Address: Prof. Marie Besse, Head of the Laboratory of Prehistoric Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Geneva, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and acquatic sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 boulevard Carl Vogt - CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Water Supply and Water Management in the Metal Ages, 2024
Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera, the Eremita Cave overlooks the Alpine Sesia Valley ... more Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera, the Eremita Cave overlooks the Alpine Sesia Valley in Piedmont region (Italy). Ten years of excavation (2012–2021) revealed that the cave was frequented for burial purposes during the Middle and Final Bronze Age (1600–800 BC) and yielded a ceramic assemblage composed of 2982 sherds. The petrographic study regarded 28 samples, selected by taking into account pottery typology, relative chronology, surface and core colours as well as macroscopic features of pastes. The analysis aimed at investigating paste composition and exploitation of natural resources. Pottery from Eremita Cave displays the characteristics of five fabrics, mainly discriminated by aplastic inclusions (quartz, granite-granodiorite, pyroxenite, volcanic rocks). These findings allowed to draw inferences on the Middle and Final Bronze Age pottery production in the Lower Sesia Valley and on the exploitation of local natural resources by human groups.
Water Supply and Water Management in the Metal Ages, 2024
The Eremita Cave is located in the northwest of Italy, in the province of Piedmont, in the Monte ... more The Eremita Cave is located in the northwest of Italy, in the province of Piedmont, in the Monte Fenera Massif. Ten years of excavations (2012–2021) conducted by the Laboratory of Prehistoric Archaeology and Anthropology of the University of Geneva, under the direction of one of us (MB), revealed that the cave was used for burials during the Middle and Final Bronze Age (1625–800 BC) and yielded pottery, fauna, bronze artefacts, lithic industry, and cremated human remains. The ceramic assemblage consists of 2982 sherds. The study of the pottery revealed the minimum number of vessels and their main morphological characteristics. Together with an overview of the stratigraphic and chronological sequences, the study provides further information on the function of the cave and the chrono-cultural context. Through comparisons with other sites, this study explores the movement of people, ideas and artefacts.
The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral socie... more The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral societies by studying their dietary practices and mobility. Using the principles of isotopic biogeochemistry, the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13 C), nitrogen (δ15 N) and sulphur (δ34 S) on bone collagen and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) on dental enamel were measured to discuss the diet and residence history of 49 individuals from the Middle Neolithic necropolises of Collombey-Muraz − Barmaz I and II (Valais, Switzerland). Individuals from both burial assem- blages have collagen isotope values indicating a diet based on terrestrial resources with a very high consumption of animal proteins. However, the individuals from Barmaz II have consumed a nitrogen-15 enriched resource. The strontium results show that only a few individuals buried in Barmaz I show non-local values, whereas all individuals buried in Barmaz II have values similar to the environment in which they were buried. Whether in terms of diet, access to resources or mobility, no differences were observed between male and female individuals, neither in their isotopic values nor in the variability of these values. Taken all together, the results suggest the existence of a possible reserved area in the burial zone, even if coming from ’elsewhere’ did not seem to have any influence on access to food resources. However, if being male or female did not seem to play an important social role in this population, it seems that it is the location of their burial that gives more information about their status. Finally, these new data, combined with previous knowledge, raise the question of whether the individuals buried at Barmaz II belonged to a group that was socially distinct from the rest of the Barmaz population.
In : Ard V. Hasler A., Sénépart I., Cauliez J., Gilabert Ch., ed. Pierre à bâtir, pierre à penser. Systèmes techniques et productions symboliques des pré et protohistoire méridionales, 2023
Thirty years after the discovery of the last megalithic monuments in Sion, two new sites were unc... more Thirty years after the discovery of the last megalithic monuments in Sion, two new sites were uncovered during preventive work in 2018 and 2019. A new necropolis consisting of two dolmens defines the first site, Don Bosco. The second one is in continuation eastwards of the famous Petit-Chasseur necropolis. During these two operations, eight stelae were discovered with their ornamented faces against the ground, therefore exposed to optimal preservation. A protocol was thus created at the beginning of 2020 with a scientific team and restorers allowing us, once the blocks were removed, to consider the detection of possible pigments and the technological aspects of those megaliths. These two years of research revealed the technology used to shape each of the stelae, their history, and, more importantly, established that pigments had been applied to their surfaces, hence confirming the use of color on them. The positive results of those studies lead us to present this new protocol involving archeologists, curators, and restorers.
Virtual Anthropology (VA) transposes the traditional methods of physical anthropology to virtual ... more Virtual Anthropology (VA) transposes the traditional methods of physical anthropology to virtual environments using imaging techniques and exploits imaging technologies to devise new methodological protocols. In this research, we investigate whether the measurements used in the Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP) and Ischio- Pubic Index (IPI) differ significantly when 3D models of a bone are generated using 3D surface scans (3DSS) and Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scans. Thirty pelvises were selected from the SIMON identified skeletal collection. An equal ratio of females to males was sought, as well as a good preservation of the bones.
Objectives: The Bell Beaker period witnessed the rise of individual inhumations with "wealthy" bu... more Objectives: The Bell Beaker period witnessed the rise of individual inhumations with "wealthy" burial contexts containing archery-related grave goods, leading archaeologists to label the individuals in these tombs as "archers." This study looks to (1) compare the skeletons from male "archer" burials with those from male "non-archer" burials-those not having archery-related grave goods-in order to assess a possible link between burial context and physical activity, and (2) apply a biomechanics profile to evaluate whether the individuals associated with these "archer" burials practiced specialized archer activity. Materials and Methods: The corpus (males only) included 46 "archers" and 40 "non-archers" from Bell Beaker individual inhumations. Osteological data included measurements, scores of entheseal changes, and a diagnosis of certain pathologies. Data analyses involved visual observations, hypothesis tests, dimension reduction, and MANOVA, with approaches aimed at exploring the treatment of data missingness. Results: Measurement data revealed no differences between the two groups. Evaluations of entheseal changes found that "non-archers" had consistently more instances of bone surface modifications than "archers." Individual assessments of specialized archer occupation identified 11 possible specialized archers. Discussion: These findings indicate a possible labor differentiation represented through the presence of a probably prestigious "archer" burial context. This suggests a link between grave good presence and labor, but not between a Bell Beaker archery occupation and an "archer" burial context. Data analyses support the application of biomechanics to osteological analyses in order to assess specialized activity on the skeleton.
Through the analyses of recovered pottery, this study explores the social dimension of an ancesto... more Through the analyses of recovered pottery, this study explores the social dimension of an ancestor cult developed at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis (Upper Rhône Valley, Switzerland) during the Early Bronze Age (2200-1600 BC). The jar votive offerings and domestic pottery from settlement sites were characterized using a range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Acquired archaeometric data allowed identification of six ceramic fabrics and two types of clay substrate-illite-and muscovite-based-which were used in pottery production. The present article discusses the pottery composition in the light of natural resources available in the region, thus shedding light on raw material choices and paste preparation recipes. The Early Bronze Age people that lived in the Upper Rhône Valley seem to have shared a common ceramic tradition, partly inherited from the previous Bell Beaker populations. The compositional correspondence between the jar offerings and domestic pottery revealed that the majority of the known Early Bronze Age groups partook in cultic activities at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis.
The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Smallscal... more The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Smallscale technological studies investigating its integration in local contexts remain rare, even though these are crucial to observing disruptions in traditions. In this article, we studied the ceramic technology of Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age settlements of the Upper Rhône valley in Switzerland (3300-1600 BCE). We reconstructed and compared their pottery traditions to those from the contemporaneous megalithic necropolis of Sion 'Petit-Chasseur', a major funerary and ritual site located in the centre of the valley. Our findings showed that the Bell Beaker period saw an abundance of simultaneous technical changes, mirroring disruptions identified by other fields, and confirmed that this cultural phenomenon did not blend seamlessly with the local context. More importantly, they revealed the role played by human mobility, with the arrival of potters shortly after 2500 BCE.
The Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis is a key archaeological context for analyzing the social... more The Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis is a key archaeological context for analyzing the social and ideological changes at the end of the Neolithic in the Alpine region of Central Europe. The link between the funerary monuments and settlement sites was established by means of ceramic archaeometric analysis. Domestic pottery from settlement sites were thoroughly characterized using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Twelve ceramic fabrics were identified along with three types of clay substrate: illitic, muscovitic, and kaolinitic. Reconstructed paste preparation recipes largely involved the tempering of the raw clays with crushed rocks or coarse sediments. Types of raw material were not picked up randomly but were selected or avoided due to their particular compositional properties and attest to the exploitation of glacial, gravitational, eolian, and fluvial deposits. Compositional correspondence between ceramic grave goods and domestic pottery allowed identification of a link between the megalithic tombs and settlement sites, thus providing new data contributing to the investigation of the social dimension of monumental burials. Ceramic grave goods were revealed to be intertwined with the social instability affecting the 3rd millennium BC communities of the Upper Rhône Valley.
Tributes to Alain Gallay and Daniela Kern in the Proceedings of the 22nd Meeting of ‘Archéologie
... more Tributes to Alain Gallay and Daniela Kern in the Proceedings of the 22nd Meeting of ‘Archéologie et Gobelets’ 2021 (Geneva, Switzerland)
Abegg C., Carloni D., Cousseau F., Derenne E., Ryan-Despraz J. (Eds), The Bell Beaker Culture in All Its Forms. Proceedings of the 22nd Meeting of ‘Archéologie et Gobelets’ 2021 (Geneva, Switzerland). Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 49–63., 2022
The aim of this paper is to explore the integration of the Bell Beaker phenomenon in a local cont... more The aim of this paper is to explore the integration of the Bell Beaker phenomenon in a local context, in order to examine the mechanisms underlying its introduction and discuss possible factors related to it. As a case study, the authors use the Upper Rhône valley in southwestern Switzerland and focus specifically on the renowned Sion ‘Petit-Chasseur’ necropolis. Prehistoric populations repeatedly came to this megalithic site during the Final Neolithic (2900–2450 cal. BC), the Bell Beaker period (2450–2200 cal. BC), and the Early Bronze Age (2200–1600 cal. BC), offering ideal conditions to address the issues stated above. This multidisciplinary research focuses on pottery manufacturing processes through the chaîne opératoire approach, reconstructing each step from the raw material selection all the way to finishing treatments and firing. The analyses, both macro- and microscopic, carried out on the Bell Beaker pottery, led to the identification of an exogenous pottery tradition and of local raw material procurement sources. These results point towards a mobility of Bell Beaker potters, who exploited local raw materials but applied their own know-how. Probably specialised, these craftsmen/women were thus one of the factors active in the diffusion of the Bell Beaker phenomenon.
Bulletin de la Société royale belge d'Anthropologie et de Préhistoire Bulletin van de Koninklijke... more Bulletin de la Société royale belge d'Anthropologie et de Préhistoire Bulletin van de Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Antropologie en Prehistorie Ce volume a été publié Deze bundel werd gepubliceerd grâce à l'appui de met de steun van et grâce au soutien fi nancier de en met de fi nanciële steun van
The 22nd meeting of the “Archéologie et Gobelets” Association took place on January 21 and 22, 20... more The 22nd meeting of the “Archéologie et Gobelets” Association took place on January 21 and 22, 2021 in Geneva Switzerland under the theme “The Bell Beaker Culture in All its Forms”. However, this conference did not transpire as originally intended because a few months into its organization, we found ourselves in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. While we had considered canceling the conference altogether, it felt important for us to maintain it and we therefore made the decision to continue its organization as an entirely virtual meeting. We believed that the links between friends and colleagues as well as the enriching scientific discussions were especially important during these difficult times.
