- UMR 7041 ArScAn
Equipe "Archéologies environnementales"
20 allée de l'université
F-92023 Nanterre cedex - 06 77 16 78 97
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Soot deposits trapped in concretions (speleothems, travertines, carbonated crusts, etc.) are witnesses of human occupations in cavities. We developed an analytical methodology whereby soot deposits can be counted and their position in... more
Soot deposits trapped in concretions (speleothems, travertines, carbonated crusts, etc.) are witnesses of human occupations in cavities. We developed an analytical methodology whereby soot deposits can be counted and their position in concretion can be documented, allowing identification of seasons of occupation in the cavity. These researches show that sooted concretions analysis enables the development of high temporal resolution archaeology, just like dendrochronology does for more recent periods. There is a real possibility for extending this pioneering study to cavities of all ages and areas, from Lower Palaeolithic, with the first traces of fire, to medieval or even modern times. Results have different implications depending on the concerned contexts. One of the major areas of application is hominine’s mobility study, since sooted concretions turned out to be a perfectly suitable material for micro-chronologic studies with an unexpected high temporal resolution. At the Grotte Mandrin rock shelter (Drome, France), thousands of clastic fragments from the walls were found in each archaeological level. Their surfaces sometimes wear calcrete crusts containing soot deposits, which appear as thin black laminae. Microscopic observation of these crusts revealed that they kept track of many hominine occupations. It is possible to link them with the archaeological units identified during the excavation. The MNO (Minimum Number of Occupations) are usually high and correspond to each archaeological layer. They attest of the cumulative nature of those units and provide data on the mobility level of the past hominine groups whom occupied the rock shelter. The positions of soot films in concretions with annual lamination can also provide information about the dynamics of occupation of the cavity by past societies. This study shows also that a very short time separates the Middle/Upper Palaeolithic transitional groups’ occupations from those of the last Mousterians in Grotte Mandrin. The research perspectives on soot deposits are diversified and raise the possibility to study past human groups, and in this case to rethink the Middle/Upper Palaeolithic transition with an unmatched temporal resolution. Presentation will focus on methodological questions, first results in Grotte Mandrin and their implications.
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International audienceIn Northwest Alaska, human societies have adapted their subsistence strategies to extreme conditions. At the coastal Cape Espenberg site, excellent conservation conditions have allowed the preservation of many... more
International audienceIn Northwest Alaska, human societies have adapted their subsistence strategies to extreme conditions. At the coastal Cape Espenberg site, excellent conservation conditions have allowed the preservation of many cultural features (architecture, hearths, middens) within a series of aggrading beach ridges. Remains of semisubterranean houses and associated material culture indicate the sites relate to the Birnirk and the Thule cultures. The houses associated with the Birnirk culture are in ridge E6 and reveal a multiroom architecture and two to three occupation levels dated to the 11th13th century. Thule and later Kotzebue period houses are found on ridge E5 and E4. They show a long entrance tunnel leading to a rectangular room that contains a sleeping platform elevated above the occupation level. Unusual concentrations of archaeological charcoal and burned organic matter have been uncovered inside and outside of Birnirk houses, revealing the presence of small domestic hearths inside and firepits outside. However, Thule culture houses only have external burned areas and firepits. Ceramic lamps appear to be the sole source of light and heat inside these houses. The variability in the form, fill, and spatial organization of combustion structures raises questions regarding their usage, status and maintenance by people who occupied these houses. To further understand fire management in the arctic tundra, and the function and status of combustion structures, soil samples were collected from combustion structures (hearths, firepits, charcoal's concentration and soil occupation, ...) for anthracological and micromorphological analysis. This sampling protocole provides the opportunity for a multivariate, comparative and diachronic analysis of combustion structures between one Birnirk house and three Thule houses at Cape Espenberg. Our goal is to identify the diversity of firerelated activities in the excavated Birnirk and Thule houses, whether domestic (cooking, boiling water, heating, lighting, etc.) or specialized (ceramic firing, smoking and / or drying of foods, etc.). In this poster we present results of the soil micromorphology analysis and compare the areas sampled in terms of function and spatial organization in light of prior results of charcoal analyses
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The identification of controlled fires in ancient agricultural systems is important for understanding how past societies managed the landscape. Although the use of fire in agriculture is documented in recent historical records, and... more
The identification of controlled fires in ancient agricultural systems is important for understanding how past societies managed the landscape. Although the use of fire in agriculture is documented in recent historical records, and combustion markers can persist in soils over a long time scale, this is a complex issue because combustion traits in general are ubiquitous. Archaeopedological surveys undertaken in an ancient forest in Burgundy (France) have led to the recovery of several red indurated nodules scattered in the soils. Gallo‐Roman housing structures and parcels were recognized using light detection and ranging mapping, stimulating questions about the understanding of the nature of these nodules. Elemental and structural analyses by X‐ray fluorescence and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the local origin of these features by comparing their composition with on‐site sediments, and thermoluminescence dating placed the samples in the Medieval period. The results cast light o...
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En complement de l’analyse typo-chronologique du mobilier issu des fouilles archeologiques, de nouvelles methodes (methode des graphes developpee par le logiciel « Le stratifiant », datation radiocarbone et traitement bayesien) permettent... more
En complement de l’analyse typo-chronologique du mobilier issu des fouilles archeologiques, de nouvelles methodes (methode des graphes developpee par le logiciel « Le stratifiant », datation radiocarbone et traitement bayesien) permettent d’ordonner la succession des couches stratigraphiques et de les dater. Les datations obtenues presentent une imprecision de quelques decennies a plusieurs siecles. Il existe pourtant des temoins qui permettent de reduire cette incertitude, comme les encroutements calcaires en grotte et les structures anthropiques hydrauliques puisque l’analyse micro-chronologique permet d’aborder le temps court. Sur les sites paleolithiques sous abri, les premieres analyses geoarcheologiques montrent que des suies piegees dans les encroutements calcaires permettent de decompter un nombre minimum de passages de groupes humains et d’en deduire un rythme d’occupation (ex. Grotte Mandrin, Drome, France). Par ailleurs, les etudes archeozoologiques peuvent indiquer a que...
