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The large bovids, bison and aurochs, both feature in Paleolithic archaeofauna and art, particularly in Southwestern Eu- rope during the Late Upper Pleistocene. We present a brief taxonomic and morphological description of the bovid spe- cies present at that time, as well as their biogeographical distribution. We then compare this distribution data with their presence in cave and portable art from this period and describe and interpret their depictions according to a number of themes. Our knowledge of the anatomical traits and ecology of these species allows us to better identify and interpret their representation in cave art and portable art made by hunter-gatherer societies. Several examples of Paleolithic art are given, illustrating the relationship between biological context and socio-economic value, and allowing us to under- stand the particular and highly symbolic nature of the relationship between humans and bovids. Beyond subsistence, Paleolithic representations clearly demonstrate a mythological dimension.

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The Late Glacial and early Holocene (ca. 15,000–6,000 cal BP) witnessed major changes in the environmental conditions which led to the establishment of temperate vegetation and animal species, thereby offering new subsistence opportunities to the population of hunter-gatherers. Measurements of the relative abundances in 13C and 15N were applied to large herbivores from northern France to document the change in their habitat. During the early Holocene, red deer show a decrease in δ13C values most likely reflecting the effect of a dense canopy and an increase in δ15N values probably linked to the increased soil activity of soils in foraged territories. Aurochs and roe deer δ13C values also revealed a more densely forested habitat at the end of the Preboreal, while the δ13C values of the wild boar indicate dependence on fruits and underground tubers that were not affected by the canopy effect. Three human individuals from Val-de-Reuil and La Chaussée-Tirancourt dated to the Preboreal period provided relatively high δ15N values when compared with the local fauna and other early Mesolithic humans, which might have resulted from the consumption of freshwater resources especially at Val-de-Reuil. The δ34S values appear to depend more on the geographical location of the individual, as demonstrated by the difference among wild boar δ34S values between sites, rather than related to the protein source of the diet, namely, terrestrial versus aquatic. Our results confirm the influence of the forest ecosystem on the environment and diet of the considered early Mesolithic human of northern France, while the possible contribution of the aquatic ecosystem still needs to be documented.

Domestic cattle have contributed both to the rise of civilizations and the global loss of biodiversity, but the timing and mechanism of their domestication history remain to be fully understood. Palaeogenetics, which can now explore the target of human selection in the genome, have revolutionized our understanding of cattle domestication. However, biometric approaches of bone remains are still required as a prerequisite for targeted paleogenetic studies to document the taxonomic diversity of wild progenitors and the emergence of domestic morphotypes. But so far, biometric markers of cattle domestication have proven limited in their capacity to disentangle human intentionality from other biotic and abiotic factors. Using a two-dimensional geometric morphometric approach (GMM), we assessed the taxonomic and phylogenetic signals of the enamel folding pattern of occlusal surfaces (EFPOS) in the maxillary and mandibular molars of wild and domestic species of the tribe Bovini, including ancient cattle breeds and archaeological aurochs and domestic cattle. The phylogenetic signal was assessed using a mitochondrial genome phylogeny across 11 wild taxa of the tribe Bovini. We found that EFPOS could accurately identify both the wild and domestic species of the Bovini taxa as well as shape differentiation among aurochs and modern and archaeological cattle. The phylogenetic differentiation among aurochs and both taurine and zebu cattle is strong, but the overall phylogenetic signal among the tribe Bovini is blurred by genetic introgression between wild and domestic Bos species in south-east Asia. These results strongly suggest that the GMM analysis of dental traits are relevant markers that can be used before the implementation of targeted paleogenomic analyses as a mean to document the diversity and distribution of wild progenitors of domestic forms, identify the emergence of the earliest regional morphotype and their trajectory towards modern breeds.