Alain was a man of science and heart who passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of... more Alain was a man of science and heart who passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of December 21, 2021
This paper discusses the pros and cons of the application of automated SEM-EDS analysis to the ch... more This paper discusses the pros and cons of the application of automated SEM-EDS analysis to the characterization of pottery findings by means of a thorough discussion of the basics of its technology as well as its use in archaeometric research. An in-depth investigation of coarse prehistoric pottery (42 thin sections) from the Petit-Chasseur necropolis (3100-1600 BC, Southwestern Switzerland) provided the perfect testing ground for automated SEM-EDS analysis and resulted in a complete and updated reflection on the capabilities and limitations of this method. An opportunity to produce a quick, reliable, automated, and in-depth petrographic characterization of archaeological ceramics in the form of detailed phase maps stands as a unique feature of automated SEM-EDS technology. Indeed, the information on the composition of aplastic inclusions and clayey groundmass along with the insights on void distribution offer a great resource enabling inferences on raw material choices/provenance and manufacturing technology. However, the present study exposed there are more disadvantages than the ones reported by the literature. A phase identification ignoring crystallographic particularities whatsoever is potentially alarming for mineral sorting, whereas the simplification of lithoclast's internal texture hampers the lithological classification of aplastic inclusions. Notwithstanding listed limitations, the use of automated SEM-EDS in archaeometric research of pottery offers a wealth of useful data which will secure its place in any future investigation of archaeological materials, alongside with the more traditional techniques such as optical petrography, regular scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
line Leuzinger et Werner Müller, La préhistoire à la rencontre du public dans les centres commerc... more line Leuzinger et Werner Müller, La préhistoire à la rencontre du public dans les centres commerciaux. Retour d'expérience sur le projet « Ice Age Panorama » ... Matthieu Demierre und Johannes Wimmer, unter Mitarbeit von/avec la collaboration de Pascal Brand, Aurélie Crausaz, Anika Duvauchelle, Denis Goldhorn, Andrea Francesco Lanzicher und/et Mireille Ruffieux, Typologie des fibules des 2 e et 1 er siècles av. notre ère sur le Plateau suisse/ Typologie der Fibeln des 2. und 1
Situé dans le canton de Genève, le site du Pré-du-Stand a fait l’objet de fouilles préventives en... more Situé dans le canton de Genève, le site du Pré-du-Stand a fait l’objet de fouilles préventives en 2015 et 2016. Elles ont mis en évidence une succession de couches archéologiques très altérées pour lesquelles plusieurs horizons d’occupation sont définis, depuis le Néolithique moyen jusqu’à la période romaine. Les vestiges sont peu nombreux, le plus souvent mal conservés du fait d’une forte érosion des niveaux anthropiques. Il ne reste plus que les structures en creux ou les assises des structures en pierre. Néanmoins, en s’appuyant sur près de 50 datations radiocarbone, d’un mobilier de plus de 3500 pièces, et d’une trentaine de structures, la séquence stratigraphique témoigne d’occupations plus ou moins importantes qui prennent des formes différentes selon les périodes : lieu cultuel, zone de culture, lieu d’activités artisanales, zone funéraire. Le site n’est jamais à proprement parler une zone d’habitat mais se trouve plutôt en périphérie d’une occupation.
This paper’s primary focus is the investigation of Late Iron Age funeral practices. This is carri... more This paper’s primary focus is the investigation of Late Iron Age funeral practices. This is carried out by means of a multidisciplinary study of two necropolises, Randogne – Bluche and Sion – Parking des Remparts, which are located in southwestern Switzerland. The overall purpose of this paper is to enhance the socio-cul- tural understanding of this period through an integrated approach that combines the fields of bioanthropology, archaeology and ancient cultural history. Consequently, sex, age, pathologies and biological proximity first were assessed for the individuals found in the two studied necropolises. Next, data from these necropolises was con- trasted with the archaeological and cultural environment from the surrounding regions. Finally, a combined per- spective was developed in order to consider and combine the data collected through these different approaches. The obtained results appear to point to a regional particularism present in southwestern Switzerland’s funerary practices during the Late Iron Age. However, cultural influences from both northern and southern neighbouring regions can be identified in southwestern Switzerland’s funerary rites and material productions, which sheds light on the innerworkings of the Celtic communities populating this region.
Water Supply and Water Management in the Metal Ages, 2024
Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera, the Eremita Cave overlooks the Alpine Sesia Valley ... more Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera, the Eremita Cave overlooks the Alpine Sesia Valley in Piedmont region (Italy). Ten years of excavation (2012–2021) revealed that the cave was frequented for burial purposes during the Middle and Final Bronze Age (1600–800 BC) and yielded a ceramic assemblage composed of 2982 sherds. The petrographic study regarded 28 samples, selected by taking into account pottery typology, relative chronology, surface and core colours as well as macroscopic features of pastes. The analysis aimed at investigating paste composition and exploitation of natural resources. Pottery from Eremita Cave displays the characteristics of five fabrics, mainly discriminated by aplastic inclusions (quartz, granite-granodiorite, pyroxenite, volcanic rocks). These findings allowed to draw inferences on the Middle and Final Bronze Age pottery production in the Lower Sesia Valley and on the exploitation of local natural resources by human groups.
Water Supply and Water Management in the Metal Ages, 2024
The Eremita Cave is located in the northwest of Italy, in the province of Piedmont, in the Monte ... more The Eremita Cave is located in the northwest of Italy, in the province of Piedmont, in the Monte Fenera Massif. Ten years of excavations (2012–2021) conducted by the Laboratory of Prehistoric Archaeology and Anthropology of the University of Geneva, under the direction of one of us (MB), revealed that the cave was used for burials during the Middle and Final Bronze Age (1625–800 BC) and yielded pottery, fauna, bronze artefacts, lithic industry, and cremated human remains. The ceramic assemblage consists of 2982 sherds. The study of the pottery revealed the minimum number of vessels and their main morphological characteristics. Together with an overview of the stratigraphic and chronological sequences, the study provides further information on the function of the cave and the chrono-cultural context. Through comparisons with other sites, this study explores the movement of people, ideas and artefacts.
The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral socie... more The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral societies by studying their dietary practices and mobility. Using the principles of isotopic biogeochemistry, the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13 C), nitrogen (δ15 N) and sulphur (δ34 S) on bone collagen and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) on dental enamel were measured to discuss the diet and residence history of 49 individuals from the Middle Neolithic necropolises of Collombey-Muraz − Barmaz I and II (Valais, Switzerland). Individuals from both burial assem- blages have collagen isotope values indicating a diet based on terrestrial resources with a very high consumption of animal proteins. However, the individuals from Barmaz II have consumed a nitrogen-15 enriched resource. The strontium results show that only a few individuals buried in Barmaz I show non-local values, whereas all individuals buried in Barmaz II have values similar to the environment in which they were buried. Whether in terms of diet, access to resources or mobility, no differences were observed between male and female individuals, neither in their isotopic values nor in the variability of these values. Taken all together, the results suggest the existence of a possible reserved area in the burial zone, even if coming from ’elsewhere’ did not seem to have any influence on access to food resources. However, if being male or female did not seem to play an important social role in this population, it seems that it is the location of their burial that gives more information about their status. Finally, these new data, combined with previous knowledge, raise the question of whether the individuals buried at Barmaz II belonged to a group that was socially distinct from the rest of the Barmaz population.
In : Ard V. Hasler A., Sénépart I., Cauliez J., Gilabert Ch., ed. Pierre à bâtir, pierre à penser. Systèmes techniques et productions symboliques des pré et protohistoire méridionales, 2023
Thirty years after the discovery of the last megalithic monuments in Sion, two new sites were unc... more Thirty years after the discovery of the last megalithic monuments in Sion, two new sites were uncovered during preventive work in 2018 and 2019. A new necropolis consisting of two dolmens defines the first site, Don Bosco. The second one is in continuation eastwards of the famous Petit-Chasseur necropolis. During these two operations, eight stelae were discovered with their ornamented faces against the ground, therefore exposed to optimal preservation. A protocol was thus created at the beginning of 2020 with a scientific team and restorers allowing us, once the blocks were removed, to consider the detection of possible pigments and the technological aspects of those megaliths. These two years of research revealed the technology used to shape each of the stelae, their history, and, more importantly, established that pigments had been applied to their surfaces, hence confirming the use of color on them. The positive results of those studies lead us to present this new protocol involving archeologists, curators, and restorers.
Virtual Anthropology (VA) transposes the traditional methods of physical anthropology to virtual ... more Virtual Anthropology (VA) transposes the traditional methods of physical anthropology to virtual environments using imaging techniques and exploits imaging technologies to devise new methodological protocols. In this research, we investigate whether the measurements used in the Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP) and Ischio- Pubic Index (IPI) differ significantly when 3D models of a bone are generated using 3D surface scans (3DSS) and Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scans. Thirty pelvises were selected from the SIMON identified skeletal collection. An equal ratio of females to males was sought, as well as a good preservation of the bones.
Objectives: The Bell Beaker period witnessed the rise of individual inhumations with "wealthy" bu... more Objectives: The Bell Beaker period witnessed the rise of individual inhumations with "wealthy" burial contexts containing archery-related grave goods, leading archaeologists to label the individuals in these tombs as "archers." This study looks to (1) compare the skeletons from male "archer" burials with those from male "non-archer" burials-those not having archery-related grave goods-in order to assess a possible link between burial context and physical activity, and (2) apply a biomechanics profile to evaluate whether the individuals associated with these "archer" burials practiced specialized archer activity. Materials and Methods: The corpus (males only) included 46 "archers" and 40 "non-archers" from Bell Beaker individual inhumations. Osteological data included measurements, scores of entheseal changes, and a diagnosis of certain pathologies. Data analyses involved visual observations, hypothesis tests, dimension reduction, and MANOVA, with approaches aimed at exploring the treatment of data missingness. Results: Measurement data revealed no differences between the two groups. Evaluations of entheseal changes found that "non-archers" had consistently more instances of bone surface modifications than "archers." Individual assessments of specialized archer occupation identified 11 possible specialized archers. Discussion: These findings indicate a possible labor differentiation represented through the presence of a probably prestigious "archer" burial context. This suggests a link between grave good presence and labor, but not between a Bell Beaker archery occupation and an "archer" burial context. Data analyses support the application of biomechanics to osteological analyses in order to assess specialized activity on the skeleton.
Through the analyses of recovered pottery, this study explores the social dimension of an ancesto... more Through the analyses of recovered pottery, this study explores the social dimension of an ancestor cult developed at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis (Upper Rhône Valley, Switzerland) during the Early Bronze Age (2200-1600 BC). The jar votive offerings and domestic pottery from settlement sites were characterized using a range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Acquired archaeometric data allowed identification of six ceramic fabrics and two types of clay substrate-illite-and muscovite-based-which were used in pottery production. The present article discusses the pottery composition in the light of natural resources available in the region, thus shedding light on raw material choices and paste preparation recipes. The Early Bronze Age people that lived in the Upper Rhône Valley seem to have shared a common ceramic tradition, partly inherited from the previous Bell Beaker populations. The compositional correspondence between the jar offerings and domestic pottery revealed that the majority of the known Early Bronze Age groups partook in cultic activities at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis.
The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Smallscal... more The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Smallscale technological studies investigating its integration in local contexts remain rare, even though these are crucial to observing disruptions in traditions. In this article, we studied the ceramic technology of Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age settlements of the Upper Rhône valley in Switzerland (3300-1600 BCE). We reconstructed and compared their pottery traditions to those from the contemporaneous megalithic necropolis of Sion 'Petit-Chasseur', a major funerary and ritual site located in the centre of the valley. Our findings showed that the Bell Beaker period saw an abundance of simultaneous technical changes, mirroring disruptions identified by other fields, and confirmed that this cultural phenomenon did not blend seamlessly with the local context. More importantly, they revealed the role played by human mobility, with the arrival of potters shortly after 2500 BCE.
The Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis is a key archaeological context for analyzing the social... more The Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis is a key archaeological context for analyzing the social and ideological changes at the end of the Neolithic in the Alpine region of Central Europe. The link between the funerary monuments and settlement sites was established by means of ceramic archaeometric analysis. Domestic pottery from settlement sites were thoroughly characterized using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Twelve ceramic fabrics were identified along with three types of clay substrate: illitic, muscovitic, and kaolinitic. Reconstructed paste preparation recipes largely involved the tempering of the raw clays with crushed rocks or coarse sediments. Types of raw material were not picked up randomly but were selected or avoided due to their particular compositional properties and attest to the exploitation of glacial, gravitational, eolian, and fluvial deposits. Compositional correspondence between ceramic grave goods and domestic pottery allowed identification of a link between the megalithic tombs and settlement sites, thus providing new data contributing to the investigation of the social dimension of monumental burials. Ceramic grave goods were revealed to be intertwined with the social instability affecting the 3rd millennium BC communities of the Upper Rhône Valley.
Tributes to Alain Gallay and Daniela Kern in the Proceedings of the 22nd Meeting of ‘Archéologie
... more Tributes to Alain Gallay and Daniela Kern in the Proceedings of the 22nd Meeting of ‘Archéologie et Gobelets’ 2021 (Geneva, Switzerland)
Abegg C., Carloni D., Cousseau F., Derenne E., Ryan-Despraz J. (Eds), The Bell Beaker Culture in All Its Forms. Proceedings of the 22nd Meeting of ‘Archéologie et Gobelets’ 2021 (Geneva, Switzerland). Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 49–63., 2022
The aim of this paper is to explore the integration of the Bell Beaker phenomenon in a local cont... more The aim of this paper is to explore the integration of the Bell Beaker phenomenon in a local context, in order to examine the mechanisms underlying its introduction and discuss possible factors related to it. As a case study, the authors use the Upper Rhône valley in southwestern Switzerland and focus specifically on the renowned Sion ‘Petit-Chasseur’ necropolis. Prehistoric populations repeatedly came to this megalithic site during the Final Neolithic (2900–2450 cal. BC), the Bell Beaker period (2450–2200 cal. BC), and the Early Bronze Age (2200–1600 cal. BC), offering ideal conditions to address the issues stated above. This multidisciplinary research focuses on pottery manufacturing processes through the chaîne opératoire approach, reconstructing each step from the raw material selection all the way to finishing treatments and firing. The analyses, both macro- and microscopic, carried out on the Bell Beaker pottery, led to the identification of an exogenous pottery tradition and of local raw material procurement sources. These results point towards a mobility of Bell Beaker potters, who exploited local raw materials but applied their own know-how. Probably specialised, these craftsmen/women were thus one of the factors active in the diffusion of the Bell Beaker phenomenon.
Bulletin de la Société royale belge d'Anthropologie et de Préhistoire Bulletin van de Koninklijke... more Bulletin de la Société royale belge d'Anthropologie et de Préhistoire Bulletin van de Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Antropologie en Prehistorie Ce volume a été publié Deze bundel werd gepubliceerd grâce à l'appui de met de steun van et grâce au soutien fi nancier de en met de fi nanciële steun van
The 22nd meeting of the “Archéologie et Gobelets” Association took place on January 21 and 22, 20... more The 22nd meeting of the “Archéologie et Gobelets” Association took place on January 21 and 22, 2021 in Geneva Switzerland under the theme “The Bell Beaker Culture in All its Forms”. However, this conference did not transpire as originally intended because a few months into its organization, we found ourselves in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. While we had considered canceling the conference altogether, it felt important for us to maintain it and we therefore made the decision to continue its organization as an entirely virtual meeting. We believed that the links between friends and colleagues as well as the enriching scientific discussions were especially important during these difficult times.
Alain was a man of science and heart who passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of... more Alain was a man of science and heart who passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of December 21, 2021
This paper discusses the pros and cons of the application of automated SEM-EDS analysis to the ch... more This paper discusses the pros and cons of the application of automated SEM-EDS analysis to the characterization of pottery findings by means of a thorough discussion of the basics of its technology as well as its use in archaeometric research. An in-depth investigation of coarse prehistoric pottery (42 thin sections) from the Petit-Chasseur necropolis (3100-1600 BC, Southwestern Switzerland) provided the perfect testing ground for automated SEM-EDS analysis and resulted in a complete and updated reflection on the capabilities and limitations of this method. An opportunity to produce a quick, reliable, automated, and in-depth petrographic characterization of archaeological ceramics in the form of detailed phase maps stands as a unique feature of automated SEM-EDS technology. Indeed, the information on the composition of aplastic inclusions and clayey groundmass along with the insights on void distribution offer a great resource enabling inferences on raw material choices/provenance and manufacturing technology. However, the present study exposed there are more disadvantages than the ones reported by the literature. A phase identification ignoring crystallographic particularities whatsoever is potentially alarming for mineral sorting, whereas the simplification of lithoclast's internal texture hampers the lithological classification of aplastic inclusions. Notwithstanding listed limitations, the use of automated SEM-EDS in archaeometric research of pottery offers a wealth of useful data which will secure its place in any future investigation of archaeological materials, alongside with the more traditional techniques such as optical petrography, regular scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
line Leuzinger et Werner Müller, La préhistoire à la rencontre du public dans les centres commerc... more line Leuzinger et Werner Müller, La préhistoire à la rencontre du public dans les centres commerciaux. Retour d'expérience sur le projet « Ice Age Panorama » ... Matthieu Demierre und Johannes Wimmer, unter Mitarbeit von/avec la collaboration de Pascal Brand, Aurélie Crausaz, Anika Duvauchelle, Denis Goldhorn, Andrea Francesco Lanzicher und/et Mireille Ruffieux, Typologie des fibules des 2 e et 1 er siècles av. notre ère sur le Plateau suisse/ Typologie der Fibeln des 2. und 1
Situé dans le canton de Genève, le site du Pré-du-Stand a fait l’objet de fouilles préventives en... more Situé dans le canton de Genève, le site du Pré-du-Stand a fait l’objet de fouilles préventives en 2015 et 2016. Elles ont mis en évidence une succession de couches archéologiques très altérées pour lesquelles plusieurs horizons d’occupation sont définis, depuis le Néolithique moyen jusqu’à la période romaine. Les vestiges sont peu nombreux, le plus souvent mal conservés du fait d’une forte érosion des niveaux anthropiques. Il ne reste plus que les structures en creux ou les assises des structures en pierre. Néanmoins, en s’appuyant sur près de 50 datations radiocarbone, d’un mobilier de plus de 3500 pièces, et d’une trentaine de structures, la séquence stratigraphique témoigne d’occupations plus ou moins importantes qui prennent des formes différentes selon les périodes : lieu cultuel, zone de culture, lieu d’activités artisanales, zone funéraire. Le site n’est jamais à proprement parler une zone d’habitat mais se trouve plutôt en périphérie d’une occupation.
This paper’s primary focus is the investigation of Late Iron Age funeral practices. This is carri... more This paper’s primary focus is the investigation of Late Iron Age funeral practices. This is carried out by means of a multidisciplinary study of two necropolises, Randogne – Bluche and Sion – Parking des Remparts, which are located in southwestern Switzerland. The overall purpose of this paper is to enhance the socio-cul- tural understanding of this period through an integrated approach that combines the fields of bioanthropology, archaeology and ancient cultural history. Consequently, sex, age, pathologies and biological proximity first were assessed for the individuals found in the two studied necropolises. Next, data from these necropolises was con- trasted with the archaeological and cultural environment from the surrounding regions. Finally, a combined per- spective was developed in order to consider and combine the data collected through these different approaches. The obtained results appear to point to a regional particularism present in southwestern Switzerland’s funerary practices during the Late Iron Age. However, cultural influences from both northern and southern neighbouring regions can be identified in southwestern Switzerland’s funerary rites and material productions, which sheds light on the innerworkings of the Celtic communities populating this region.
A large amount of papers have been proposed during the 18th UISPP Congress. It has ... more A large amount of papers have been proposed during the 18th UISPP Congress. It has become tradition to propose that some of them be presented in general sessions for each period, and one of these sessions was dedicated to the Neolithic and the Bronze age. Here we present eight papers related to this session, the majority concerning the Neolithi and one the Bronze age period.Neolithic studies are promoted on behalf of the UISPP Commission ‘Neolithic Civilizations of the Mediterranean and Europe‘ during the 18th Congress, and a large amount of communications have been proposed in many sessions.
ENGLISH, ARABIC AND FRENCH
Livret d'exposition pour la présentation des tombes mégalithiques de ... more ENGLISH, ARABIC AND FRENCH
Livret d'exposition pour la présentation des tombes mégalithiques de Menjez. p. 92.
Ce volume présente 55 articles sur l'habitat et les habitations au Néolithique et à l'âge du Bron... more Ce volume présente 55 articles sur l'habitat et les habitations au Néolithique et à l'âge du Bronze en Europe occidentale. Ces contributions sont les actes d'un Colloque international qui s'est tenu à Dijon en 2015.
Scholars who will study the historiography of the European Neolithic, more particularly with rega... more Scholars who will study the historiography of the European Neolithic, more particularly with regards to the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, will observe a progressive change in the core understanding of this period. For several decades the concept of “culture” has been privileged and the adopted approach aimed to highlight the most significant markers likely to emphasise the character of a given culture and to stress its specificities, the foundations of its identity. In short, earlier research aimed primarily to highlight the differences between cultures by stressing the most distinctive features of each of them. The tendency was to differentiate, single out, and identify cultural boundaries. However, over the last few years this perspective has been universally challenged. Although regional originality and particularisms are still a focus of study, the research community is now interested in widely diffused markers, in medium-scale or large-scale circulation, and in interactions that make it possible to go beyond the traditional notion of “archaeological culture”. The networks related to raw materials or finished products are currently leading us to re-think the history of Neolithic populations on a more general and more global scale. The aim is no longer to stress differences, but on the contrary to identify what links cultures together, what reaches beyond regionalism in order to try to uncover the underlying transcultural phenomena. From culturalism, we have moved on to its deconstruction. This is indeed a complete change in perspective. This new approach certainly owes a great deal to all kinds of methods, petrographic, metal, chemical and other analyses, combined with effective tools such as the GIS systems that provide a more accurate picture of the sources, exchanges or relays used by these groups. It is also true that behind the facts observed there are social organisations involving prospectors, extractors, craftsmen, distributors, sponsors, users, and recyclers. We therefore found it appropriate to organise a session on the theme “Materials, productions, exchange networks and their impact on the societies of Neolithic Europe”.
How is it possible to identify the circulation of materials or of finished objects in Neolithic Europe, as well as the social networks involved? Several approaches exist for the researcher, and the present volume provides some examples.
In the summer of 1961 in Sion (Valais, Switzerland) the slabs
of a prehistoric tomb appeared in ... more In the summer of 1961 in Sion (Valais, Switzerland) the slabs
of a prehistoric tomb appeared in a pipe trench at the Avenue
du Petit-Chasseur. While uncovering them, someone exclaimed:
“prehistoric engravings!”.The first funerary stela of
the megalithic site had been discovered. The excavations, first
conducted by Olivier-Jean Bocksberger, high school teacher
at Aigle, then by Alain Gallay of the University of Geneva,
lasted about ten years. Patiently reconstructed by the scientists,
the eventful history of this necropolis made it possible
for the rites, the beliefs and the social structure of these prehistoric communities in Valais to be studied in detail. Later,
between 1987 and 2003, further investigations were carried
out in the area and added to the discoveries.
