisation methods, to explain them, and to encourage their dissemination with a view to harmonising, networking and pooling siliceous geomaterial references on a European scale. Recent methodological advances, taking into account the concept of the 'evolutionary chain' make it possible to overcome many dead ends in terms of characterising the origins of rocks. This will be applied to the Upper Cretaceous flints of the Benelux (silicites from the Mons Basin, the Hesbaye and Limburg), in order to reinforce the skills of petroarchaeologists and archaeologists and enabling them to develop more reliable models. reinforcing the skills of petroarchaeologists and archaeologists and enabling them to develop more reliable models. These models, which concern individual or collective behaviour, territoriality and mobility systems, or transfers and exchanges during prehistory, are at the heart of the research of many laboratories. Language: The manifestations will be held in English. Help can be provided in French and German. Registrations: The proposed Scientific Event will be open to all young researchers from Master to postdoctoral fellows and current researchers. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the UFA for 12 participants. Therefore, potential participants are asked to send a short letter of motivation. Call for applications closes on 5th December 2021.
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The training course organised in Cologne from 7 to 12 February 2022 will focus on introducing and updating knowledge on the characterisation of silicites (flint, chert, silcrete, jasperoids) used to make tools by prehistoric communities.... more
The training course organised in Cologne from 7 to 12 February
2022 will focus on introducing and updating knowledge on the
characterisation of silicites (flint, chert, silcrete, jasperoids) used
to make tools by prehistoric communities. Integrated into action
III of the GDR «Silex» (directed by C. Bressy-Leandri, French ministry
of culture and communication), its objective is to promote
the conceptual advances and the most recently developed characterisation methods, to explain them, and to encourage their
dissemination with a view to harmonising, networking and pooling
siliceous geomaterial references on a European scale. Recent
methodological advances, taking into account the concept
of the ‘evolutionary chain’ make it possible to overcome many
dead ends in terms of characterising the origins of rocks. Applied
to the Upper Cretaceous flints of the Benelux (silicites from
the Mons Basin, the Hesbaye and Limburg), the dissemination
of these new methods has the ambition of reinforcing the skills
of petroarchaeologists and archaeologists and enabling them
to develop more reliable models. These models, which concern
individual or collective behaviour, territoriality and mobility systems,
or transfers and exchanges during prehistory, are at the
heart of the research of many laboratories.
All the theoretical lessons form DAY 1 (7th February) will be online. The lesson on the introduction to the identification of foraminifera on the 10th of February also. Links are on the poster
2022 will focus on introducing and updating knowledge on the
characterisation of silicites (flint, chert, silcrete, jasperoids) used
to make tools by prehistoric communities. Integrated into action
III of the GDR «Silex» (directed by C. Bressy-Leandri, French ministry
of culture and communication), its objective is to promote
the conceptual advances and the most recently developed characterisation methods, to explain them, and to encourage their
dissemination with a view to harmonising, networking and pooling
siliceous geomaterial references on a European scale. Recent
methodological advances, taking into account the concept
of the ‘evolutionary chain’ make it possible to overcome many
dead ends in terms of characterising the origins of rocks. Applied
to the Upper Cretaceous flints of the Benelux (silicites from
the Mons Basin, the Hesbaye and Limburg), the dissemination
of these new methods has the ambition of reinforcing the skills
of petroarchaeologists and archaeologists and enabling them
to develop more reliable models. These models, which concern
individual or collective behaviour, territoriality and mobility systems,
or transfers and exchanges during prehistory, are at the
heart of the research of many laboratories.
All the theoretical lessons form DAY 1 (7th February) will be online. The lesson on the introduction to the identification of foraminifera on the 10th of February also. Links are on the poster