Cattle were domesticated ∼10,000 years ago, but analysis of modern breeds has not elucidated their origins. Verdugo et al. performed genome-wide analysis of 67 ancient Near Eastern Bos taurus DNA samples. Several populations of ancient aurochs were progenitors of domestic cows. These genetic lineages mixed ∼4000 years ago in a region around the Indus Valley. Interestingly, mitochondrial analysis indicated that genetic material likely derived from arid-adapted Bos indicus (zebu) bulls was introduced by introgression.Science, this issue p. 173Genome-wide analysis of 67 ancient Near Eastern cattle, Bos taurus, remains reveals regional variation that has since been obscured by admixture in modern populations. Comparisons of genomes of early domestic cattle to their aurochs progenitors identify diverse origins with separate introgressions of wild stock. A later region-wide Bronze Age shift indicates rapid and widespread introgression of zebu, Bos indicus, from the Indus Valley. This process was likely stimulated at the onset of the current geological age, ~4.2 thousand years ago, by a widespread multicentury drought. In contrast to genome-wide admixture, mitochondrial DNA stasis supports that this introgression was male-driven, suggesting that selection of arid-adapted zebu bulls enhanced herd survival. This human-mediated migration of zebu-derived genetics has continued through millennia, altering tropical herding on each continent.

Thanks to archaeological work undertaken in the Paris Basin (France), a large volume of high quality faunal remains data was obtained from settlement and funerary contexts from the first Neolithic societies, the Linear Pottery Culture “LBK” (sixth millennium BC). It allowed us to carry out extensive analyses: first, we were able to develop a novel interpretation of the LBK settlement organisation. It integrates subsistence autonomy and social reciprocity between houses. Second, we analyzed the faunal remains from the ceremonial enclosure at the site of Menneville and graves containing human associated with faunal remains resulting from different practices and depositions. We use both the settlement model and the analysis of the burials to identify one of the essential dimensions of the LBK society, namely a social organization with a true duality between domestication and hunting. Society is structured around bovines, caprines, wild-boar, aurochs and red-deer, found systematically in the houses, in the village space and in the funeral structures. The interpretation that we provide to hypothesize a social framework from these archaeozoological data in both profane and sacred domains is their presence as markers. We think of these markers as indicating the identity of units such as clans, in this case breeders of cattle, sheep breeders, and possibly pig breeders. But also gender markers: males with wild boar and pig, and possibly females with red deer. And finally age markers, with a link between sheep and children., Grâce aux travaux archéologiques entrepris dans le Bassin parisien (France), un volume important de données fauniques de bonne qualité a été obtenu dans les contextes d’habitat et funéraires des premières sociétés néolithiques, à la période de la Céramique Linéaire "LBK" (sixième millénaire avant n.è.). Cela a permis de réaliser des analyses approfondies, en premier lieu une nouvelle interprétation de l'organisation de l'établissement LBK a pu être conduite, qui intègre l'autonomie de subsistance et la réciprocité sociale entre les maisons. Deuxièmement, nous avons analysé les restes fauniques résultant de pratiques cérémonielles dans l'enceinte de Menneville (Aisne), ainsi que ceux contenus dans certaines inhumations situées dans l’habitat. En se fondant sur le modèle de peuplement et sur l'analyse des os animaux dans les sépultures, il est possible d’approcher l'une des dimensions essentielles de la société LBK, à savoir une organisation sociale avec une véritable dualité entre la domestication et la chasse. La société est structurée autour des bovins, des caprinés, des sangliers, des aurochs et des cerfs, tous retrouvés systématiquement dans les maisons, dans l'espace du village et dans les structures funéraires. L'interprétation avancée pour expliquer leur présence dans les domaines profanes et sacrés est leur statut de marqueurs. Ces marqueurs peuvent incarner une identité telle que les clans, en l'occurrence les éleveurs de bovins, les éleveurs de moutons et éventuellement les éleveurs de porcs. Mais ils peuvent être aussi des marqueurs de genre : les hommes associés au sanglier et au porc et éventuellement les femmes associées au cerf. Et enfin il peut exister des marqueurs d'âge, avec un lien entre les moutons et les enfants.