In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery
of the site, a scientific committee consisting of the
representatives of the Archéologie cantonale and the Musées
cantonaux du Valais, and of the University of Geneva and the
Association valaisanne d’archéologie organised several events
during autumn 2011.
An international conference at Sion was held from 27 October to 29 October in Sion, at the François-Xavier Bagnoud hall.
The necropolis of Sion still remains a key reference for the
understanding of the Final Neolithic period, not only in the
Alpine countries, but also throughout Europe. The scientific
meeting therefore focused on the end of the Neolithic period
in Valais and in the adjacent regions, on the Bell Beaker phenomenon
(a European culture?) and on the funerary rites of
this period whereas the doctoral course dealt with the end of
the Neolithic period in Valais and with the anthropology of
megalithic societies.
The conference was attended by nearly 200 people, students,
junior and senior scholars from many countries including
Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy,
Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic
and Switzerland. Thirty-eight papers were grouped into
five sessions each preceded by an introductory one-hour
conference: Fifty Years of Discoveries at the site of Sion/
Petit-Chasseur; The Neolithic in Valais and its Neighbouring
Regions presented by Alain Gallay; Is the Bell Beaker Culture
a European? Economy, Culture and Society by Maxence
Bailly; Funerary Rituals during the Final Neolithic and the
Bell Beaker Period by Henri Duday; and Anthropology of
the Megalithic Societies presented by Alain Testart. The present
volume reports on these scientific presentations and the
ensuing lively debates.
Cette publication présente les occupations du Néolithique moyen du site du Petit-Chasseur à Sion ... more Cette publication présente les occupations du Néolithique moyen du site du Petit-Chasseur à Sion (Valais, Suisse), elle intègre les données issues des fouilles dirigées par Alain Gallay (1968, 1969, 1972) et Marie Besse (1992). Parmi les trois niveaux mis au jour, l’intermédiaire révèle un hameau constitué de plusieurs bâtiments. Cet ouvrage, réservé à l’étude des communautés néolithiques de la Haute vallée du Rhône au 5e et 4e millénaires avant notre ère, est construit en quatre parties. La partie 1 présente la localisation géographique du gisement du Petit-Chasseur, relate l’historique des découvertes des cinq chantiers,les différentes occupations qu’ils ont livrées et leur contexte archéologique régional. La partie 2 évoque les questions liées à la chronologie du Néolithique moyen en Valais au regard des occupations du site du Petit-Chasseur, l’analyse spatiale du site et la synthèse de l’examen de la documentation. Elle est complétée par une réflexion qui porte, d’une part sur les fonctionnements techniques, sociaux, économiques et idéologiques des communautés néolithiques du Valais au Néolithique moyen et, d’autre part, sur la nature des relations que celles-ci ont entretenues avec différentes régions d’Europe. La partie 3 se compose des douze études spécifiques, lesquelles apportent un éclairage ciblé sur l’organisation des habitants du Néolithique moyen en Valais : la céramique, les matières premières siliceuses, l’industrie en silex et en quartz, le petit mobilier en pierre, le matériel de mouture, les sépultures, la faune, l’industrie osseuse, les paléosemences, l’étude anthracologique, l’analyse sédimentologique et les analyses micromorphologiques. La partie 4 se compose du catalogue des structures et de celui du mobilier archéologique, des quarante-quatre planches, d’un résumé en français, anglais, allemand et italien, ainsi que de photographies illustrant les fouilles archéologiques des niveaux du Néolithique moyen du Petit-Chasseur à Sion.
Cet article présente les résultats de notre projet de recherche dans la vallée dʼAmbrona (Soria, ... more Cet article présente les résultats de notre projet de recherche dans la vallée dʼAmbrona (Soria, Espagne). La prospection intensive a révélé la richesse extraordinaire en sites des cette zone de 15 km de long (107 sites, dont 20 sites campaniformes). Ceci sʼexplique par la position géographique cruciale de la vallée, à un croisement naturel entre les bassins de lʼEbre, du Duero et du Taje ; elle constitue de plus un accès naturel au haut plateau central (la fameuse Meseta) depuis lʼest. Nous avons également tenté dʼétudier le rôle social et rituel joué par les Campaniformes dans les différentes structures funéraires, au long de lʼévolution des pratiques mortuaires dans la vallée dʼAmbrona.
Marquant la transition entre le Néolithique et l’âge du Bronze au cours du 3e millénaire avant J.... more Marquant la transition entre le Néolithique et l’âge du Bronze au cours du 3e millénaire avant J.-C., la civilisation campaniforme est généralement définie par différents types de céramique décorée, par le gobelet campaniforme non décoré et par un ensemble d’artefacts comme les brassards d’archer, les pointes de Palmela, les poignards à soie et les pendeloques arciformes. Un autre ensemble céramique lui est associé, il s’agit de la Begleitkeramik ou de la céramique dite commune ou d’accompagnement. Bien que de nombreuses études aient été menées sur cette période, elle reste encore mal définie lorsqu’on tente de l’aborder dans son ensemble. S’agit-il d’une idéologie ? de populations ? de migrations d’un ou de plusieurs groupes humains ? en une ou plusieurs vagues ? venant d’où et allant où ? Cette recherche tente de répondre à ces questions d’une manière nouvelle. Elle se base en effet sur la céramique commune campaniforme en dépit de l’hétérogénéité de la documentation archéologique, alors que les recherches précédentes se sont principalement focalisées sur la céramique décorée. Ce travail comporte trois volets : 1. Le premier porte sur l’ensemble céramique provenant du gisement de Derrière-le-Château à Géovreissiat et Montréal-la-Cluse dans l’Ain (France). Plus de cinquante mille tessons céramiques y ont été observés, analysés et interprétés. L’analyse spatiale a permis de démontrer que ce site a connu deux phases principales d’occupation. La première, au Campaniforme, entre 2500 et 2200 avant J.-C. durant laquelle neuf bâtiments ont été construits. La seconde, plus récente, au début du Bronze ancien, vers 2000 avant J.-C.: trois maisons ont alors été édifiées sur le site. 2. Le second volet concerne l’étude des gisements campaniformes avec céramique commune de l’Europe continentale. Huit cents gisements ont ainsi été étudiés répartis dans les onze pays suivants : Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique, France, Hongrie, Italie, Pays-Bas, Pologne, République tchèque, Slovaquie et Suisse. La céramique a été regroupée en quatre-vingt-trois types. Les associations préférentielles de ces quatre-vingt trois types céramiques à un type de gisement particulier (habitat, sépulture, dépôt), ainsi que leur répartition géographique, permettent une lecture synchrone des composantes culturelles au 3e millénaire avant J.-C. en Europe. Par ailleurs, afin de déterminer des zones géographiques responsables de la mise en place de certaines composantes, l’origine des principaux types céramiques a été recherchée dans le substrat du Néolithique final. Trois domaines culturels ont été mis en évidence : le Domaine oriental centré sur la République tchèque, le Domaine septentrional centré sur les Pays-Bas, et le Domaine méridional regroupant la France et le Nord de l’Italie. On observe ainsi que les mécanismes de transition du Néolithique final vers le Campaniforme sont très différents d’un domaine à l’autre. Les changements culturels sont si importants dans le Domaine méridional qu’on peut parler d’un renouvellement important (de population ?), alors que dans les Domaines oriental et septentrional, la transition s’est faite sans solution de continuité. 3. Le troisième volet étudie la validité du concept d’une région Rhin-Rhône culturellement autonome durant le Campaniforme. Ainsi, ce travail permet de proposer non seulement une synthèse des composantes céramiques de l’Europe du 3e millénaire avant notre ère, mais également de distinguer les aires géographiques responsables de la mise en place de celles-ci.
This project aims to identify social complexity within Bell Beaker societies (3rd millennium BCE)... more This project aims to identify social complexity within Bell Beaker societies (3rd millennium BCE) in the Alps, examining: craftspeople, know-how, raw material, population, social organization, signs of hierarchy, and the relationship between defined territories. During the Neolithic period of the 3rd millennium BCE, Europe and North Africa was marked by the Bell Beaker "phenomenon". The ceramics representative of this period were usually orange in color, and featured bands of impressed geometrical patterns, separated by undecorated bands. Such beakers are characteristic of the Bell Beaker period. The interpretation of this cultural phenomenon is made complicated by its uniformity over a particularly broad geographic range, and by the fact that it displays other traits which, in opposition, are contained within regional geographic distributions. Palmela copper arrowheads, for example, are mainly found on the Iberian Peninsula and on the Atlantic coast (mainly in France, Portugal and Spain). Richly decorated anthropomorphic stelae are found in Alpine environments (Italy, Switzerland). Silver jewelry has been discovered in Central Europe (mainly in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia and Switzerland), as has onehandled, undecorated jug (mainly in Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary and Poland). In addition, burials also present regional disparities: individual in the East, and mostly collective in the Western region (where the Bell Beaker population reoccupied dolmens built by their Final Neolithic predecessors). Furthermore, domestic structures also show great diversity (dry-stone walls, houses raised on posts, rectangular or oval-shaped…). As for the people, one cannot speak of a single, uniform Bell Beaker community. As such, the Bell Beaker phenomenon cannot be studied as if it were a homogenous whole. It is a patchwork of overlapping networks, and any attempt to study it must consider it in its complexity and specificities. The late Neolithic period as a whole is characterized by distinct technological advances (such as metallurgy, wheels, chariots and wagons, animal-drawn ard ploughs, and the domestication of horses), long-distance exchange networks, and social inequalities. The latter are particularly noticeable in burials, especially collective ones. Indeed, the low number of inhumed individuals as well as the published paleogenetic studies have demonstrated that only part of the population was selected to be buried in these monuments. It appears dolmens were built for important people and/or specific lineages. The dead found in collective burials are given huge monuments-megaliths-and are surrounded by rich funeral objects, such as jewelry made of various (sometimes precious) material including gold, great quantities of finely decorated pottery (in greater proportions than in dwellings), objects both useful and symbolic, such as those linked to archery, and, in some cases, highly decorated anthropomorphic stelae. Given that (1) the Bell Beaker phenomenon is a patchwork of networks and that (2) its social structures are strongly complex, with hereditary power involved (as demonstrated through still limited aDNA studies), we propose a large-scale project with a deliberately holistic approach. We will study the Bell Beaker phenomenon in the Alps and neighbouring regions, posing the hypothesis that some craftspeople worked to produce specific objects that are found at the burial sites of specific people. We will therefore combine the study of the complex architecture of dolmens, the richly decorated stelae, the jewelry made of precious gold and silver, and the finely decorated pottery, all of would have required specific know-how and detailed knowledge of raw material supply networks to be fabricated. As such, we wish to investigate this problematic, resting upon the
New Scientific Research. In Western Europe, the Final Neolithic represents a key stage between th... more New Scientific Research. In Western Europe, the Final Neolithic represents a key stage between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. The period is furthermore characterised by a gradual transition from a large number of regionally distributed cultural groups to the complex Bell Beaker culture whose geographical expansion encompassed the whole of Europe and North Africa prior to the early Bronze Age. Whilst on a European scale the Bell Beaker phenomenon is profoundly marked by the changes in material culture, in particular in the ceramic culture, at the regional level very diverse reactions can be observed (importation, acculturation, rejection). The aim of this four-year project (2017-2021) is to assess the economic and social functioning of Neolithic and Bronze Age communities in the Upper Rhone valley by shedding light on the relationship between the Petit-Chasseur cemetery and the settlements in the surrounding region through the study of ceramics. For this purpose, 15 settlements will be studied. The necropolis of the Petit-Chasseur in Sion is of particular interest as it contains several occupations from the Final Neolithic to the early Bronze Age and is representative of the long-term perspective.