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Soot marks can be noticed in cavities’ concretions. These deposits, generally ignored, are perfectly suitable material for micro-chronological study of hominine activities in a site. In Grotte Mandrin (Mediterranean France) microscopic... more
Soot marks can be noticed in cavities’ concretions. These deposits, generally ignored, are perfectly suitable material for micro-chronological study of hominine activities in a site. In Grotte Mandrin (Mediterranean France) microscopic observation revealed parietal sooted crusts kept track of many occupations, which can be linked with archaeological units. Minimum Number of Occupations and occupations chronicles can be built out of these crusts. MNO, usually high, attest of the cumulative nature of each archaeological unit. This pioneering study shows that sooted concretions analysis provides high temporal resolution archaeology and allows here to rethink the MP/UP transition with an unmatched temporal resolution. Note : This talk is presenting a new micro-chronological method through application on a site. We show that at the Grotte Mandrin (Mediterranean France), a very short time separates the first Upper Palaeolithic groups’ occupations from those of the last Mousterians.
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La lecture geoarcheologique des sediments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une etude micro-chronologique des traces d’activites anthropiques. L’etude micromorphologique des foyers devient de plus en plus courante, mais il existe... more
La lecture geoarcheologique des sediments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une etude micro-chronologique des traces d’activites anthropiques. L’etude micromorphologique des foyers devient de plus en plus courante, mais il existe des biais dans l'enregistrement des evenements de paleo-feux dans les structures de combustion. Dans cette communication, nous presenterons une autre methode: la Fuliginochronologie, du latin fuliginosus, fuligo: suie, fuligineux/fuligineuse, et du Grec khronologia: chronologie, qui consiste a etudier la succession des depots de suie pieges dans une matrice. Nous ne developperons ici que les cas de suie pieges dans les depots carbonates et plus particulierement dans des speleothemes. Dans le cas particulier d'un site archeologique comme un abri-sous-roche ou une grotte, ces concretions (stalagmite, croute parietale, plancher) fuligineuses sont des archives enregistrant des occupations humaines passees, qui peuvent etre decomptees et dont le r...
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Les evenements naturels extremes sont a l’origine de l’essentiel du transfert de matiere observe sur les versants. Outre des enjeux societaux et economiques, ces evenements peuvent egalement avoir des repercussions environnementales et... more
Les evenements naturels extremes sont a l’origine de l’essentiel du transfert de matiere observe sur les versants. Outre des enjeux societaux et economiques, ces evenements peuvent egalement avoir des repercussions environnementales et culturales irreversibles en modifiant les repartitions spatiales des surfaces cultivables, en affectant aussi bien quantitativement que qualitativement les sols de ces versants. Il apparait donc essentiel de comprendre, quantifier et prevoir les transferts de matiere sur les versants en reponse a des evenements naturels extremes. Parmi les differents contextes agricoles, les versants viticoles sont reconnus comme des versants particulierement sensibles a l’erosion. A ce jour, il est reconnu que la topographie joue un role majeur dans les processus erosifs sur ces versants a l’echelle de la parcelle. Cependant, elle n’explique pas l’heterogeneite spatiale des vitesses d’erosion que l’on peut observer au sein d’une meme parcelle. Dans ce contexte anthro...
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Dans les abris-sous-roche et grottes, la lecture géoarchéologique des sédiments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une étude micro-chronologique des traces d’activités anthropiques et en particulier de l’usage du feu. Si la... more
Dans les abris-sous-roche et grottes, la lecture géoarchéologique des sédiments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une étude micro-chronologique des traces d’activités anthropiques et en particulier de l’usage du feu. Si la récurrence dans l’utilisation des foyers peut parfois être identifiée par une étude micromorphologique de ces structures au sol, il n’est pas évident que l’ensemble des différents épisodes de combustion puisse y être identifié. Il se trouve que les événements de paléo-feux peuvent être enregistrés ailleurs que dans les foyers, par exemple sous la forme d’imprégnations de suie enregistrées dans les spéléothèmes, témoins des feux passés dans les cavités ; elles peuvent faire l’objet d’une étude fuliginochronologique (lat. fuligo,fuliginosus : suie), qui consiste à étudier la succession des dépôts de suie piégés dans une matrice. Certaines concrétions calcaires ont un autre avantage, celui de présenter des lamines pouvant être annuelles. Lorsque cela peut être...
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Research Interests: Geology, Climate Change, Paleoecology, Agriculture, Diatoms, and 6 moreGlobal Warming, Arctic, Holocene, Greenland, Norse, and Diatom
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Research Interests: Vineyard and Soil Water
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Geology, Fire, Cave, Carbonates, and 5 moreNeanderthal, Speleothem, Soot, Hearth, and Cold climate
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Les speleothemes (concretions carbonatees de grottes) sont des archives naturelles qui se caracterisent par leur capacite a enregistrer les environnements passes ainsi que par leur haute resolution temporelle, en particulier lorsqu’ils... more
Les speleothemes (concretions carbonatees de grottes) sont des archives naturelles qui se caracterisent par leur capacite a enregistrer les environnements passes ainsi que par leur haute resolution temporelle, en particulier lorsqu’ils sont lamines annuellement. Leur potentiel d’etude ne se limite pas qu’aux recherches sur les reconstitutions paleo-climatiques. Les concretions peuvent par exemple pieger des particules anthropiques comme de la suie, et ces concretions fuligineuses ont un fort potentiel informatif en archeologie. Dans cet article, nous presenterons les potentiels d’application archeologique de l’analyse fuliginochronologique a travers plusieurs cas, dans des contextes temporels differents. Les cas les plus recents (en Belgique, en France et en Slovenie), pour lesquels nous disposons parfois d’informations historiques et textuelles autorisant un controle des faits archeologiques enregistres, permettront de valider le potentiel d’archive micro-chronologique des speleoth...
Research Interests: Archaeology, Humanities, Art, Speleothems, Prehistory, and 4 moreArchéologie, Karst, Préhistoire, and Historical Times
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Le Parc naturel regional du Morvan a ete le lieu d'activites minieres et metallurgiques des la protohistoire. Il est important de localiser ces dernieres, puis de quantifi er leur impact sur les ecosystemes actuels. C'etait... more
Le Parc naturel regional du Morvan a ete le lieu d'activites minieres et metallurgiques des la protohistoire. Il est important de localiser ces dernieres, puis de quantifi er leur impact sur les ecosystemes actuels. C'etait l'objectif du programme « Identifi cation et impact des sites miniers abandonnes sur les ecosystemes aquatiques et terrestres actuels », un projet de recherche mene par l'universite de Bourgogne-Franche-Comte (2009-2013) qui combinait archeologie, geochimie, ecologie et ecotoxicologie. Des cartes de potentiel minier ont d'abord ete dressees afi n de guider l'archeologue dans ses prospections de terrain. La biodisponibilite des elements traces metalliques dans les sols a ete estimee, de meme que leur impact sur la faune et la fl ore. Les eff ets deleteres sur les organismes sont toujours observes, bien que les travaux ayant entraine la contamination remontent souvent a plusieurs centaines, voire milliers d'annees.