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International audience; A preventive excavation prior to the extension of a quarry revealed a Mesolithic concentration in the valleyof the Thérain. This wide alluvial plain was at that time a mixture of gravel mounds, channels and peat bogs.The Prehistoric site was situated close to a channel about sixty metres from a steep chalk bank.The finds are few, but they include some well-preserved animal remains from roe deer and aurochs, and alithic industry restricted to products of full debitage and to microburins.The surface of the excavation however is too limited to justify any decision between the hypothesesconcerning the function of the site. It may have been a specific working area connected with a dwelling, or aplace used for butchery and the maintenance of hunting weapons close to a slaughter area.The typo-technological characteristics of the lithic industry would support an attribution to the local EarlyMesolithic; Une fouille préventive préalable à l’extension d’une carrière a mis en évidence une concentration mésolithique dans la vallée du Thérain. Cette large plaine alluviale correspondait à l’époque à une juxtaposition de dômes graveleux, de chenaux et de tourbières. Le site préhistorique était placé près d’un chenal à une soixantaine de mètres d’un abrupt versant crayeux.Les vestiges sont peu nombreux mais comportent des restes fauniques bien préservés de chevreuil et d’aurochs et une industrie lithique restreinte aux produits de plein débitage et aux microburins. La faible extension spatiale de la fouille ne permet toutefois pas de trancher entre plusieurs hypothèses quant à la fonction du site. Il peut s’agir d’une aire spécifique d’activité en marge d’un habitat ou d’opérations de boucherie et d’entretien d’armes de chasse près d’un lieu d’abattage. Les caractéristiques typo-technologiques de l’industrie lithique oriente plutôt l’attribution vers le Mésolithique initial régional.

Geographic and habitat distributions of large mammals most frequently do not reflect optimal conditions, but rather reflect the effects of restoration programs. An example is the European bison (Bison bonasus). This endangered species, which were extinct in the wild at the beginning of 20 th century, was reintroduced in Central and Eastern Europe mostly in forests – habitats, which were lately identified as non-optimal (Kerley et al. 2012, Bocherens et al. 2015). Our study aims to explore the dietary habits of bison and other large herbivores in Europe before the spread of agriculture during the Holocene, which considerably modified the landscapes.Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA, Scott et al. 2006) provides information on feeding habits and allows for tracking variation in the diet of herbivores in changing environmental conditions. Therefore, this is an appropriate tool to evaluate how human management has influenced the ecology of wild herbivores (Merceron et al. 2014). We explored here the feeding patterns of the European bison and three other large herbivores: moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius) originated from Neolithic Swiss settlements (6,000 - 5,000 years old), in the time before farming exerted significantly on the landscapes. Selected Swiss material was the oldest Holocene collection of preserved teeth with sufficient number of specimens from species with different feeding strategies. As a reference we used well studied modernspecies of ungulates from Białowieża Forest (Poland) characterized by known foraging patterns (Merceron et al. 2014). Forty-eight individuals of Mid-Holocene herbivores representing four different species: bison (N = 21), moose (N = 2), red deer (N = 11) and aurochs (N = 14) andthirty-six specimens of modern red deer (N = 15), bison (N = 15) and moose (N = 6) composed the data set for DMTA. The molds of shearing dental facets were made with a polyvinylsiloxane material (Regular Body Microsystem, Coltene President) and scanned using a confocal DCM8 Leica Microsystems surface profilometer equipped with a ×100 lens (NA = 0.90; working distance = 0.9 mm). Data were analysed with Toothfrax and SFrax software following procedures and settings provided by Scott et al. (2006). We analysed three textural parameters: complexity (Asfc), anisotropy (epLsar) and heterogeneity (of complexity; Hasfc81). Results showed significant differences in both Asfc and Hasfc81 betweenprehistoric European bison and aurochs. The diet of bison in the past has comprised of more grasses than the diet of aurochs. Additionally, the diet of bison was the least variable among the studied ungulates (low values of Hasfc81). Diet of red deer likely includes more woody material (Fig. 1). Comparison of parameters for prehistoric and modern ungulates showed that diet of red deer and moose did not change over time, while the diet of modern bison from Białowieża differed significantly from the diet of prehistoric bison. Modern bison are more engaged in browsing and their diet is more variable than during the Neolithic. This confirms suboptimal or marginal character of forest for this species today (Kerley et al. 2012, Bocherens et al. 2015). DMTA proved to be a method which allows obtaining knowledge about the prehistoric diet of herbivore species. To track the past ecology of modern species before the spread of agriculture and deforestation in Europe, independent proxies such as DMTA should be generalised to guide programs of reintroduction of endangered species such as the European bison in Europe.