The Eremita Cave, located in Piedmont, North Italy, is found in the Monte Fenera massif, inside t... more The Eremita Cave, located in Piedmont, North Italy, is found in the Monte Fenera massif, inside the "di San Salvatore" dolomite. It opens on the western slope, overlooking the Alpine Sesia Valley at an altitude of 598 m. The massif presents an advantageous location, at the entrance of several valleys leading to mountain passes that allow access to the Upper Rhone valley in Southwest Switzerland (Besse M. and Viola S., 2013). For this reason, it became a privileged stopping place for prehistoric and historic populations during their transalpine movements, as attested by remains from the Middle Paleolithic to the Late Middle Ages found in the area
Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera and overlooking the Alpine Sesia Valley in Piedmont ... more Located on the western slope of Mount Fenera and overlooking the Alpine Sesia Valley in Piedmont region, the Eremita Cave opens at an altitude of 598 m a.s.l. and extends for 30 square meters. Ten years of excavation (2012-2021) under the direction of prof. Marie Besse (University of Geneva), revealed the cavity was frequented for burial purposes during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (1600-800 BC). Mount Fenera is composed of dolomite, sandstone, and limestone bodies of the Southalpine Sedimentary Succession. Most of the caves were formed during the Messinian, then underwent modifications and enlargements during the climatic changes of the Pleistocene transition. At least 13 caves bear testament of human occupations during various periods and yielded prehistoric and protohistoric materials. The ceramic assemblage of Eremita Cave consists of three thousand sherds from Middle and Late Bronze Age. Sample selection took into account pottery type, relative chronology, surface and core colours, and macroscopic classification of pastes. Petrographic analyses were performed on 28 samples using a Leica Leitz DM-RXP polarizing microscope and aimed at investigating paste composition and raw material choices. Pottery from Eremita Cave mainly contains inclusions of quartz and/or granite-granodiorite family from the Serie dei Laghi Complex and, in minor proportions, volcanic rocks from the Permian Magmatic Complex. These findings allow one to draw preliminary inferences on the Middle and Late Bronze Age pottery production in the Sesia Valley and on the exploitation of available natural resources by human groups.
(ENGLISH below) Il progetto di ricerca “Prehistoric Pottery: Social Organisation in the Upper Rhô... more (ENGLISH below) Il progetto di ricerca “Prehistoric Pottery: Social Organisation in the Upper Rhône valley during the Final Neolithic, the Bell Beaker Culture and the Early Bronze Age” dell’Università di Ginevra (P.I. Prof.ssa Marie Besse) ha permesso la caratterizzazione archeometrica di numerosi assemblaggi ceramici del III-II millennio a.C. dell’Alta Valle del Rodano (Vallese, Svizzera). L’applicazione di tecniche analitiche petrografiche, mineralogiche e chimiche (OM, XRD, QEMSCAN®, SEM-EDS, ICP-MS/LA-ICP-MS) ha permesso di ricostruire le modalità di approvvigionamento delle materie prime da parte delle locali comunità dell’Eneolitico medio/tardo e del Bronzo Antico. I dati acquisiti forniscono degli interessanti spunti di riflessione in merito all’influenza dell’ambiente naturale alpino sulle tradizioni ceramiche, in una regione che si presenta particolarmente complessa dal punto di vista sia geografico che geologico. L’Alta Valle del Rodano presenta un paesaggio caratterizzato da brusche variazioni altitudinali, che vanno dai 400-600 m s.l.m. delle sponde del Rodano ai 4000 m s.l.m. delle vette delle Alpi Bernesi e Alpi Pennine. Una eccezionale varietà di rocce affioranti testimonia quel che resta di diversi domini paleogeografici e dell’esumazione, durante l’orogenesi alpina, di porzioni di crosta oceanica e continentale. Le litologie comprendono diversi tipi di rocce intrusive ed effusive metamorfosate, serie ofiolitiche, rocce metamorfiche di basso, medio ed alto grado, così come rocce sedimentarie (clastiche, chimiche e organogene) e formazioni di tipo flysch. La copertura quaternaria è principalmente costituita da depositi glaciali e da loess, costantemente rilavorati da processi gravitativi favoriti dalle brusche variazioni altitudinali e dai più di cinquanta affluenti del Rodano. Nel complesso, l’abbondanza di rocce metamorfiche, le condizioni climatiche fredde e semi-aride tipiche dell'ambiente alpino, e la prevalenza di processi di degradazione fisica, hanno impedito la formazione di depositi di argilla su vasta scala. Le strategie di approvvigionamento delle materie prime ceramiche messe in campo dalle comunità preistoriche di III-II millennio a.C. vanno dunque lette nel quadro di questa relativa scarsità di sedimenti ricchi in argilla e sembrano essere state influenzate, almeno in parte, dall’ambiente naturale.
The research project “Prehistoric Pottery: Social Organisation in the Upper Rhône Valley during the Final Neolithic, the Bell Beaker Culture and the Early Bronze Age” of the University of Geneva (P.I. Prof. Marie Besse) allowed for the archaeometric characterization of numerous III-II millennium BC ceramic assemblages of the Upper Rhône Valley (Valais, Switzerland). The application of petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical techniques (OM, XRD, QEMSCAN®, SEM-EDS, ICP-MS/LA-ICP-MS) enabled the reconstruction of the raw material procurement strategies employed by local Final Neolithic and Early Bronze Age communities. Acquired data provide interesting insights into the influence of the natural alpine environment on the ceramic traditions, in a region that is particularly complex from both a geographical and geological point of view. The landscape of the Upper Rhône Valley is featured by abrupt changes in altitudinal gradient, ranged from 400-600 m a.s.l. of the Rhône River banks to the 4000 m a.s.l. of the summits of the Bernese and Pennine Alps. An exceptional variety of rock types testifies the presence of various palaeogeographic domains and the exhumation, during the alpine orogeny, of oceanic and continental crust. Lithology accounts for different kind of metamorphosed intrusive and effusive rocks, ophiolitic sequences, low-, medium-, and high-grade metamorphic rocks, as well as sedimentary rocks (clastic, chemical, and biochemical rocks) and flysch formations. Quaternary cover is mainly composed of the glacial deposits and loess, repeatedly reworked by the gravitational processes fostered by the steep slopes and the more than 50 Rhône River’s tributary inflows. The large amounts of metamorphic rocks, the cold and semi-arid climatic conditions typical of the alpine environment, and the prevailing physical weathering hampered large-scale formation of clay deposits. The ceramic raw material procurement strategies employed by the III-II millennium BC prehistoric communities have to be read in the framework of the relative paucity of clay-rich sediments and seems to have been, at least partially, influenced by the natural environment.
The megalithic cemetery of Petit-Chasseur (Sion, Western Switzerland) is one of the most importan... more The megalithic cemetery of Petit-Chasseur (Sion, Western Switzerland) is one of the most important prehistoric funerary contexts of Central Europe. The site has been used throughout the Final Neolithic (2800-2450 BC), the Bell Beaker period (2450-2200 BC), and early Bronze Age (2200-1600 BC). The study and classification of the pottery played a key role in defining the cultural identity of prehistoric communities, but, as of yet, did not allow to establish a link with the known settlement sites.
In this contribution, we present the results of the multi-element chemical analysis of both Petit-Chasseur pottery and geological materials. Sediment samples were collected from different areas of the Upper Rhône valley, putting an accent to the locations in the vicinity of the known settlement sites. Raw geochemical data obtained by means of the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Laser Ablation ICP-MS were subjected to multivariate statistical techniques including the Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis in order to define possible sources of clayey raw materials. The diverse elemental concentration patterns revealed the use of different types of clay sources in the pottery production taking into account not only a diachronic point of view but also a synchronic one. The conclusion thus emerges pointing out the idea of people coming from different parts of the Upper Rhône valley to gather at the site of Petit-Chasseur, which suggests its role as a political and ceremonial center in addition to the burial function it had as a megalithic cemetery. An in-depth ceramic study is therefore proven to be necessary to thoroughly reconstruct the history of the Petit-Chasseur site adding to our understanding of its significance for prehistoric communities.
The objective of our work is to conduct a techno-typological and functional study on the ornament... more The objective of our work is to conduct a techno-typological and functional study on the ornamental elements of the Boira Fusca Cave (Cuorgnè, loc. Salto-Turin, Italy). The Cave belongs to rocky spur in gneissic rocks strongly ssured on the left side of the Orco river valley (altitude 510 m). The site was investigated in the late ‘70 (Fedele excavations, 1977-1980) and consists of a chrono-cultural sequence that starts from the late Paleolithic and reaches the Modern era. Particularly during the rst periods of the Metals Age (Copper-Early Bronze Age) the cave has seen a collective sepulchral use according to a widely di used rite in the alpine area at the time.
American Association of Physical Anthropologists , 2019
Nowadays this is a very wide debated issue and our study contribute to untangle these complex dyn... more Nowadays this is a very wide debated issue and our study contribute to untangle these complex dynamics for protohistoric communities. Since prehistoric times, Switzerland has played a major role in European exchanges for its strategic position between the Danube area and the Mediterranean, offering pivotal information towards reconstructing human mobility during Bronze Age period. If preliminary studies on dental morphology and Sr analyses have been performed on western Switzerland on the previous Bell Beaker period showing a quite intense mobility, no investigations have ever conducted for the Bronze Age, attesting an important lack of information in this area.
20th Annual Conference of the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO), 2018
Childhood is an important life step since sub-adults, even after weaning, are still dependent on ... more Childhood is an important life step since sub-adults, even after weaning, are still dependent on their community. Biogeochemical methods using stable isotopes on different human tissues (e.g. bone, teeth, hair) offers direct proxies for the investigation of dietary intake during an individual’s life. Current knowledge of adult and sub-adult feeding practices for late Prehistory is still quite limited. We investigate whether changes in subsistence strategies attested in the Mediterranean area during the Bronze Age are recorded in western Europe and if they affected human diet during childhood as well as during adulthood.
The analyses were conducted on 41 individuals from 3 cemeteries in western Switzerland (Collombey-Muraz/Barmaz, Vufflens-la-Ville/En Sency, Tolochenaz/Le Boiron et La Caroline), dated from Early to Final Bronze Age (2200-800 cal. BCE). We performed multielement/multi-tissue stable isotope analysis (C, N, S on bone and dentine collagen; C on apatite enamel of M2) to infer the human diet from childhood to adult life, excluding weaning signal. In addition, 22 bone and teeth remains from terrestrial and aquatic animal species and 30 charred grains of cultivated plants were analysed to reconstruct the local isotopic baseline of the potential food resources.
Results indicate diachronic changes in food habits during the Bronze Age, possibly due to the introduction of new cereals like C4 plants (millets) beginning from the Final Bronze Age, i.e. at a later time when compared to other southern European countries (e.g. Italy). Additionally, apatite data suggest the direct consumption of C4 plants. The diet during childhood and adult life was generally similar, albeit with some exceptions, whatever the chronological period considered. This study suggests that C4 plants became a staple food during Final Bronze Age, rapidly after the introduction of this new crop in Lemanic basin.
16th International Clay Conference, Grenada, Spain, 2017
Elemental maps of Fe and Mn concentrations in the nodules (left) showing the contrasting areas of... more Elemental maps of Fe and Mn concentrations in the nodules (left) showing the contrasting areas of enrichment due to Eh-pH dependent elemental mobility during sediment eogenesis (Fe: 16-40 wt.%; 41-60 wt.%; Mn: 6-20 wt.%, 21-60 wt.%). Mineralogical maps (right) showing biotite preferentially concentrated at nodules rims, while illite-like phases with 10 to 15 wt.% of Fe and Mn distinctively match the areas of Fe concentrations.