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Depuis 15 ans, des etudes geoarcheologiques ont fait intervenir des specialistes de plusieurs disciplines des sciences humaines et des sciences naturelles afin de reconstituer les environnements de la vallee de la Laigne, affluent de la... more
Depuis 15 ans, des etudes geoarcheologiques ont fait intervenir des specialistes de plusieurs disciplines des sciences humaines et des sciences naturelles afin de reconstituer les environnements de la vallee de la Laigne, affluent de la Seine pres du site archeologique de Molesme, Sur les Creux. Des etudes similaires ont ete menees en vallee de seine au pied du site princier de Vix.
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In Burgundy, vineyards present a high diversity of Terroirs, controlled by complex interactions between natural and human factors. The relationship between these factors leads to define wine typicity. However, a better understanding of... more
In Burgundy, vineyards present a high diversity of Terroirs, controlled by complex interactions between natural and human factors. The relationship between these factors leads to define wine typicity. However, a better understanding of how Terroirs have been defined is necessary for the sustainable, rational management of vineyard soils. The objectives of the study are (i) to identify Terroirs variability in vineyards of Burgundy (France) at hillslope scale and (ii) to highlight natural (soil, substratum) and anthropogenic factors (management practices) controlling Terroir diversity. To study Terroir at a fine scale, we developed a method based on a very high spatial resolution (VHSR) image analysis into visible domain to map vineyard topsoil in Burgundy. The acquisition of images at centimetre resolution with an unmanned helicopter (DRELIO) allows the topsoil surface to be identified and mapped. Soil surface analyses allow characterising topsoil surface identified by imagery and au...
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In this work, we present a method based on very high spatial resolution (VHSR) aerial images acquired in the visible domain and that map soil surface diversity at the hillslope scale with a spatial resolution of a few centimeters. This... more
In this work, we present a method based on very high spatial resolution (VHSR) aerial images acquired in the visible domain and that map soil surface diversity at the hillslope scale with a spatial resolution of a few centimeters. This method combines aerial VHSR image classification with local soil sampling. Principal component analysis (PCA) and non-supervised classification was performed on image characteristics to define soil surface characteristic classes (SSC). Then soil surface mapping was combined with soil surface descriptions and soil profiles to define soil types by physical and chemical characteristics.
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Magnetic susceptibility, surface rock soiling, elemental composition and lead isotope ratios were measured in surface stone samples collected at different heights of a late 19th century building in Dijon, France. We targeted four... more
Magnetic susceptibility, surface rock soiling, elemental composition and lead isotope ratios were measured in surface
stone samples collected at different heights of a late 19th century building in Dijon, France. We targeted four limestone
fac-ades that differ in orientation and proximity to car traffic. It seems that zinc, copper, sulphur and cadmium are present
as diffuse pollutants in urban atmosphere, at least at the scale of the building studied. In contrast, lead and arsenic exhibit
point sources: automotive traffic and past coal-burning fly-ash emissions; both coherent with lead isotopic composition
measurements. Parameter variations primarily result from exposition to rain washing or micro-scale runoff, and from the
closeness, magnitude and origin of anthropogenic sources. Both anthropogenic particles and natural dust tend to be
similarly affected by deposition/soiling and rain washing, which act dynamically as competitive processes. Examination of
archival photographs suggests that soiling predominated in the past, when the air was rich in black dust, whereas
equilibrium or even weathering may occur nowadays due to recent improvements or at least changes in air quality. Using
the chemical composition of building fac-ades to provide insights into the magnitude and dispersion of urban atmospheric
pollutants may not always be straightforward because of uncertainties related to the period of accumulation.
stone samples collected at different heights of a late 19th century building in Dijon, France. We targeted four limestone
fac-ades that differ in orientation and proximity to car traffic. It seems that zinc, copper, sulphur and cadmium are present
as diffuse pollutants in urban atmosphere, at least at the scale of the building studied. In contrast, lead and arsenic exhibit
point sources: automotive traffic and past coal-burning fly-ash emissions; both coherent with lead isotopic composition
measurements. Parameter variations primarily result from exposition to rain washing or micro-scale runoff, and from the
closeness, magnitude and origin of anthropogenic sources. Both anthropogenic particles and natural dust tend to be
similarly affected by deposition/soiling and rain washing, which act dynamically as competitive processes. Examination of
archival photographs suggests that soiling predominated in the past, when the air was rich in black dust, whereas
equilibrium or even weathering may occur nowadays due to recent improvements or at least changes in air quality. Using
the chemical composition of building fac-ades to provide insights into the magnitude and dispersion of urban atmospheric
pollutants may not always be straightforward because of uncertainties related to the period of accumulation.
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An 80-year soil archive, the 42-plot experimental design at the INRA in Versailles (France), is used here to study long-term contamination by 137Cs atmospheric deposition and the fate of this radioisotope when associated with various... more
An 80-year soil archive, the 42-plot experimental design at the INRA in Versailles (France), is used here to
study long-term contamination by 137Cs atmospheric deposition and the fate of this radioisotope when
associated with various agricultural practices: fallow land, KCl, NH4(NO3), superphosphate fertilizers,
horse manure and lime amendments. The pertinence of a simple box model, where radiocaesium is
supposed to move downward by convectional mechanisms, is checked using samples from control plots
which had been neither amended, nor cultivated since 1928. This simple model presents the advantage
of depending on only two parameters: a, a proportional factor allowing the historical atmospheric 137Cs
fluxes to be reconstructed locally, and k, an annual loss coefficient from the plow horizon. Another
pseudo-unknown is however necessary to run the model: the shape of historical 137Cs deposition, but
this function can be easily computed by merging several curves previously established by other surveys.