International audience; The absence of a comprehensive inventory of the remains of Bos primigenius in France and the lack of osteometric comparison data is a handicap in advancing our knowledge of this species. In a very unpretentious way limited to the West of France, this work completes the corpus and provides original metric data resulting from four institutions (Nantes Museum, Cherbourg Museum, Bougon Museum and Brest University), for a sample of 11 specimens for which only the cranial skeleton is preserved. This study is a continuation of an initial publication (Borvon et al., 2008) which had already listed Aurochs remains from western France and aims at encouraging this type of research which seems to have alot more possible results to give.; L’absence de recensement exhaustif des restes du Bos primigenius (Bojanus 1827) en France et le manque de données ostéométriques de comparaison est un handicap pour avancer sur la connaissance de cette espèce. De façon très modeste et limitée à l’ouest de la France, ce travail vient compléter le corpus et apporte des données métriques originales provenant de quatre institutions (Muséum de Nantes, Muséum de Cherbourg, Musée de Bougon et Université de Brest), pour un ensemble de 11 spécimens dont seul le squelette crânien est conservé. Cette étude vient dans le prolongement d’une publication initiale (Borvon et al., 2008) qui avait déjà recensé des restes d’Aurochs du Grand Ouest et vise à encourager ce type de recherche qui semble loin d’avoir donné tous les résultats possibles.

International audience; The absence of a comprehensive inventory of the remains of Bos primigenius in France and the lack of osteometric comparison data is a handicap in advancing our knowledge of this species. In a very unpretentious way limited to the West of France, this work completes the corpus and provides original metric data resulting from four institutions (Nantes Museum, Cherbourg Museum, Bougon Museum and Brest University), for a sample of 11 specimens for which only the cranial skeleton is preserved. This study is a continuation of an initial publication (Borvon et al., 2008) which had already listed Aurochs remains from western France and aims at encouraging this type of research which seems to have alot more possible results to give.; L’absence de recensement exhaustif des restes du Bos primigenius (Bojanus 1827) en France et le manque de données ostéométriques de comparaison est un handicap pour avancer sur la connaissance de cette espèce. De façon très modeste et limitée à l’ouest de la France, ce travail vient compléter le corpus et apporte des données métriques originales provenant de quatre institutions (Muséum de Nantes, Muséum de Cherbourg, Musée de Bougon et Université de Brest), pour un ensemble de 11 spécimens dont seul le squelette crânien est conservé. Cette étude vient dans le prolongement d’une publication initiale (Borvon et al., 2008) qui avait déjà recensé des restes d’Aurochs du Grand Ouest et vise à encourager ce type de recherche qui semble loin d’avoir donné tous les résultats possibles.