L'analyse des isotopes stables des restes humains et animaux s'est montrée être un outil pertinen... more L'analyse des isotopes stables des restes humains et animaux s'est montrée être un outil pertinent et très développé ces dernières années pour la compréhension de l'alimentation et des modes de vie au Néolithique. Si la plupart des régions de l'Europe de l'Ouest sont documentées, la Suisse occidentale n'a jusqu'à présent pas fait l'objet d'une telle investigation. L'étude présentée porte sur les groupes humains des deux cimetières du site de Barmaz (Collombey-Muraz, Valais). Ce dernier, fouillé par M.-R. Sauter dans les années 50 puis par M. Honegger dans les années 90, a permis de mettre au jour deux nécropoles contemporaines de type Chamblandes du Néolithique moyen I (4500-4000 BC), distantes de 200 mètres. L'analyse des ratios isotopiques (δ13C, δ15N) du collagène de l'os et de la dentine a pu être réalisée sur 32 individus de la nécropole de Barmaz I et sur 17 individus de la nécropole de Barmaz II. L'analyse de six échantillons de faune a permis d'établir le référentiel local. Les premiers résultats indiquent (1) que les ressources en protéines proviennent majoritairement des animaux terrestres, malgré la proximité du Rhône et du lac Léman et (2) que les individus inhumés dans la nécropole de Barmaz II ont consommé plus de protéines animales que ceux de Barmaz I, cela sans distinction liée au sexe ou à l'âge. L'accès aux ressources d'eau douce, ainsi que la mobilité différentielle des individus, seront plus amplement discutés ultérieurement à partir des ratios isotopiques du soufre et du strontium, dont les analyses sont en cours.
Cette recherche porte sur l’étude bioanthropologique et l’analyse des rituels funéraires de deux ... more Cette recherche porte sur l’étude bioanthropologique et l’analyse des rituels funéraires de deux gisements laténiens en Valais central (Suisse) ; plus précisément, des sites de Randogne – Bluche et de Sion – Parking des Remparts. Ils sont chronologiquement compris entre 280 et 25 av. J.-C. et s’insèrent dans le territoire des Sédunes, l’une des quatre communautés celtes identifiées dans le Valais laténien. L’archéologie reconnaît des spécificités à ce territoire, tels que la richesse des sépultures, illustrée par la présence récurrente de bracelets de chevilles en bronze (dits «sédunes») et des rituels funéraires standardisés.
Located in the heart of the calcareous massif of Monte Fenera, near Borgosesia in the Italian Pie... more Located in the heart of the calcareous massif of Monte Fenera, near Borgosesia in the Italian Piedmont, the Eremita cave (Vercelli, Italy) is the subject of planned archaeological excavations since 2012, led by Prof. Marie Besse (head of the Prehistoric Archaeology Department at the University of Geneva). The first test trenches immediately revealed the importance of this archaeological site, with the uncovering of a pin and spiralled pearls in bronze in the middle of the cave. Further excavations began in 2013 and a Middle and Late Bronze Age level was identified at the back of the cave. It delivered a great amount of animal remains, mostly burned, in association with potsherds. The chronological relation between the bronze finery, the animal remains and pottery elements is yet to be evidenced. Culturally speaking, the shape and decors of the pin show affinities with the Middle Bronze Age of the North of the Alps, while the pottery shapes display similarities with the common cultural ground of the alpine region, mostly Valais and Piedmont. We are currently aiming at determining the function of the cave, mainly by studying the location of the archaeological structures and remains but also by linking the spatial distribution of potsherds to the pottery reassembling. The typological and technological analysis of the pottery assemblage should allow us to establish the cultural affiliation of the site. Our poster will focus on these questions. The importance of the Eremita cave is amplified by its strategic localisation on the southern alpine foothills, making it a possible stopover for the people transitioning through the Alps. Moreover, several other caves have been documented on the Monte Fenera, chronologically spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages.
The Petit-Chasseur site (Valais, Switzerland) is the main source for burial rituals at the end of... more The Petit-Chasseur site (Valais, Switzerland) is the main source for burial rituals at the end of Neolithic in Western Switzerland. It is a megalithic site, which was occupied from Final Neolithic (3400 BC) to the Early Bronez Age (1800 BC). In order to validate and quantify the external population contribution during the Bell Beaker period, enamel of 23 Bell Beaker individuals have been analyzed for strontium isotope ratio.
À peine quelques jours après l'ouverture de la nouvelle exposition «Mégalithes d'ici, Mégalithes ... more À peine quelques jours après l'ouverture de la nouvelle exposition «Mégalithes d'ici, Mégalithes d'ailleurs» proposée par le Laboratoire d'archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie, la crise du coronavirus nous a contraint de fermer nos portes.
En attendant la réouverture de la salle, prévue pour le 1 er septembre, nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à découvrir cette exposition dans un format virtuel accessible par ce lien : http://www.unige.ch/expositions-virtuelles/megalithes/
A variety of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques have been widely established in the investi... more A variety of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques have been widely established in the investigation of the raw material procurement, selection, and use in the archaeological pottery production. While acquisition of analytical data from the raw material is relatively straightforward its interpretation in the context of the local archaeology and background geology may be somewhat challenging. This paper highlights the limitations one may face while interpreting archaeometric data when relevant contextual information is scarce or non-existent. This study reports on raw material choices and paste preparation recipes inferred for the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC pottery production in the Upper Rhône Valley. The geological setting of this Alpine valley is rather complex since the outcrops of metamorphic, (meta)sedimentary, and intrusive rocks are found throughout the region and Quaternary glaciation and semi-arid climatic conditions hampered a largescale formation of clay deposits. The Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age (3300-1600 BC) settlement sites are widely distributed across the valley, which forces one to consider the distinct local geological setting while investigating the implications of compositional variations. In addition, certain sites have been widely excavated over several years while others were made known through the test trench only. This leaves us with major differences in the amount and quality of information on stratigraphy, human-related structures, and chronological attributions of the findings. Complexity caused by non-uniform geology and site documentation makes an illustrative example of the difficulties encountered by archaeologists when reconstructing the past manufacturing traditions and reflecting on the underlying long-term historical and cultural dynamics from a regional, synchronic, and diachronic perspective.
Petrographic analysis (OM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) are commonly used to charac... more Petrographic analysis (OM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) are commonly used to characterize archaeological ceramics and to gain insights into the provenance and technological aspects of pottery production. The study of ceramic thin sections at the polarizing microscope and through the microbeam electronic techniques generally include digital image processing, grain size distribution analysis, and modal mineralogy estimation. The related inferences are therefore based on a mixing of qualitative and quantitative data. Over the past twenty years, the scientific community developed and tested several methods that integrate image analysis applications and automated mineral analysis systems in order to make data acquisition quick and automated, and to obtain fully quantitative mineralogical data easy to treat. The commercial solutions such as QEMSCAN® technology offers this opportunity. The system combines the back-scattered electron brightness values, the low-count energy-dispersive X-ray spectra and the X-ray count rate (Gottlieb et al., 2000). Spectra acquisition moves forward along predetermined fields resulting in a mineralogical map of sample entirely based on a fully quantitative data. The resulting image does not only provide the mineral characterization of the ceramic paste but it also allows exploring its textural features. An in-depth study of ceramic fabric is thus possible by means of matrix mineralogy characterization, porosity estimation, automated grain size distribution analysis, and modal mineralogy. The QEMSCAN® analysis was recently applied to the study of archaeological ceramics (e.g. Knappett et al., 2011; Šegvić et al., 2016) offering valuable visual insights into a range of ceramic features reported by SEM-EDS observations. In this paper we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this technique to investigate the provenance and technological aspects of pottery production in the past.
Fig. References Gottlieb P., Wilkie G., Sutherland D., Ho-Tun E., Suthers S., Perera K., Jenkins B., Spencer S., Butcher A., Rayner J., Using quantitative electron microscopy for process mineralogy applications, Jom, 52 (2000), 24-25. Knappett C., Pirrie D., Power M.R., Nikolakopoulou I., Hilditch J., Rollinson G.K., Mineralogical analysis and provenancing of ancient ceramics using automated SEM-EDS analysis (QEMSCAN®): a pilot study on LB I pottery from Akrotiri, Thera. J. Archaeol. Sci., 38 (2011), 219-232. Šegvić B., Ugarković M., Süssenberger A., Ferreiro Mählmann R., Moscariello A., Compositional properties and provenance of Hellenistic pottery from the necropolis of Issa with evidences on the cross-Adriatic and the Mediterranean-scale trade. Mediterr. Archaeol. Ar., 16 (2016), 23-52.
This presentation will be based on the results from two ongoing PhD’s at the University of Geneva... more This presentation will be based on the results from two ongoing PhD’s at the University of Geneva. Both are part of a larger SNF project entitled “Prehistoric Pottery: Social Organization in the Upper Rhone valley during the Final Neolithic, the Bell Beaker Culture and the Early Bronze Age” (PI M. Besse, Laboratory of prehistoric archaeology and anthropology). This project is centered on the study of pottery traditions in this alpine valley located in Southwest Switzerland, between 3100 and 1600 BCE. The corpus of sites includes the megalithic necropolis of Sion ‘Petit-Chasseur’, discovered in 1961 and extensively studied ever since, which yielded the largest Bell Beaker ceramic assemblage of the region.
Our aim is to combine the new data collected on ceramic pastes on the one hand, and on pottery technology on the other hand, in order to reconstruct the Bell Beaker chaines opératoires for this major Swiss archaeological site.The ceramic paste analysis was carried out by a range of spectroscopic and microscopic analytical techniques: optical microscopy (OM), crystallography (XRD), phase chemistry (QEMSCAN® and SEM-EDS), and whole-rock geochemistry (LA-ICP-MS). These techniques provided valuable information allowing to discuss the raw material selection, procurement, and use. The foundation of the technology analysis revolved around macroscopic observations with low-angled light to detect diagnostic traces of techniques on surfaces and sections, and through the orientation of fracture networks. The observations made on surface treatments were then verified with an optical microscope. Finally, two complementary analyses were led: the examination of petrographic maps of thin sections analyzed with QEMSCAN®, and the scanning of two sherds using micro-computed tomography. This data collection made possible the identification of fashioning, finishing, and decoration techniques. When combined, these approaches bring new insights into the Bell Beaker material culture of Switzerland, helping us examine its relationship with local preceding pottery traditions, and on a larger scale, discuss the insertion of the Bell Beaker Culture into the context of the Upper Rhône valley, where the Petit-Chasseur necropolis is located.
Pottery is of high importance in archaeology because once produced it is virtually indestructible... more Pottery is of high importance in archaeology because once produced it is virtually indestructible and is often found in great quantities at archaeological sites. Thus, it readily serves as a chronological marker allowing scholars to investigate important aspects of ancient populations such as cultural identity, economy, religious beliefs, technological know-how, object circulation, and movements of people. The last few decades saw the application of various analytical techniques into the study of archaeological ceramics, which has continuously enhanced the accuracy of material characterization. Hence, the use of natural sciences in archaeology made an impressive research impact serving nowadays as invaluable tool in the study of specific traits of past societies. Current research on the pottery from the Petit-Chasseur site allowed one to address the problematics of cultural identity of prehistoric societies that had erected the megalithic funerary monuments during the 3rd millennium BC. The cemetery is located in the middle of the Upper Rhône valley that was formed by the glacial and riverine erosion in the Western Alps. To some extent, the Rhône river separates the Helvetic and Penninic nappes dividing the valley in two. Peculiar lithology typical for the above-mentioned tectonic units has likely generated clay-rich sediments whose mineral composition may significantly differ. In this contribution we present a variety of ceramic compositions of the pottery from the Petit-Chasseur site, putting an accent to the make-up of clayey matrix. Its characterization, performed by X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy, revealed the use of different clay-rich sources to produce vessels which, in a way, have analogue typological and stylistic features. Moreover, the pottery that belongs to particular material culture and that was recovered from the same collective grave was shown to have been manufactured using various clay raw-materials. In brief, the evidences from the Petit-Chasseur cemetery permit a question to be posed on whether the utilization of diverse plastic materials was a deliberate economic and/or social choice or is rather related to the raw-material availability in the Upper Rhône valley. The study of ceramic grave goods from the Petit-Chasseur site revealed its potential in identifying and defining the cultural identity of prehistoric communities that dwelled in this part of Switzerland during the 3rd millennium BC.
