Dwelling site
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In 2013 excavations near Vernègues (Bouches-du Rhône), “Cazan-Le Clos du Moulin”, revealed an important occupation site dating from the Middle Neolithic (late Chassey culture). The village of Vernègues is located just south of the Massif... more
In 2013 excavations near Vernègues (Bouches-du Rhône), “Cazan-Le Clos du Moulin”, revealed an important occupation site dating from the Middle Neolithic (late Chassey culture). The village of Vernègues is located just south of the Massif du Luberon, approximately 60 km north-west of Marseille and the Mediterranean. The area excavated, a little over one hectare, is located in the centre of a small valley which joins the valley of the Durance just to the north. This valley is remarkable for the density of Neolithic remains and “Cazan-Le Clos du Moulin” is situated in the centre of a cluster of sites. The different sites form a discontinuous network across the floor of the valley, which is undoubtedly linked to the network of watercourses which drain the valley.
While no occupation ground was uncovered during the excavation, over 600 archaeological features were preserved. These features record one of the first structured dwelling sites for this period in the south of France. The occupation of this site has been dated by eight radiocarbon dates (4100 - 3800 BCE) and a large assemblage of archaeological finds, which confirm the attribution to the late Chassey culture.
The site contained many pits, five wells and a concentration of twenty burnt stone combustion features, which are typical of this period. Through analysis of these structures we observe how two pairs of wells seem to have functioned together, particularly in their secondary use as middens. The burnt stone combustion features are all circular and organised into four sub-parallel lines. These features group two different types of hearths, which may reflect a chronological difference or differences in use.
However, the most notable aspect of this site resides in the discovery of many postholes and foundation pits, which trace the outline of at least fifteen different architectural structures. These are the earliest buildings recorded for the late Chassey in the south of France.
They notably consist of ten houses which were implanted on well-preserved postholes. These structures repeat the same overall plan, based around a dozen posts organised into two aisles, with a probable ridge beam extending beyond the ridge purlin. Two smaller posts in front of the southern gable end probably indicate the location of an entrance. The surface area of these buildings varies between 80 and 180 m². There are few comparable examples for these structures for this period and they are markedly distinct from other examples in France or in northern Italy, which are generally rectangular in plan and frequently have foundation trenches.
In addition, three other architectural structures have been identified, which are defined by a series of very large foundation pits. The pits are rectangular in plan with asymmetric profiles (at times triangular, occasionally trapezoidal): they can be up to 2 m deep with an over-cut at the base. We find even fewer archaeological parallels for these buildings. However their construction clearly demanded a significant investment of time and effort, which could indicate the coordination of a group or community of individuals.
All of these buildings follow a plan which was clearly collectively predefined; all the buildings are orientated NW-SE, which coincides with the prevailing wind in the valley. Moreover, the distribution of these postholes and pits indicates that several houses were completely rebuilt in the same place, up to two to three times. Each new phase of construction was preceded by the partial deconstruction of the remains of the previous phase. We note that some of the posts had clearly begun to decompose in situ, prior to being burnt and/or removed. Finally, some of the pits/postholes from the previous phases were backfilled with stones and broken fragments of querns.
Analysis of the archaeological finds has not allowed us to establish a relative chronology between these different buildings or the diverse features. However, it has enabled us to define several zones of activity, specifically related to the working of flint and obsidian. The obsidian comes from Sardinia and we have observed elements associated with shaping and working nuclei as well as debitage from a knapping area which were found in a well.
Obsidian is not the only example of imported material found; it is accompanied by several ceramic and earthenware objects (including a loom weight) and a copper awl, all of which probably originate from northern Italy. Furthermore, analysis of the querns recovered from the postholes and analysis of the marks on the worked flints indicate agricultural activities related to grain farming. The faunal remains were almost exclusively recovered from the deposits infilling the wells. These remains record the importance of caprines in the livestock, indicating pastoral activities were also important at Cazan, as at many other sites of the same period.
These different activities imply a domestic occupation, seemingly permanent, in a predominantly anthropogenically modified landscape (based on malacological analysis). The preliminary analysis of the snail assemblage indicates an open environment during the late Chassey culture, and this observation seems to be confirmed by the charcoal analysis. Furthermore, the study of the charcoal from the postholes and hearths allows us to distinguish the selection of different species of wood: oak is used for the posts while strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) is used as fuel.