International audience; The UA 25 archaeostratigraphic unit of Lazaret cave is an exceptional Acheulean occupation level with abundant lithic and bone material and reveals a clear organization of activities carried out in the cave. In this paper, large mammals are studied from an archaeozoological perspective using a variety of methods of analysis, in order to increase our understanding of the behavior, way of life and environment of the Lazaret Acheuleans. During one autumn hunting episode, twenty-three red deer, six ibexes, three aurochs and one roe deer were slaughtered. For the most part, it appears that Anteneanderthals processed these carcasses inside the cave. They then left more than 600 bone remains piled into a heap with a diameter of 80 cm in the middle of the cave. The study of diversity indexes points towards selective red deer hunting, independently of the prey available in the environment. On the other hand, as far as the deer is concerned, hunted animals do not seem to have been selected within the herd on the basis of factors such as age or sex. The presence of the ibex, the second most hunted species at the site, seems to be directly linked to climatic conditions and its relative abundance in the environment.

The ’ 62 rue Henry-Farman’ site in the south-west of Paris (15th arrondissement) is located on the alluvial plain of the Seine River, now 250 m from the site. The site’s cultural sequence consists of four occupations, the Mesolithic, Middle Neolithic, Late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age, and the Early Iron Age, but the research presented in this paper focuses exclusively on the Mesolithic period. Field operations and excavations were carried out by the INRAP (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives) in 2008. Because of the relatively extensive surface under excavation (5,000 m2), six main concentrations of stone artefacts and animal bone remains (loci 1 to 6) were singled out despite the loose clustering of the cultural debris. Because of the poor preservation of bone collagen, only three bone samples, located on the periphery of the loci, could be radiocarbon dated (AMS). The dates, ranging from 8600 and 7700 cal. BC (2 sigmas), suggest at least two occupation phases. The palaeoenvironmental analyses (molluscs and isotopic signatures of ungulate bone collagen) are congruent with this chronological attribution which is also broadly consistent with the lithic typology, although the latter indicates a relative intra-site time lag. A thorough analysis of the faunal remains (including worked remains), was carried out to identify the discarded remains and determine the activities performed, in order to reconstruct the patterns of animal resources exploitation per cluster of loci. The faunal material (N = 1287) is not large compared to the lithics (ca 24,000). It may be related to the general poor state of preservation of the faunal material as indicated by taphonomic analyses. In spite of a relative intra-site time span, the preservation of the faunal material as well as its taxonomic composition are homogeneous on the scale of the whole site. Wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) was the top hunted species. The other ungulates, red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and aurochs (Bos primigenius), as well as fur-bearing mammals such as fox (Vulpes vulpes), hare (Lepus europeaus), badger (Meles meles) or pine marten (Martes martes), are represented by very few individuals and specimens, and in different proportions in every locus. The pond tortoise (Emys orbicularis) is also represented by one fragment of carapace. A similar wild boar hunting pattern — focusing on subadults and adults — is documented in every locus. Hunters probably preyed on groups of females with subadults, but adult males were also targeted, as indicated by the presence of six tusks (lower canines), most likely during distinct hunting episodes. Some tusks were used as tools in several loci. Bone point fragments and two worked pieces of antler (one showing a bevelled edge) indicate that hard animal materials from large prey species were also exploited and possibly worked in situ. Large prey carcass portions were discarded in every locus, suggesting that targeted preys were brought complete to the site to be butchered. A relatively expedient butchering technique is suggested based on the discard of anatomical parts still in connection (locus 1) and some un-fractured bones (including long bones). Some portions of the carcasses are likely to have been transported off the loci and off site. Such observations are interpreted as an indication that the butchering and treatment of the carcasses were not performed successively at the same place, the chaînes opératoires were segmented (both in time and space). It is finally concluded that each locus may have mostly resulted from successive and probably short term — seasonal — occupations, each locus resulting from an independent event. Different activities were performed on the site. It is the case for the manufacture of stone tools related to hunting, primary butchering, hide processing, all articulated around animal resource procurement and treatment., Le site «62 rue Henry-Farman » localisé dans le 15e arrondissement de la ville de Paris, à 250 m du lit actuel de la Seine, a livré un niveau d’occupation du Mésolithique fouillé sur 5 000 m2. Les dates radiocarbone (SMA) placent ce niveau entre 8600 et 7700 avant J.-C. Six concentrations (ou locus) de vestiges lithiques et osseux ont été spatialement différenciées. Cet article est centré sur une analyse critique des vestiges fauniques (non travaillés et travaillés), conduite dans l’objectif de caractériser la nature des dépôts, les activités qui les ont produits, les comportements d’exploitation des ressources animales et de discuter la nature des occupations. L’analyse taphonomique montre une relative homogénéité de l’état de conservation des vestiges (très fracturés et assez corrodés) entre les locus, en dépit d’une certaine diachronie des occupations suggérée par la typologie lithique. Le sanglier (Sus scrofa scrofa) est l’espèce dominante dans tous les locus, avec une présence limitée des autres ongulés et des petits mammifères à fourrure. La chasse a été principalement ciblée sur des individus subadultes et adultes dans les différents locus. L’hypothèse d’épisodes de chasse aux compagnies distincts des chasses aux mâles adultes, attestées par la présence de six défenses est proposée. L’utilisation à des fins «techniques » de certaines défenses et la présence d’une industrie osseuse réalisée sur os et bois de cervidé a été mise en évidence au sein de plusieurs locus. La question d’une fabrication sur place de l’industrie reste ouverte. La distribution des parties squelettiques montre, dans tous les locus, des rejets de portions de carcasses d’animaux, qui, au moins pour le grand gibier, auraient été apportés entiers et découpés sur le site, parfois exploités de façon expédiente (rejet de parties anatomiques en connexion dans le locus 1 ; absence de consommation de la moelle). Les chaînes opératoires d’exploitation apparaissent segmentées avec l’emport probable de larges portions de carcasses en dehors des locus. À l’issue de cette étude, chaque locus est envisagé comme relevant d’occupations relativement courtes, successives (peut être saisonnières), et pour la plupart indépendantes, témoignant d’activités parfois variées (confection d’outillage de chasse, traitement boucher primaire, traitement des peaux) mais plutôt tournées sur l’acquisition et le traitement des ressources animales., Leduc Charlotte, Bridault Anne, Souffi Bénédicte, David Éva, Drucker Dorothée. Apports et limites de l’étude des vestiges fauniques à la caractérisation d’un site mésolithique de plein air à Paris : « 62 rue Henry-Farman » (15e arrondissement) . In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 110, n°2, 2013. pp. 257-280.