Séminaire: "La gestion de l’eau en domaine rural en Gaule du Nord, vers une archéologie pluridisc... more Séminaire: "La gestion de l’eau en domaine rural en Gaule du Nord, vers une archéologie pluridisciplinaire des fossés, canaux, mares et mardelles", organisé par N. Bernigaud et C. Petit (12 janvier 2016 à l'INHA) dans le cadre du projet ERC RurLand (dir. M. Reddé).
Since the perception of its European dimension in the early 20th century, the Bell Beaker phenome... more Since the perception of its European dimension in the early 20th century, the Bell Beaker phenomenon has been questioned about the mechanisms of its large diffusion. Archaeological data show that there are several ways to be Bell Beaker at the European scale: some items are essentially maritime in distribution, while others are continental.
Beyond material culture, this conference aims to examine the diversity of lifestyles in Bell Beaker societies and the nature of the ties that bind them together. The ways of being in the world can be questioned and put into perspective on the basis of material culture, ecofacts, the nature and organisation of sites and their setting in the landscape to better understand the lives of Bell Beaker populations. How did they live on a daily basis, at the level of the settlement, the territory or the region? Were there differences between the coast, the plains and the more mountainous areas? These questions about lifestyles are essential in order to understand the relationships forged between the communities living in these different environments, whether or not they were carriers of the Bell Beaker culture: what was the purpose of these networks? how did people move? and why? In recent years, the focus has been on genetic flows and migrations, and these data prompt to examine the link between culture and biology, as well as models for the spread of the Bell Beaker culture.
Two thematic sessions will be devoted, one to lifestyles and settlement patterns, the other to networks and spreading models, with an emphasis on summary presentations and exemplary case studies.
A third session will be dedicated to recent discoveries and current research.
"Between Economy and Symbolism: approaches to territories in Neolithic Europe"
Session organised ... more "Between Economy and Symbolism: approaches to territories in Neolithic Europe" Session organised by François Giligny and Marie Besse
In Spain, the site of El Castillo is part of the emblematic cave system of Cantabria, famous for ... more In Spain, the site of El Castillo is part of the emblematic cave system of Cantabria, famous for its cave art. They are registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2008. This archaeological site is also important due its stratigraphic sequence, which spans several prehistoric occupation units and in particular the techno-complexes of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. These constitute the subject of this article. We carried out an archaeozoological / taphonomical analysis on the faunal skeletal remains of unit 20 (Mousterian) and unit 18 (Aurignacien de transition de type El Castillo), in order to study the evolution of subsistence strategies of the human populations between the end of the Middle Palaeolithic and the start of the Upper Palaeolithic, in the Iberian Peninsula.
This research demonstrates that units 20 and 18 reflect differences in species acquisition. The humans of unit 18 targeted red deer specifically, whilst the Mousterian are less speciality and hunted red deer, horses, and bovines (auroch or bison). Level 18 shows a specialisation in deer acquisition, but it is worth noting that it is also the most important animal in level 20. Its prevalence in level 20 only appears lower because other species are present in greater proportions (horse, Bos/Bison).
The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral socie... more The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral societies by studying their dietary practices and mobility. Using the principles of isotopic biogeochemistry, the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13 C), nitrogen (δ15 N) and sulphur (δ34 S) on bone collagen and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) on dental enamel were measured to discuss the diet and residence history of 49 individuals from the Middle Neolithic necropolises of Collombey-Muraz Barmaz I and II (Valais, Switzerland). Individuals from both burial assemblages have collagen isotope values indicating a diet based on terrestrial resources with a very high consumption of animal proteins. However, the individuals from Barmaz II have consumed a nitrogen-15 enriched resource. The strontium results show that only a few individuals buried in Barmaz I show non-local values, whereas all individuals buried in Barmaz II have values similar to the environment in which they were buried. Whether in terms of diet, access to resources or mobility, no differences were observed between male and female individuals, neither in their isotopic values nor in the variability of these values. Taken all together, the results suggest the existence of a possible reserved area in the burial zone, even if coming from ’elsewhere’ did not seem to have any influence on access to food resources. However, if being male or female did not seem to play an important social role in this population, it seems that it is the location of their burial that gives more information about their status. Finally, these new data, combined with previous knowledge, raise the question of whether the individuals buried at Barmaz II belonged to a group that was socially distinct from the rest of the Barmaz population.
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Papers by Marie Besse
et Gobelets’ 2021 (Geneva, Switzerland)
et Gobelets’ 2021 (Geneva, Switzerland)
Livret d'exposition pour la présentation des tombes mégalithiques de Menjez. p. 92.
How is it possible to identify the circulation of materials or of finished objects in Neolithic Europe, as well as the social networks involved? Several approaches exist for the researcher, and the present volume provides some examples.
of a prehistoric tomb appeared in a pipe trench at the Avenue
du Petit-Chasseur. While uncovering them, someone exclaimed:
“prehistoric engravings!”.The first funerary stela of
the megalithic site had been discovered. The excavations, first
conducted by Olivier-Jean Bocksberger, high school teacher
at Aigle, then by Alain Gallay of the University of Geneva,
lasted about ten years. Patiently reconstructed by the scientists,
the eventful history of this necropolis made it possible
for the rites, the beliefs and the social structure of these prehistoric communities in Valais to be studied in detail. Later,
between 1987 and 2003, further investigations were carried
out in the area and added to the discoveries.
In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery
of the site, a scientific committee consisting of the
representatives of the Archéologie cantonale and the Musées
cantonaux du Valais, and of the University of Geneva and the
Association valaisanne d’archéologie organised several events
during autumn 2011.
An international conference at Sion was held from 27 October to 29 October in Sion, at the François-Xavier Bagnoud hall.
The necropolis of Sion still remains a key reference for the
understanding of the Final Neolithic period, not only in the
Alpine countries, but also throughout Europe. The scientific
meeting therefore focused on the end of the Neolithic period
in Valais and in the adjacent regions, on the Bell Beaker phenomenon
(a European culture?) and on the funerary rites of
this period whereas the doctoral course dealt with the end of
the Neolithic period in Valais and with the anthropology of
megalithic societies.
The conference was attended by nearly 200 people, students,
junior and senior scholars from many countries including
Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy,
Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic
and Switzerland. Thirty-eight papers were grouped into
five sessions each preceded by an introductory one-hour
conference: Fifty Years of Discoveries at the site of Sion/
Petit-Chasseur; The Neolithic in Valais and its Neighbouring
Regions presented by Alain Gallay; Is the Bell Beaker Culture
a European? Economy, Culture and Society by Maxence
Bailly; Funerary Rituals during the Final Neolithic and the
Bell Beaker Period by Henri Duday; and Anthropology of
the Megalithic Societies presented by Alain Testart. The present
volume reports on these scientific presentations and the
ensuing lively debates.
The ceramic assemblage of Eremita Cave consists of three thousand sherds from Middle and Late Bronze Age. Sample selection took into account pottery type, relative chronology, surface and core colours, and macroscopic classification of pastes. Petrographic analyses were performed on 28 samples using a Leica Leitz DM-RXP polarizing microscope and aimed at investigating paste composition and raw material choices. Pottery from Eremita Cave mainly contains inclusions of quartz and/or granite-granodiorite family from the Serie dei Laghi Complex and, in minor proportions, volcanic rocks from the Permian Magmatic Complex. These findings allow one to draw preliminary inferences on the Middle and Late Bronze Age pottery production in the Sesia Valley and on the exploitation of available natural resources by human groups.
L’Alta Valle del Rodano presenta un paesaggio caratterizzato da brusche variazioni altitudinali, che vanno dai 400-600 m s.l.m. delle sponde del Rodano ai 4000 m s.l.m. delle vette delle Alpi Bernesi e Alpi Pennine. Una eccezionale varietà di rocce affioranti testimonia quel che resta di diversi domini paleogeografici e dell’esumazione, durante l’orogenesi alpina, di porzioni di crosta oceanica e continentale. Le litologie comprendono diversi tipi di rocce intrusive ed effusive metamorfosate, serie ofiolitiche, rocce metamorfiche di basso, medio ed alto grado, così come rocce sedimentarie (clastiche, chimiche e organogene) e formazioni di tipo flysch. La copertura quaternaria è principalmente costituita da depositi glaciali e da loess, costantemente rilavorati da processi gravitativi favoriti dalle brusche variazioni altitudinali e dai più di cinquanta affluenti del Rodano. Nel complesso, l’abbondanza di rocce metamorfiche, le condizioni climatiche fredde e semi-aride tipiche dell'ambiente alpino, e la prevalenza di processi di degradazione fisica, hanno impedito la formazione di depositi di argilla su vasta scala. Le strategie di approvvigionamento delle materie prime ceramiche messe in campo dalle comunità preistoriche di III-II millennio a.C. vanno dunque lette nel quadro di questa relativa scarsità di sedimenti ricchi in argilla e sembrano essere state influenzate, almeno in parte, dall’ambiente naturale.
The research project “Prehistoric Pottery: Social Organisation in the Upper Rhône Valley during the Final Neolithic, the Bell Beaker Culture and the Early Bronze Age” of the University of Geneva (P.I. Prof. Marie Besse) allowed for the archaeometric characterization of numerous III-II millennium BC ceramic assemblages of the Upper Rhône Valley (Valais, Switzerland). The application of petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical techniques (OM, XRD, QEMSCAN®, SEM-EDS, ICP-MS/LA-ICP-MS) enabled the reconstruction of the raw material procurement strategies employed by local Final Neolithic and Early Bronze Age communities. Acquired data provide interesting insights into the influence of the natural alpine environment on the ceramic traditions, in a region that is particularly complex from both a geographical and geological point of view.
The landscape of the Upper Rhône Valley is featured by abrupt changes in altitudinal gradient, ranged from 400-600 m a.s.l. of the Rhône River banks to the 4000 m a.s.l. of the summits of the Bernese and Pennine Alps. An exceptional variety of rock types testifies the presence of various palaeogeographic domains and the exhumation, during the alpine orogeny, of oceanic and continental crust. Lithology accounts for different kind of metamorphosed intrusive and effusive rocks, ophiolitic sequences, low-, medium-, and high-grade metamorphic rocks, as well as sedimentary rocks (clastic, chemical, and biochemical rocks) and flysch formations. Quaternary cover is mainly composed of the glacial deposits and loess, repeatedly reworked by the gravitational processes fostered by the steep slopes and the more than 50 Rhône River’s tributary inflows. The large amounts of metamorphic rocks, the cold and semi-arid climatic conditions typical of the alpine environment, and the prevailing physical weathering hampered large-scale formation of clay deposits. The ceramic raw material procurement strategies employed by the III-II millennium BC prehistoric communities have to be read in the framework of the relative paucity of clay-rich sediments and seems to have been, at least partially, influenced by the natural environment.