A loss of w1.5% per year from the plow horizon, combined with appropriate fluxes, provides good
concordance between simulated and measured values. In the 0–25 cm horizon, the residence half time is
found to be w18 yr (including both migration and radioactive decay). Migration rate constants are also
calculated for some plots receiving continuous long-term agricultural treatments. Comparison with the
control plots reveals significant influence of amendments on 137Cs mobility in these soils developed from
a unique genoform.
study long-term contamination by 137Cs atmospheric deposition and the fate of this radioisotope when
associated with various agricultural practices: fallow land, KCl, NH4(NO3), superphosphate fertilizers,
horse manure and lime amendments. The pertinence of a simple box model, where radiocaesium is
supposed to move downward by convectional mechanisms, is checked using samples from control plots
which had been neither amended, nor cultivated since 1928. This simple model presents the advantage
of depending on only two parameters: a, a proportional factor allowing the historical atmospheric 137Cs
fluxes to be reconstructed locally, and k, an annual loss coefficient from the plow horizon. Another
pseudo-unknown is however necessary to run the model: the shape of historical 137Cs deposition, but
this function can be easily computed by merging several curves previously established by other surveys.
A loss of w1.5% per year from the plow horizon, combined with appropriate fluxes, provides good
concordance between simulated and measured values. In the 0–25 cm horizon, the residence half time is
found to be w18 yr (including both migration and radioactive decay). Migration rate constants are also
calculated for some plots receiving continuous long-term agricultural treatments. Comparison with the
control plots reveals significant influence of amendments on 137Cs mobility in these soils developed from
a unique genoform.
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The present study aims to document historical mining and smelting activities by means of geochemical and pollen analyses performed in a peat bog core collected around the Bibracte oppidum (Morvan, France), the largest settlement of the... more
The present study aims to document historical mining and
smelting activities by means of geochemical and pollen
analyses performed in a peat bog core collected around the
Bibracte oppidum (Morvan, France), the largest settlement
of the great Aeduan Celtic tribe (ca. 180 B.C. to 25
A.D.). The anthropogenic Pb profile indicates local mining
operations starting from the Late Bronze Age, ca. cal.
1300 B.C. Lead inputs peaked at the height of Aeduan
civilization and then decreased after the Roman conquest
of Gaul, when the site was abandoned. Other phases of
mining are recognized from the 11th century to modern times.
They have all led to modifications in plant cover, probably
related in part to forest clearances necessary to supply
energy for mining and smelting. Zn, Sb, Cd, and Cu distributions
may result from diffusional and biological processes or
from the influence of groundwater and underlying mineral
soil, precluding their interpretation for historical reconstruction.
The abundance of mineral resources, in addition
to the strategic location, might explain why early settlers
founded the city of Bibracte at that particular place. About
20% of the anthropogenic lead record was accumulated
before our era and about 50% before the 18th century, which
constitutes a troublesome heritage. Any attempts to
develop control strategies in accumulating environments
should take into account past human activities in order to
not overestimate the impact of contemporary pollution.
smelting activities by means of geochemical and pollen
analyses performed in a peat bog core collected around the
Bibracte oppidum (Morvan, France), the largest settlement
of the great Aeduan Celtic tribe (ca. 180 B.C. to 25
A.D.). The anthropogenic Pb profile indicates local mining
operations starting from the Late Bronze Age, ca. cal.
1300 B.C. Lead inputs peaked at the height of Aeduan
civilization and then decreased after the Roman conquest
of Gaul, when the site was abandoned. Other phases of
mining are recognized from the 11th century to modern times.
They have all led to modifications in plant cover, probably
related in part to forest clearances necessary to supply
energy for mining and smelting. Zn, Sb, Cd, and Cu distributions
may result from diffusional and biological processes or
from the influence of groundwater and underlying mineral
soil, precluding their interpretation for historical reconstruction.
The abundance of mineral resources, in addition
to the strategic location, might explain why early settlers
founded the city of Bibracte at that particular place. About
20% of the anthropogenic lead record was accumulated
before our era and about 50% before the 18th century, which
constitutes a troublesome heritage. Any attempts to
develop control strategies in accumulating environments
should take into account past human activities in order to
not overestimate the impact of contemporary pollution.
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The present study proposes a technological transfer from modern mining prospection to the field of archaeology, providing a methodology to facilitate the discovery of ancient mining sites. This method takes advantage of the thousands of... more
The present study proposes a technological transfer from modern mining prospection to the field of
archaeology, providing a methodology to facilitate the discovery of ancient mining sites. This method
takes advantage of the thousands of geochemical analyses of streambed sediments, performed by national
geological surveys to inventory mineral substances. In order to delineate geochemical anomalies,
the datasets are treated following two different approaches: Exploratory Data Analysis and a fractalbased
method often recognised as more powerful. Mineral prospectivity maps are then obtained by
combining the results with a geographical information system. The surroundings of the Celtic oppidum
of Bibracte, French Massif Central, known to have been mined at least since the Late Bronze Age until
Modern Times, have been chosen to exemplify the method’s potential in archaeology. First, an exhaustive
record of the mining sites was undertaken over a pilot area by pedestrian prospection. If mineral prospectivity
maps had been used as guidelines, w70% of these mines would have been discovered by
prospecting only w15e20% of the whole area whatever the method used to treat the dataset. At least for
our specific case, the multifractal approach is as powerful as EDA. Besides saving a significant amount of
time and effort, the methods described here may supply clues for determining the nature of mineral
substances exploited in the past, when such information cannot be straightforwardly obtained from the
field or from textual archives. It should however be noticed that this approach is proposed as a first step
before peer archaeological investigation following more conventional methods. Technically, there is no
real obstacle to the application of the methodology proposed here, because (i) software and associated
packages are freely available from the web, as well as original geochemical datasets (at least in France),
and (ii) minimal mathematical skills are required.
archaeology, providing a methodology to facilitate the discovery of ancient mining sites. This method
takes advantage of the thousands of geochemical analyses of streambed sediments, performed by national
geological surveys to inventory mineral substances. In order to delineate geochemical anomalies,
the datasets are treated following two different approaches: Exploratory Data Analysis and a fractalbased
method often recognised as more powerful. Mineral prospectivity maps are then obtained by
combining the results with a geographical information system. The surroundings of the Celtic oppidum
of Bibracte, French Massif Central, known to have been mined at least since the Late Bronze Age until
Modern Times, have been chosen to exemplify the method’s potential in archaeology. First, an exhaustive
record of the mining sites was undertaken over a pilot area by pedestrian prospection. If mineral prospectivity
maps had been used as guidelines, w70% of these mines would have been discovered by
prospecting only w15e20% of the whole area whatever the method used to treat the dataset. At least for
our specific case, the multifractal approach is as powerful as EDA. Besides saving a significant amount of
time and effort, the methods described here may supply clues for determining the nature of mineral
substances exploited in the past, when such information cannot be straightforwardly obtained from the
field or from textual archives. It should however be noticed that this approach is proposed as a first step
before peer archaeological investigation following more conventional methods. Technically, there is no
real obstacle to the application of the methodology proposed here, because (i) software and associated
packages are freely available from the web, as well as original geochemical datasets (at least in France),
and (ii) minimal mathematical skills are required.