Chantier qualité GA; Background: Modern cattle originate from populations of the wild extinct aurochs through a few domestication events which occurred about 8,000 years ago. Newly domesticated populations subsequently spread worldwide following breeder migration routes. The resulting complex historical origins associated with both natural and artificial selection have led to the differentiation of numerous different cattle breeds displaying a broad phenotypic variety over a short period of time.[br/] Methodology/Principal Findings: This study gives a detailed assessment of cattle genetic diversity based on 1,121 individuals sampled in 47 populations from different parts of the world (with a special focus on French cattle) genotyped for 44,706 autosomal SNPs. The analyzed data set consisted of new genotypes for 296 individuals representing 14 French cattle breeds which were combined to those available from three previously published studies. After characterizing SNP polymorphism in the different populations, we performed a detailed analysis of genetic structure at both the individual and population levels. We further searched for spatial patterns of genetic diversity among 23 European populations, most of them being of French origin, under the recently developed spatial Principal Component analysis framework.[br/] Conclusions/Significance: Overall, such high throughput genotyping data confirmed a clear partitioning of the cattle genetic diversity into distinct breeds. In addition, patterns of differentiation among the three main groups of populations—the African taurine, the European taurine and zebus—may provide some additional support for three distinct domestication centres. Finally, among the European cattle breeds investigated, spatial patterns of genetic diversity were found in good agreement with the two main migration routes towards France, initially postulated based on archeological evidence.