In this contribution, we present the results of the multi-element chemical analysis of both Petit-Chasseur pottery and geological materials. Sediment samples were collected from different areas of the Upper Rhône valley, putting an accent to the locations in the vicinity of the known settlement sites. Raw geochemical data obtained by means of the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Laser Ablation ICP-MS were subjected to multivariate statistical techniques including the Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis in order to define possible sources of clayey raw materials. The diverse elemental concentration patterns revealed the use of different types of clay sources in the pottery production taking into account not only a diachronic point of view but also a synchronic one. The conclusion thus emerges pointing out the idea of people coming from different parts of the Upper Rhône valley to gather at the site of Petit-Chasseur, which suggests its role as a political and ceremonial center in addition to the burial function it had as a megalithic cemetery. An in-depth ceramic study is therefore proven to be necessary to thoroughly reconstruct the history of the Petit-Chasseur site adding to our understanding of its significance for prehistoric communities.
The analyses were conducted on 41 individuals from 3 cemeteries in western Switzerland (Collombey-Muraz/Barmaz, Vufflens-la-Ville/En Sency, Tolochenaz/Le Boiron et La Caroline), dated from Early to Final Bronze Age (2200-800 cal. BCE). We performed multielement/multi-tissue stable isotope analysis (C, N, S on bone and dentine collagen; C on apatite enamel of M2) to infer the human diet from childhood to adult life, excluding weaning signal. In addition, 22 bone and teeth remains from terrestrial and aquatic animal species and 30 charred grains of cultivated plants were analysed to reconstruct the local isotopic baseline of the potential food resources.
Results indicate diachronic changes in food habits during the Bronze Age, possibly due to the introduction of new cereals like C4 plants (millets) beginning from the Final Bronze Age, i.e. at a later time when compared to other southern European countries (e.g. Italy). Additionally, apatite data suggest the direct consumption of C4 plants. The diet during childhood and adult life was generally similar, albeit with some exceptions, whatever the chronological period considered. This study suggests that C4 plants became a staple food during Final Bronze Age, rapidly after the introduction of this new crop in Lemanic basin.
L'étude présentée porte sur les groupes humains des deux cimetières du site de Barmaz (Collombey-Muraz, Valais). Ce dernier, fouillé par M.-R. Sauter dans les années 50 puis par M. Honegger dans les années 90, a permis de mettre au jour deux nécropoles contemporaines de type Chamblandes du Néolithique moyen I (4500-4000 BC), distantes de 200 mètres.
L'analyse des ratios isotopiques (δ13C, δ15N) du collagène de l'os et de la dentine a pu être réalisée sur 32 individus de la nécropole de Barmaz I et sur 17 individus de la nécropole de Barmaz II. L'analyse de six échantillons de faune a permis d'établir le référentiel local.
Les premiers résultats indiquent (1) que les ressources en protéines proviennent majoritairement des animaux terrestres, malgré la proximité du Rhône et du lac Léman et (2) que les individus inhumés dans la nécropole de Barmaz II ont consommé plus de protéines animales que ceux de Barmaz I, cela sans distinction liée au sexe ou à l'âge. L'accès aux ressources d'eau douce, ainsi que la mobilité différentielle des individus, seront plus amplement discutés ultérieurement à partir des ratios isotopiques du soufre et du strontium, dont les analyses sont en cours.
The first test trenches immediately revealed the importance of this archaeological site, with the uncovering of a pin and spiralled pearls in bronze in the middle of the cave. Further excavations began in 2013 and a Middle and Late Bronze Age level was identified at the back of the cave. It delivered a great amount of animal remains, mostly burned, in association with potsherds. The chronological relation between the bronze finery, the animal remains and pottery elements is yet to be evidenced.
Culturally speaking, the shape and decors of the pin show affinities with the Middle Bronze Age of the North of the Alps, while the pottery shapes display similarities with the common cultural ground of the alpine region, mostly Valais and Piedmont.
We are currently aiming at determining the function of the cave, mainly by studying the location of the archaeological structures and remains but also by linking the spatial distribution of potsherds to the pottery reassembling. The typological and technological analysis of the pottery assemblage should allow us to establish the cultural affiliation of the site. Our poster will focus on these questions.
The importance of the Eremita cave is amplified by its strategic localisation on the southern alpine foothills, making it a possible stopover for the people transitioning through the Alps. Moreover, several other caves have been documented on the Monte Fenera, chronologically spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages.
En attendant la réouverture de la salle, prévue pour le 1 er septembre, nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à découvrir cette exposition dans un format virtuel accessible par ce lien : http://www.unige.ch/expositions-virtuelles/megalithes/
This study reports on raw material choices and paste preparation recipes inferred for the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC pottery production in the Upper Rhône Valley. The geological setting of this Alpine valley is rather complex since the outcrops of metamorphic, (meta)sedimentary, and intrusive rocks are found throughout the region and Quaternary glaciation and semi-arid climatic conditions hampered a largescale formation of clay deposits. The Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age (3300-1600 BC) settlement sites are widely distributed across the valley, which forces one to consider the distinct local geological setting while investigating the implications of compositional variations. In addition, certain sites have been widely excavated over several years while others were made known through the test trench only. This leaves us with major differences in the amount and quality of information on stratigraphy, human-related structures, and chronological attributions of the findings. Complexity caused by non-uniform geology and site documentation makes an illustrative example of the difficulties encountered by archaeologists when reconstructing the past manufacturing traditions and reflecting on the underlying long-term historical and cultural dynamics from a regional, synchronic, and diachronic perspective.
Over the past twenty years, the scientific community developed and tested several methods that integrate image analysis applications and automated mineral analysis systems in order to make data acquisition quick and automated, and to obtain fully quantitative mineralogical data easy to treat. The commercial solutions such as QEMSCAN® technology offers this opportunity. The system combines the back-scattered electron brightness values, the low-count energy-dispersive X-ray spectra and the X-ray count rate (Gottlieb et al., 2000). Spectra acquisition moves forward along predetermined fields resulting in a mineralogical map of sample entirely based on a fully quantitative data. The resulting image does not only provide the mineral characterization of the ceramic paste but it also allows exploring its textural features. An in-depth study of ceramic fabric is thus possible by means of matrix mineralogy characterization, porosity estimation, automated grain size distribution analysis, and modal mineralogy.
The QEMSCAN® analysis was recently applied to the study of archaeological ceramics (e.g. Knappett et al., 2011; Šegvić et al., 2016) offering valuable visual insights into a range of ceramic features reported by SEM-EDS observations. In this paper we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this technique to investigate the provenance and technological aspects of pottery production in the past.
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References
Gottlieb P., Wilkie G., Sutherland D., Ho-Tun E., Suthers S., Perera K., Jenkins B., Spencer S., Butcher A., Rayner J., Using quantitative electron microscopy for process mineralogy applications, Jom, 52 (2000), 24-25.
Knappett C., Pirrie D., Power M.R., Nikolakopoulou I., Hilditch J., Rollinson G.K., Mineralogical analysis and provenancing of ancient ceramics using automated SEM-EDS analysis (QEMSCAN®): a pilot study on LB I pottery from Akrotiri, Thera. J. Archaeol. Sci., 38 (2011), 219-232.
Šegvić B., Ugarković M., Süssenberger A., Ferreiro Mählmann R., Moscariello A., Compositional properties and provenance of Hellenistic pottery from the necropolis of Issa with evidences on the cross-Adriatic and the Mediterranean-scale trade. Mediterr. Archaeol. Ar., 16 (2016), 23-52.
Our aim is to combine the new data collected on ceramic pastes on the one hand, and on pottery technology on the other hand, in order to reconstruct the Bell Beaker chaines opératoires for this major Swiss archaeological site.The ceramic paste analysis was carried out by a range of spectroscopic and microscopic analytical techniques: optical microscopy (OM), crystallography (XRD), phase chemistry (QEMSCAN® and SEM-EDS), and whole-rock geochemistry (LA-ICP-MS). These techniques provided valuable information allowing to discuss the raw material selection, procurement, and use.
The foundation of the technology analysis revolved around macroscopic observations with low-angled light to detect diagnostic traces of techniques on surfaces and sections, and through the orientation of fracture networks. The observations made on surface treatments were then verified with an optical microscope. Finally, two complementary analyses were led: the examination of petrographic maps of thin sections analyzed with QEMSCAN®, and the scanning of two sherds using micro-computed tomography. This data collection made possible the identification of fashioning, finishing, and decoration techniques.
When combined, these approaches bring new insights into the Bell Beaker material culture of Switzerland, helping us examine its relationship with local preceding pottery traditions, and on a larger scale, discuss the insertion of the Bell Beaker Culture into the context of the Upper Rhône valley, where the Petit-Chasseur necropolis is located.
Current research on the pottery from the Petit-Chasseur site allowed one to address the problematics of cultural identity of prehistoric societies that had erected the megalithic funerary monuments during the 3rd millennium BC. The cemetery is located in the middle of the Upper Rhône valley that was formed by the glacial and riverine erosion in the Western Alps. To some extent, the Rhône river separates the Helvetic and Penninic nappes dividing the valley in two. Peculiar lithology typical for the above-mentioned tectonic units has likely generated clay-rich sediments whose mineral composition may significantly differ.
In this contribution we present a variety of ceramic compositions of the pottery from the Petit-Chasseur site, putting an accent to the make-up of clayey matrix. Its characterization, performed by X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy, revealed the use of different clay-rich sources to produce vessels which, in a way, have analogue typological and stylistic features. Moreover, the pottery that belongs to particular material culture and that was recovered from the same collective grave was shown to have been manufactured using various clay raw-materials. In brief, the evidences from the Petit-Chasseur cemetery permit a question to be posed on whether the utilization of diverse plastic materials was a deliberate economic and/or social choice or is rather related to the raw-material availability in the Upper Rhône valley. The study of ceramic grave goods from the Petit-Chasseur site revealed its potential in identifying and defining the cultural identity of prehistoric communities that dwelled in this part of Switzerland during the 3rd millennium BC.
Beyond material culture, this conference aims to examine the diversity of lifestyles in Bell Beaker societies and the nature of the ties that bind them together. The ways of being in the world can be questioned and put into perspective on the basis of material culture, ecofacts, the nature and organisation of sites and their setting in the landscape to better understand the lives of Bell Beaker populations. How did they live on a daily basis, at the level of the settlement, the territory or the region? Were there differences between the coast, the plains and the more mountainous areas? These questions about lifestyles are essential in order to understand the relationships forged between the communities living in these different environments, whether or not they were carriers of the Bell Beaker culture: what was the purpose of these networks? how did people move? and why? In recent years, the focus has been on genetic flows and migrations, and these data prompt to examine the link between culture and biology, as well as models for the spread of the Bell Beaker culture.
Two thematic sessions will be devoted, one to lifestyles and settlement patterns, the other to networks and spreading models, with an emphasis on summary presentations and exemplary case studies.
A third session will be dedicated to recent discoveries and current research.
Session organised by François Giligny and Marie Besse
This research demonstrates that units 20 and 18 reflect differences in species acquisition. The humans of unit 18 targeted red deer specifically, whilst the Mousterian are less speciality and hunted red deer, horses, and bovines (auroch or bison). Level 18 shows a specialisation in deer acquisition, but it is worth noting that it is also the most important animal in level 20. Its prevalence in level 20 only appears lower because other species are present in greater proportions (horse, Bos/Bison).
The strontium results show that only a few individuals buried in Barmaz I show non-local values, whereas all individuals buried in Barmaz II have values similar to the environment in which they were buried. Whether in
terms of diet, access to resources or mobility, no differences were observed between male and female individuals, neither in their isotopic values nor in the variability of these values. Taken all together, the results suggest the existence of a possible reserved area in the burial zone, even if coming from ’elsewhere’ did not seem to have any influence on access to food resources. However, if being male or female did not seem to play an important social role in this population, it seems that it is the location of their burial that gives more information about their status. Finally, these new data, combined with previous knowledge, raise the question of whether the individuals buried at Barmaz II belonged to a group that was socially distinct from the rest of the Barmaz population.