Research Interests:
For archaeologists, metallic artifacts are key materials to assess Middle Bronze Age production areas and cultural exchanges. Here, a set of 629 bronze palstaves excavated in northern France, belonging to Breton and Norman typological... more
For archaeologists, metallic artifacts are key materials to assess Middle Bronze Age production areas and cultural exchanges. Here, a set of 629 bronze palstaves excavated in northern France, belonging to Breton and Norman typological groups, was treated by (open) outline-based morphometrics with orthogonal polynomial regression. Using robust statistics developed for outlier detection, these Norman and Breton
palstave outlines can be divided into two groups: those for which the shape fluctuates close to the standard shape, called “congruent” axes, and those which are far enough from this standard to be considered as “non-congruent”, although they possess most of the features of the typological group. The
highest density of discovery (whether congruent and non-congruent in shape) is in the extreme east of Brittany for the Breton axes, while the Norman axes are concentrated in northern Normandy, hence the choice of names. However, the distribution of congruent and non-congruent artifacts appears to be spatially dependent for the Norman group, and to a lesser extent for the Breton group, as there are
proportionally more congruent specimens inside the supposed production areas than outside. This contradicts the generally accepted archaeological scheme which hypothesizes that all axes in a group originate from the same production center, and that some items were exported from there to supply neighboring regions. Other minor production centers probably existed, copying the original model with greater shape variation.
palstave outlines can be divided into two groups: those for which the shape fluctuates close to the standard shape, called “congruent” axes, and those which are far enough from this standard to be considered as “non-congruent”, although they possess most of the features of the typological group. The
highest density of discovery (whether congruent and non-congruent in shape) is in the extreme east of Brittany for the Breton axes, while the Norman axes are concentrated in northern Normandy, hence the choice of names. However, the distribution of congruent and non-congruent artifacts appears to be spatially dependent for the Norman group, and to a lesser extent for the Breton group, as there are
proportionally more congruent specimens inside the supposed production areas than outside. This contradicts the generally accepted archaeological scheme which hypothesizes that all axes in a group originate from the same production center, and that some items were exported from there to supply neighboring regions. Other minor production centers probably existed, copying the original model with greater shape variation.
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Interdisciplinary research was carried out in mid-level mountain areas in France with the aim of documenting historical mining and smelting activities by means of pollen and geochemical analyses. These investigations were made on cores... more
Interdisciplinary research was carried out in mid-level mountain areas in France with the aim of documenting historical mining and smelting activities by means of pollen and geochemical analyses. These investigations were made on cores collected in French peatlands in the Morvan (northern Massif Central), at Mont Lozère (southern Massif Central) and in the Basque Country (Pyrénées). Different periods of mining were recognised from Prehistory to modern times through the presence of anthropogenic lead in peat. Some of these were already known from archaeological dates or historical archives, especially for mediaeval and modern periods. However prehistoric ancient mining activities, as early as the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1700 b.c.), were also discovered. They had all led to modifications in plant cover, probably related in part to forest clearance necessary to supply energy for mining and smelting.
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Résumé : La recherche de la haute résolution en archéologie est une préoccupation de plus en plus prégnante ; cela se manifeste notamment avec multiplication des sessions axées sur cette problématique dans les colloques internationaux de... more
Résumé : La recherche de la haute résolution en archéologie est une préoccupation de plus en plus prégnante ; cela se manifeste notamment avec multiplication des sessions axées sur cette problématique dans les colloques internationaux de ces dernières années (par exemple : « Multidisciplinary approach in the definition of high-resolution events to interpret past human behaviour »-WAC8, 2016, Kyōto ; « Advances in Archaeological Palimpsest Dissection » – UISPP 2014, Burgos ; etc.). L'étude de l'organisation sociale des groupes humains ne peut effectivement se faire qu'avec une très haute résolution temporelle. Comprendre, dans un espace donné, l'organisation des groupes humains à différentes échelles, et être à même de distinguer ces différentes échelles (du cycle annuel au cycle pluriannuel), sont des enjeux anthropologiques majeurs. Les études lithique et fauniques sont souvent utilisées pour inférer des modèles de cycles annuels de nomadisme, qu'elles soient appliquées séparément ou de façon intégrée ; les assemblages étudiés étant cumulatifs, ces sources documentaires ne fournissent aucune information sur les cycles sociaux pluriannuels. D'autres méthodes peuvent aussi apporter des informations sur l'organisation des groupes humains. À l'échelle d'un site, la Fuliginochronologie (du Latin fuliginosus, fuligo : suie, fuligine et du Grec χρονολογία [khrônologia] : chronologie) apporte de nouvelles données, pouvant compléter celles précédemment évoquées. Elle apporte également une résolution nouvelle pour l'étude des séquences archéologiques. Cette méthode, appliquée aux carbonates, vise à étudier les dépôts de suie emprisonnés dans des concrétions calcaires, archives à très haute résolution temporelle des occupations humaines passées dans les grottes et abris-sous-roche. Ce matériau est encore peu étudié et a pourtant un potentiel informatif important pour l'archéologue, puisqu'il permet une approche micro-chronologique pour retracer les chroniques des occupations humaines passées dans une cavité avec une résolution sub-annuelle à décennale et sur plusieurs années. L'analyse des concrétions fuligineuses rend possible l'étude de deux critères offrant des éclairages singuliers : la fréquence d'occupation du site et des différences de rythmicité d'occupation entre les différentes unités stratigraphiques et entre les différentes phases culturelles archéologiquement reconnues. Dans cette communication, nous présenterons la méthode, ses potentiels et ses limites. Nous nous appuierons notamment sur le cas de la Grotte Mandrin, site en abri-sous-roche de la moyenne Vallée du Rhône (France), qui renferme des assemblages archéologiques attribués à différents groupes culturels et/ou biologiques (Néandertal vs Homme moderne). Nous tenterons d'y comparer les rythmes d'occupation, lesquels sont sous-tendus par l'organisation des groupes dans leur territoire. Abstract: The search for high resolution in archaeology is a growing preoccupation; this can be seen in particular with the multiplication of sessions focusing on this issue in international conferences in the recent years (for example: " Multidisciplinary approach in the definition of high-resolution events to interpret past human behaviour " – WAC8, 2016, Kyōto; " Advances in Archaeological Palimpsest Dissection " – UISPP 2014, Burgos; etc.). Social organisation of human groups can indeed only be studied with a very high temporal resolution. Understanding the social organisation of human groups in one location and at different scales, and being able to distinguish these different scales (from the annual cycle to the multi-year cycle),