International audience; The aurochs skeleton (Bos primigenius Bojanus, 1827) of Pontvallain (Sarthe, France) exhibited in the Musée Vert of Le Mans has been first published in 1947. In 2004, some new bone remains belonging to the same animal have been dug out. In this work, osteomorphometric data are completed by the conventional mensurations used in archaeozoology. The values are compared with three specimens of the literature (Torsac, Etival and Danish) and with three unpublished specimens coming from the Dobrée Museum collections (Nantes). This male of about 9 years old, is 161 cm estimated withers height. It presents impressive horns with notably a horncore basale circumference of 38.5 cm which put it among the biggest individuals of the species.; Le squelette d’aurochs (Bos primigenius Bojanus, 1827) de Pontvallain (Sarthe, France) exposé au Musée Vert du Mans a fait l’objet d’une première publication en 1947. En 2004, de nouveaux restes appartenant au même animal ont été exhumés. Ce travail vise à compléter l’étude ostéomorphométrique à partir des mesures conventionnelles utilisées en archéozoologie. Les valeurs sont comparées à trois spécimens de la littérature (Torsac, Etival et Danois) et à trois spécimens inédits appartenant à la collection du Musée Dobrée (Nantes). Ce mâle, âgé d’environ 9 ans, présente une hauteur au garrot estimée de 161 cm. Il offre un cornage imposant, avec notamment une circonférence à la base de 38,5 cm ce qui le positionne parmi les plus gros spécimens de l’espèce.

International audience; The aurochs skeleton (Bos primigenius Bojanus, 1827) of Pontvallain (Sarthe, France) exhibited in the Musée Vert of Le Mans has been first published in 1947. In 2004, some new bone remains belonging to the same animal have been dug out. In this work, osteomorphometric data are completed by the conventional mensurations used in archaeozoology. The values are compared with three specimens of the literature (Torsac, Etival and Danish) and with three unpublished specimens coming from the Dobrée Museum collections (Nantes). This male of about 9 years old, is 161 cm estimated withers height. It presents impressive horns with notably a horncore basale circumference of 38.5 cm which put it among the biggest individuals of the species.; Le squelette d’aurochs (Bos primigenius Bojanus, 1827) de Pontvallain (Sarthe, France) exposé au Musée Vert du Mans a fait l’objet d’une première publication en 1947. En 2004, de nouveaux restes appartenant au même animal ont été exhumés. Ce travail vise à compléter l’étude ostéomorphométrique à partir des mesures conventionnelles utilisées en archéozoologie. Les valeurs sont comparées à trois spécimens de la littérature (Torsac, Etival et Danois) et à trois spécimens inédits appartenant à la collection du Musée Dobrée (Nantes). Ce mâle, âgé d’environ 9 ans, présente une hauteur au garrot estimée de 161 cm. Il offre un cornage imposant, avec notamment une circonférence à la base de 38,5 cm ce qui le positionne parmi les plus gros spécimens de l’espèce.

International audience; Recently, palaeogenetics encountered enormous success when parts of the nuclear genomes of mammoth and Neanderthal man were analysed. Their bones, however, had been preserved in environments favourable to DNA preservation, i.e., permafrost regions and caves in temperate regions. Few studies have tackled archaeological bones from hot, arid regions, although they bear great significance for the study of evolution of humans and the precursors of modern societies. According to archaeological evidence, a key event in neolithisation, the domestication of cattle, took place around 10,000 years ago in Southwest Asia. Genetic data from prehistoric bovine bones preserved in this region might shed light on this process, but the palaeogenetic approach has been hampered by poor DNA preservation. Here, I discuss various aspects of DNA preservation in fossils and the production of reliable palaeogenetic data and present methodological improvements that have enabled us to shed light on the process of cattle domestication in Southwest Asia and its spread into western Europe.