These results suggest the attachment of the Chassey population to this place and the surrounding landscape, which they occupied and reoccupied several times over 300 years. While an important part of their activity was based around a mobile lifestyle and pastoral management, this site allows us to consider the concept of a Neolithic village. These first results presented here renew the debate and research concerning the character of the occupation of this landscape during this period.
While no occupation ground was uncovered during the excavation, over 600 archaeological features were preserved. These features record one of the first structured dwelling sites for this period in the south of France. The occupation of this site has been dated by eight radiocarbon dates (4100 - 3800 BCE) and a large assemblage of archaeological finds, which confirm the attribution to the late Chassey culture.
The site contained many pits, five wells and a concentration of twenty burnt stone combustion features, which are typical of this period. Through analysis of these structures we observe how two pairs of wells seem to have functioned together, particularly in their secondary use as middens. The burnt stone combustion features are all circular and organised into four sub-parallel lines. These features group two different types of hearths, which may reflect a chronological difference or differences in use.
However, the most notable aspect of this site resides in the discovery of many postholes and foundation pits, which trace the outline of at least fifteen different architectural structures. These are the earliest buildings recorded for the late Chassey in the south of France.
They notably consist of ten houses which were implanted on well-preserved postholes. These structures repeat the same overall plan, based around a dozen posts organised into two aisles, with a probable ridge beam extending beyond the ridge purlin. Two smaller posts in front of the southern gable end probably indicate the location of an entrance. The surface area of these buildings varies between 80 and 180 m². There are few comparable examples for these structures for this period and they are markedly distinct from other examples in France or in northern Italy, which are generally rectangular in plan and frequently have foundation trenches.
In addition, three other architectural structures have been identified, which are defined by a series of very large foundation pits. The pits are rectangular in plan with asymmetric profiles (at times triangular, occasionally trapezoidal): they can be up to 2 m deep with an over-cut at the base. We find even fewer archaeological parallels for these buildings. However their construction clearly demanded a significant investment of time and effort, which could indicate the coordination of a group or community of individuals.
All of these buildings follow a plan which was clearly collectively predefined; all the buildings are orientated NW-SE, which coincides with the prevailing wind in the valley. Moreover, the distribution of these postholes and pits indicates that several houses were completely rebuilt in the same place, up to two to three times. Each new phase of construction was preceded by the partial deconstruction of the remains of the previous phase. We note that some of the posts had clearly begun to decompose in situ, prior to being burnt and/or removed. Finally, some of the pits/postholes from the previous phases were backfilled with stones and broken fragments of querns.
Analysis of the archaeological finds has not allowed us to establish a relative chronology between these different buildings or the diverse features. However, it has enabled us to define several zones of activity, specifically related to the working of flint and obsidian. The obsidian comes from Sardinia and we have observed elements associated with shaping and working nuclei as well as debitage from a knapping area which were found in a well.
Obsidian is not the only example of imported material found; it is accompanied by several ceramic and earthenware objects (including a loom weight) and a copper awl, all of which probably originate from northern Italy. Furthermore, analysis of the querns recovered from the postholes and analysis of the marks on the worked flints indicate agricultural activities related to grain farming. The faunal remains were almost exclusively recovered from the deposits infilling the wells. These remains record the importance of caprines in the livestock, indicating pastoral activities were also important at Cazan, as at many other sites of the same period.
These different activities imply a domestic occupation, seemingly permanent, in a predominantly anthropogenically modified landscape (based on malacological analysis). The preliminary analysis of the snail assemblage indicates an open environment during the late Chassey culture, and this observation seems to be confirmed by the charcoal analysis. Furthermore, the study of the charcoal from the postholes and hearths allows us to distinguish the selection of different species of wood: oak is used for the posts while strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) is used as fuel.
These results suggest the attachment of the Chassey population to this place and the surrounding landscape, which they occupied and reoccupied several times over 300 years. While an important part of their activity was based around a mobile lifestyle and pastoral management, this site allows us to consider the concept of a Neolithic village. These first results presented here renew the debate and research concerning the character of the occupation of this landscape during this period.