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The micromorphological study of fireplaces becomes more and more common, but biases exist in the recording of fire events in hearth structures. In this presentation, we will introduce another method for studying fire as an artefact: the... more
The micromorphological study of fireplaces becomes more and more common, but biases exist in the recording of fire events in hearth structures. In this presentation, we will introduce another method for studying fire as an artefact: the Fuliginochronology, from Latin fuliginosus, fuligo: soot, fuliginous, and from Greek khrônologia: chronology, which consists of studying the succession of soot deposits trapped in a matrix. Here we will only develop the cases of soot trapped in carbonate deposits and more specifically in speleothems. In the particular case of an archaeological site like a rock shelter or a cave, these fuliginous calcite deposits (i.e. stalagmite, parietal crust, flowstones) are a record of past human occupations, which can be enumerated (Vandevelde et al. 2017; 2018; Vandevelde et Dupuis 2017). This pioneer method is based on high-resolution observation of soot layers trapped in calcite deposits and of the speleothems themselves, coupled with complementary analyses (characterisation: SEM, Raman, FTIR, µLIBS). It will be presented through three different temporal context: first, the method will be defined on a long archaeological sequence of Palaeolithic context at Grotte Mandrin site (middle Rhône Valley, France); then it will be validated on modern cases (Han-sur-Lesse, Belgium; Arcy-sur-Cure, France; Villars, France; Postojna, Slovenia), and finally, the use of experimental approach at Grotte Mandrin site will help us to address a number of questions about formation of fuliginous speleothems and preservation of soot through the study of present day data. This last part will also allow us to try to overcome limitations of the method in some contexts.
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Soot deposits trapped in concretions (speleothems, travertines, carbonated crusts, etc.) are witnesses of human occupations in cavities. We developed an analytical methodology whereby soot deposits can be counted and their position in... more
Soot deposits trapped in concretions (speleothems, travertines, carbonated crusts, etc.) are witnesses of human occupations in cavities. We developed an analytical methodology whereby soot deposits can be counted and their position in concretion can be documented, allowing identification of seasons of occupation in the cavity. These researches show that sooted concretions analysis enables the development of high temporal resolution archaeology, just like dendrochronology does for more recent periods. There is a real possibility for extending this pioneering study to cavities of all ages and areas, from Lower Palaeolithic, with the first traces of fire, to medieval or even modern times. Results have different implications depending on the concerned contexts. One of the major areas of application is hominine’s mobility study, since sooted concretions turned out to be a perfectly suitable material for micro-chronologic studies with an unexpected high temporal resolution. At the Grotte Mandrin rock shelter (Drôme, France), thousands of clastic fragments from the walls were found in each archaeological level. Their surfaces sometimes wear calcrete crusts containing soot deposits, which appear as thin black laminae. Microscopic observation of these crusts revealed that they kept track of many hominine occupations. It is possible to link them with the archaeological units identified during the excavation. The MNP (Minimum Number of Passages) are usually high and correspond to each archaeological layer. They attest of the cumulative nature of those units and provide data on the mobility level of the past hominine groups whom occupied the rock shelter. The positions of soot films in concretions with annual lamination can also provide information about the dynamics of occupation of the cavity by past societies. This study shows also that a very short time separates the Middle/Upper Palaeolithic transitional groups’ occupations from those of the last Mousterians in Grotte Mandrin. The research perspectives on soot deposits are diversified and raise the possibility to study past human groups, and in this case to rethink the Middle/Upper Palaeolithic transition with an unmatched temporal resolution. Presentation will focus on methodological questions, first results in Grotte Mandrin and their implications.
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APPARITION ET DISPARITION DES PARCELLAIRES GALLO-ROMAINS DANS LA BASSE VALLÉE DE LA SEINE : Apports des données d'archéologie préventive et du Lidar Les massifs forestiers actuels, dits « anciens » et que l'on pensait immuables, livrent... more
APPARITION ET DISPARITION DES PARCELLAIRES GALLO-ROMAINS DANS LA BASSE VALLÉE DE LA SEINE : Apports des données d'archéologie préventive et du Lidar
Les massifs forestiers actuels, dits « anciens » et que l'on pensait immuables, livrent avec le développement du Lidar des terroirs fossiliser dans le paysage 3. C'est ainsi que l'organisation des campagnes aujourd'hui disparu a pu être appréhendé ces dernières années dans les forêts de Haye (Lorraine) 4 et du Châtillonnais (Côte d'Or) 5. Elles ont révélé plusieurs parcellaires observés sur des superficies importantes, de nombreux habitats et des voies de communication. Plusieurs questions demeurent néanmoins quant à la datation de ces organisations territoriales. S'agit-il de formations apparues dès l'Antiquité, aux âges des métaux, voire à la fin du Néolithique 6 ? Ces formes parcellaires ont-elles été créées rapidement ou correspondent-elles à une construction progressive du paysage ? De même, quand et pourquoi ont-elles été abandonnées au profit de grands reboisements ? La basse vallée de la Seine offre un terrain d'étude idéal à la compréhension de ces phénomènes, d'une part à cause de la richesse des informations issues des opérations d'archéologie préventive, d'autres parts, étant donné que plusieurs massifs forestiers ont fait l'objet d'un relevé Lidar en 2010. Ce dernier a été réalisé par le G.I.P. Seine-Aval et traité grâce à une convention tripartite entre la Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles, l'Office National des Forêts et la Communauté d'Agglomérations Rouen-Elbeuf-Austreberthe.