International audience; Situé sur la côte ouest du Cotentin (Manche), le site du Rozel a livré un complexe de deux niveaux d'occupations anthropiques. L'abri sous-roche conservait les vestiges d'un habitat comportant des structures de combustion, du mobilier lithique et fait exceptionnel dans le Cotentin des restes osseux. L'ensemble s'inscrit dans une formation dunaire sus-jacente à une plage ancienne. Initialement attribué à un Périgordien ancien, le site a fait l'objet d'une « relecture » visant à préciser son attribution chronostratigraphique et chronoculturelle. Le Rozel est actuellement le seul gisement de Basse-Normandie a avoir livré une industrie lithique à composante mixte. Les matières pre-mières utilisées sont le quartz filonien prélevé à l'intérieur même de l'abri, et les galets de silex prélevés dans les cordons littoraux actifs à l'époque. Les générations successives de grands cordons littoraux formés au fur et à mesure de la régression weichsélienne ont été enfouies très rapidement par le massif dunaire, ne permettant plus l'exploitation de leur contenu, riche en nodules propices à la taille. Le débitage apparaît orienté, dans les deux niveaux, vers la production d'éclats prédéterminés (principalement Levallois) et d'enlèvements allongés. Un schéma opératoire laminaire de type paléolithique supérieur a été mis en évidence dans le niveau supérieur, lié à l'occupation principale de l'abri. Le site intègre l'ensemble des gisements à industrie laminaire de gestion volumétrique du début du Dernier Glaciaire. La faune représentée témoigne de conditions environnementales plutôt tempérées où l'aurochs, les cervidés et dans une moindre mesure les chevaux dominent. L'originalité du site réside dans la présence d'un fragment mandibulaire de morse, associé à l'occupation, témoignant de conditions subarctiques temporaires. L'analyse des vestiges de faune atteste de travaux de boucherie (découpe, fracturation des os longs) et traduit diffé-rents modes d'acquisition, ou des traitements particuliers en fonction des espèces. La convergence des observations effectuées dans les différentes disciplines indique que les occupations du site du Rozel se rapportent à la phase récente du Paléolithique moyen du début du dernier glaciaire weichselien et non au Paléolithique supérieur initial. ABSTRACT THE ROZEL SHELTER (FRANCE, MANCHE) : A LIVING FLOOR OF THE YOUNGEST MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC IN ITS GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CONTEXT Located on the Western coast, the Rozel provided an archaeological complex characterized by two occupation levels. The shelter has preserved traces of a habitat with combustion structures, lithic tools, and faunal remains, an exception on the Cotentin peninsula. The settlement is located in littoral dune upon a complex raised beach. Initially attributed to an Early Perigordian occupation, this site has been reinvestigated from a stratigraphic and cultural point of view. The Rozel shelter is the only occupation in the region presenting a mixed lithic industry. The raw materials used for tools are vein quartz found inside the

Trois années d’investigation pluridisciplinaire sur un territoire apparemment vierge de tout vestige ont permis, preuves remarquables à l’appui, de confirmer la vocation stratégique de l’interfluve de Dourges, lieu de passage privilégié entre Bassin parisien et plaines du Nord depuis la Protohistoire : une vocation qui resurgit avec la récente mise en route de la plate-forme Delta3, destinée à favoriser les échanges dans cette partie du nord de l’Europe.

La trouvaille de vestiges de chevilles osseuses d'aurochs à Tell Chuera, dans un contexte religieux du IIIe millénaire, conduit à s'interroger sur la place de cet animal sauvage. Les dimensions des chevilles et leur situation témoignent de l'intérêt accordé à cette partie de l'animal en dehors même de son apport alimentaire. Cela incite à envisager l'existence d'une chasse visant à un but précis : l'acquisition d'un animal à valeur symbolique.

consultable sur : http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/pica_0752-5656_1985_num_3_1_1475; National audience; Etude des 435 restes animaux du site éponyme.