Les massifs forestiers actuels, dits « anciens » et que l'on pensait immuables, livrent avec le développement du Lidar des terroirs fossiliser dans le paysage 3. C'est ainsi que l'organisation des campagnes aujourd'hui disparu a pu être appréhendé ces dernières années dans les forêts de Haye (Lorraine) 4 et du Châtillonnais (Côte d'Or) 5. Elles ont révélé plusieurs parcellaires observés sur des superficies importantes, de nombreux habitats et des voies de communication. Plusieurs questions demeurent néanmoins quant à la datation de ces organisations territoriales. S'agit-il de formations apparues dès l'Antiquité, aux âges des métaux, voire à la fin du Néolithique 6 ? Ces formes parcellaires ont-elles été créées rapidement ou correspondent-elles à une construction progressive du paysage ? De même, quand et pourquoi ont-elles été abandonnées au profit de grands reboisements ? La basse vallée de la Seine offre un terrain d'étude idéal à la compréhension de ces phénomènes, d'une part à cause de la richesse des informations issues des opérations d'archéologie préventive, d'autres parts, étant donné que plusieurs massifs forestiers ont fait l'objet d'un relevé Lidar en 2010. Ce dernier a été réalisé par le G.I.P. Seine-Aval et traité grâce à une convention tripartite entre la Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles, l'Office National des Forêts et la Communauté d'Agglomérations Rouen-Elbeuf-Austreberthe.
Research Interests:
[Fuliginochronology: a new method for the micro-chronological study of anthropic paleo-fire events in speleothem archives] La lecture géoarchéologique des sédiments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une étude microchronologique... more
[Fuliginochronology: a new method for the micro-chronological study of anthropic paleo-fire events in speleothem archives]
La lecture géoarchéologique des sédiments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une étude microchronologique des traces d’activités anthropiques. L’étude micromorphologique des foyers devient de plus en plus courante, mais il existe des biais dans l’enregistrement des événements de paléo-feux dans les structures de combustion. Dans cette communication, nous présenterons une autre méthode: la Fuliginochronologie, du latin fuliginosus, fuligo: suie, fuligineux/fuligineuse, et du Grec khrônologia: chronologie, qui consiste à étudier la succession des dépôts de suie piégés dans une matrice. Nous ne développerons ici que les cas de suie piégés dans les dépôts carbonatés et plus particulièrement dans des spéléothèmes. Dans le cas particulier d’un site archéologique comme un abri-sous-roche ou une grotte, ces concrétions (stalagmite, croûte pariétale, plancher) fuligineuses sont des archives enregistrant des occupations humaines passées, qui peuvent être décomptées et dont le rythme de succession peut être étudié (Vandevelde et Dupuis 2017; Vandevelde et al. 2017, 2018). Cette méthode pionnière repose sur l’observation à haute résolution des couches de suie piégées dans les concrétions et sur celle des spéléothèmes, couplée à des analyses complémentaires (caractérisation: MEB, Raman, IRTF, μLIBS et datation: radiocarbone, U-Th). Elle sera présentée à travers deux contextes temporels différents. Dans un premier temps, la méthode sera définie et des analyses complémentaires seront présentées sur deux sites préhistoriques: sur la longue séquence archéologique paléolithique du site de la Grotte Mandrin (moyenne vallée du Rhône, France) et sur le site néolithique de la grotte de Gueldaman GLD1 (Nord de l’Algérie); la méthode sera ensuite validée sur des cas modernes (Han-sur-Lesse, Belgique ; Arcy-sur-Cure, France ; Postojna, Slovénie ; Villars, France).
La lecture géoarchéologique des sédiments peut permettre, dans des cas favorables, une étude microchronologique des traces d’activités anthropiques. L’étude micromorphologique des foyers devient de plus en plus courante, mais il existe des biais dans l’enregistrement des événements de paléo-feux dans les structures de combustion. Dans cette communication, nous présenterons une autre méthode: la Fuliginochronologie, du latin fuliginosus, fuligo: suie, fuligineux/fuligineuse, et du Grec khrônologia: chronologie, qui consiste à étudier la succession des dépôts de suie piégés dans une matrice. Nous ne développerons ici que les cas de suie piégés dans les dépôts carbonatés et plus particulièrement dans des spéléothèmes. Dans le cas particulier d’un site archéologique comme un abri-sous-roche ou une grotte, ces concrétions (stalagmite, croûte pariétale, plancher) fuligineuses sont des archives enregistrant des occupations humaines passées, qui peuvent être décomptées et dont le rythme de succession peut être étudié (Vandevelde et Dupuis 2017; Vandevelde et al. 2017, 2018). Cette méthode pionnière repose sur l’observation à haute résolution des couches de suie piégées dans les concrétions et sur celle des spéléothèmes, couplée à des analyses complémentaires (caractérisation: MEB, Raman, IRTF, μLIBS et datation: radiocarbone, U-Th). Elle sera présentée à travers deux contextes temporels différents. Dans un premier temps, la méthode sera définie et des analyses complémentaires seront présentées sur deux sites préhistoriques: sur la longue séquence archéologique paléolithique du site de la Grotte Mandrin (moyenne vallée du Rhône, France) et sur le site néolithique de la grotte de Gueldaman GLD1 (Nord de l’Algérie); la méthode sera ensuite validée sur des cas modernes (Han-sur-Lesse, Belgique ; Arcy-sur-Cure, France ; Postojna, Slovénie ; Villars, France).
Research Interests:
Within the Cape Espenberg sites, layers of carbonized and cemented remains are found associated with Birnirk and Thule semi-subterranean houses (11th-18th century AD). These burned areas raise a number of questions about re related... more
Within the Cape Espenberg sites, layers of carbonized and cemented remains are found associated with Birnirk and Thule semi-subterranean houses (11th-18th century AD). These burned areas raise a number of questions about re related outside activities, the use of multiple fuels, and the long-term processes that led to their formation. In this wood-poor arctic environment, ethnographic observations report that driftwood can be used as a fuel, often coupled with animal resources to meet fire energy needs.
In this paper, we present combustion areas excavated from the Rising Whale site at Cape Espenberg. We analyzed each hearth feature by sorting and identifying wood and animal fuels. We discuss the representation of firewood taxa with a statistical analysis of their frequency and fragmentation.
In this paper, we present combustion areas excavated from the Rising Whale site at Cape Espenberg. We analyzed each hearth feature by sorting and identifying wood and animal fuels. We discuss the representation of firewood taxa with a statistical analysis of their frequency and fragmentation.
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Chers collègues, Nous organisons, dans le cadre de la prochaine Réunion des Sciences de la Terre qui aura lieu du 22 au 26 octobre 2018 à Lille (https://rst2018-lille.sciencesconf.org), deux sessions «Géoarchéologie»: - (10.2)... more
Chers collègues,
Nous organisons, dans le cadre de la prochaine Réunion des Sciences de la Terre qui aura lieu du 22 au 26 octobre 2018 à Lille (https://rst2018-lille.sciencesconf.org), deux sessions «Géoarchéologie»:
- (10.2) Géoarchéologie et Environnement : Lecture des sédiments et des paysages anthropisés &
- (10.5) De la géoarchéologie « intra-site » à la géoarchéologie « culturelle » : retour sur 30 ans d’expériences et de recherche.
Nous serions heureux d'accueillir des chercheurs qui souhaiteraient présenter leur travail. Ces deux sessions seront publiées en deux volets dans un même numéro.
Pour toute proposition ou demande d'information complémentaire, merci de contacter (en mettant en copie Nicolas Tribovillard (nicolas.tribovillard@univ-lille1.fr) :
- session 10.2 : Julien Curie (julien.curie@mae.u-paris10.fr)
- session 10.5 : Marylise Onfray (onfray.marylise@live.fr) et Lucie Cez (luciecez@gmail.com)
Très cordialement,
Lucie Cez, Julien Curie, Stéphane Desruelles, Marylise Onfray, Christophe Petit, Amélie Quiquerez, Ségolène Vandevelde
Nous organisons, dans le cadre de la prochaine Réunion des Sciences de la Terre qui aura lieu du 22 au 26 octobre 2018 à Lille (https://rst2018-lille.sciencesconf.org), deux sessions «Géoarchéologie»:
- (10.2) Géoarchéologie et Environnement : Lecture des sédiments et des paysages anthropisés &
- (10.5) De la géoarchéologie « intra-site » à la géoarchéologie « culturelle » : retour sur 30 ans d’expériences et de recherche.
Nous serions heureux d'accueillir des chercheurs qui souhaiteraient présenter leur travail. Ces deux sessions seront publiées en deux volets dans un même numéro.
Pour toute proposition ou demande d'information complémentaire, merci de contacter (en mettant en copie Nicolas Tribovillard (nicolas.tribovillard@univ-lille1.fr) :
- session 10.2 : Julien Curie (julien.curie@mae.u-paris10.fr)
- session 10.5 : Marylise Onfray (onfray.marylise@live.fr) et Lucie Cez (luciecez@gmail.com)
Très cordialement,
Lucie Cez, Julien Curie, Stéphane Desruelles, Marylise Onfray, Christophe Petit, Amélie Quiquerez, Ségolène Vandevelde
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This session centers on the relationships between the dynamics of ancient agro-pastoral systems from around the world, and the rapid climatic changes that characterize the Holocene. For example, the development of salvage archaeology in... more
This session centers on the relationships between the dynamics of ancient agro-pastoral systems from around the world, and the rapid climatic changes that characterize the Holocene. For example, the development of salvage archaeology in France has improved our understanding of ancient rural systems, evidenced by many recent conferences that showcase the dynamism of this newer research. The correlation between the rhythm of rural settlement expansion and climatic fluctuations is often noted. However, most French research still tends to privilege historical explanations based on political, social, and cultural factors. For example, despite conceptual progress concerning the study of human-landscape interactions (Muxart et al. 2003), archaeological syntheses integrate very few results of sedimentary studies from lakes, marshes, and environments with minimal anthropization. Similarly, the cyclical development and collapse of societies in North and South America are often posited to be related to short-term climate fluctuations (drought, ENSO events, etc.). Nevertheless, there has been a growing trend toward more sophisticated modeling and discussion of the relations among climate, agricultural production, and societal change. The goal of this session is to present interdisciplinary analyses from diverse regions, at the regional or micro-regional scale, that compare the results of more traditional archaeological data (rhythm of occupation-abandonment, the organization of production, interpretations of agricultural tool functions, analysis of botanical and faunal remains) with landscape approaches (type and extent of field systems, landscape modifications) and paleoenvironmental data from off-site locations (pollen sequences, dendrochronologies, hydrological change, sediment flux, erosions markers, molecular markers). Each presentation should also discuss the associated challenges posed by differing temporal resolutions (for example, recognizing the impacts of annual to multi-decadal climatic events), as well as the evaluating the overall representivity and compatibility of the various archaeological and paleoenvironmental data sets.
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Fungal stromata were recently discovered in association with charcoal and burnt soil aggregates during an archaeological survey in the Châtillon-sur-Seine forest massif. The wood and soil in the samples were dated to the medieval period... more
Fungal stromata were recently discovered in association with charcoal and burnt soil aggregates during an archaeological survey in the Châtillon-sur-Seine forest massif. The wood and soil in the samples were dated to the medieval period (between 738 and 1411 AD). Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that a few of the stromatal fragments still contained ascospores. Their macromorphological characters were described and secondary metabolite profiles were generated using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC–DAD/MS). The combination of these two data lines then allowed species identification. Most of the fragments were assigned to Hypoxylon fragiforme, the type species of the Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales). Two further species whose stromata grew on the fossil charcoal could be tentatively identified as Jackrogersella cohaerens and (more tentatively) as Hypoxylon vogesiacum. These three species are still commonly encountered in the forests of Central Europe today. Furthermore, the HPLC-HRMS data of H. fragiforme suggested the presence of unknown azaphilone dimers and of further new pigments. These archaeological compounds were compared to fresh stromata of H. fragiforme collected in Germany and subjected to the same analytical protocol. While the major components in both samples were identified as the known mitorubrin type azaphilones and orsellinic acid, the chemical structures of seven novel complex azaphilone pigments, for which we propose the trivial names rutilins C-D and fragirubrins A-E, were elucidated using spectral methods (NMR and CD spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry). It appears that these pigments had indeed persisted for millennia in the fossil stromata.
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Following the exceptional discovery of Neolithic engravings on a boulder at Vallée aux Noirs in the Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, an excavation trench was opened in order to access the buried part of the decorated rock panel and... more
Following the exceptional discovery of Neolithic engravings on a boulder at Vallée aux Noirs in the Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, an excavation trench was opened in order to access the buried part of the decorated rock panel and explore the stratigraphic context of the artwork. A palaeosol was found two metres below the modern ground level, underneath multiple layers of sterile sandy soil forming a very compact sequence from which only one archaeological artefact was recovered – an Iron Age fibula (c.200–300 BC). Dating of the palaeosol was attempted through two different methods: AMS dates from charcoal suggest a significant span from the Early Bronze Age to the Iron Age, while two more consistent OSL dates point to formation of the palaeosol during the Late Neolithic (3500–3000 cal BC). The entire engraved rock surface (16 m2), including its buried part, was fully recorded. Four main semiotic groups were identified: a typical fifth‐millennium crook‐hafted axe with a ring, two boats with steering oars, and a central, very tall human figure dominating the composition from its 3.5‐metre height.