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International audience; For almost a century there has been debate on the functional interpretation of desert kites. These archaeological structures have been interpreted as constructions for animal hunting or domestication purposes, sometimes for both, but with little conclusive evidence. Here, we present new evidence from a large-scale research programme. This unprecedented programme of archaeological excavations and geomatics explorations shows the unequivocal and probably exclusive function of kites as hunting traps. Considering their gigantic size, as well as the significant energy and organization required to build them, these types of traps are called mega-traps. Our research is based on five different field studies in Armenia, Jordan, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, as well as on satellite imagery interpretation across the global distribution area of kites throughout the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia. This hunting interpretation raises questions about the transformation of the landscape by human groups and the consequent anthropogenic impacts on local ecological equilibrium during different periods of the Holocene. Finally, the role of trapping in the hunting strategies of prehistoric, protohistoric and historic human groups is addressed.

International audience

International audience; During this presentation, the method will be presented as well as the experiments carried out to better understand the formation of these archives of anthropogenic activities that fuliginous speleothems are. The use of this method to document the mobility patterns of past societies will also be presented through case study.Privileged axes: new methods and methodologies; experimentation, referential frameworks and actualist approaches; occupation of territories and population mobility

Les spéléothèmes (concrétions carbonatées de grottes) sont des archives naturelles qui se caractérisent par leur capacité à enregistrer les environnements passés ainsi que par leur haute résolution temporelle, en particulier lorsqu’ils sont laminés annuellement. Leur potentiel d’étude ne se limite pas qu’aux recherches sur les reconstitutions paléo-climatiques. Les concrétions peuvent par exemple piéger des particules anthropiques comme de la suie, et ces concrétions fuligineuses ont un fort potentiel informatif en archéologie. Dans cet article, nous présenterons les potentiels d’application archéologique de l’analyse fuliginochronologique à travers plusieurs cas, dans des contextes temporels différents. Les cas les plus récents (en Belgique, en France et en Slovénie), pour lesquels nous disposons parfois d’informations historiques et textuelles autorisant un contrôle des faits archéologiques enregistrés, permettront de valider le potentiel d’archive micro-chronologique des spéléothèmes dans le cadre d’une étude fuliginochronologique. Ensuite, nous étendrons l’utilisation de cette méthode à un site paléolithique français afin de mettre en lumière le potentiel informatif de cette approche en préhistoire. Speleothems (carbonated cave deposits) are natural archives that are characterized by their ability to record past environments as well as by their high temporal resolution, especially when laminated annually. Their potential for study is not limited to research on palaeo-climatic reconstructions. For example, speleothems can trap anthropogenic particles such as soot, and these fuliginous speleothems have a high informative potential in archaeology. In this paper, we will present the potential archaeological applications of fuliginochronological analysis in several cases, in different temporal contexts. The most recent cases (Belgium, France and Slovenia), for which we sometimes have historical and textual information allowing us to check the recorded archaeological facts, will make it possible to validate the micro-chronological archival potential of speleothems in the context of a fuliginochronological study. Then, we will extend the use of this method to a French Palaeolithic site in order to highlight the informative potential of this approach in Prehistory.

International audience

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International audience; Traces of soot reflecting past human activities are sometimes observed on the ceilings and walls of caves and rock shelters, sometimes also inside speleothems. These deposits, which result from anthropogenic fires, are proving to be a particularly suitable material for very high-resolution micro-chronological studies. Microscopic analysis of carbonate crusts from walls of various ages (Middle and Upper Palaeolithic) shows that they preserve traces of multiple occupations that can be linked to the archaeological units identified during the excavation. The generally high MNOs (Minimum Number of Occupations), which correspond to each archaeological unit, attest to the cumulative nature of the latter. Each level records a different number of occupations from one unit to another and presents particular rhythmicity. The research potential for soot deposits are diverse and suggest the possibility of studying the mobility of past human groups with previously unrivalled temporal resolution. Concerns about the concept of “archaeological floor” and “palimpsest” as applied to spatial studies in caves and under shelters/under rock is also developed.; Des traces de suie, témoignant d’activités humaines passées, sont parfois remarquées sur les parois des cavités, parfois également à l’intérieur de spéléothèmes. Ces dépôts, qui résultent de feux anthropiques, s’avèrent être un matériau particulièrement adapté aux études micro-chronologiques à très haute résolution. L’analyse microscopique d’encroûtements carbonatés de parois d’âges variés (Paléolithique moyen et supérieur) montre qu’ils ont conservé la trace de multiples occupations qu’il est possible de mettre en relation avec les unités archéologiques reconnues à la fouille. Les NMO (Nombre Minimum d’Occupations), généralement élevés, qui correspondent à chaque unité archéologique, attestent du caractère cumulatif de ces dernières. Chaque niveau enregistre alors un nombre d’occupations différent d’une unité à l’autre et illustre des rythmicités qui lui sont propres. Les perspectives de recherche sur les dépôts de suie sont diversifiées et laissent entrevoir la possibilité d’une étude de la mobilité des groupes humains passés suivant des résolutions jusqu’alors inégalées. On est de plus en droit de s’interroger sur le concept de « sol archéologique » et de « palimpseste » appliqué aux études spatiales en grotte et sous abri-sous-roche.

International audience; In a recent article, Malkinson and his colleagues (Malkinson et al. 2017) have put forward a series of hypotheses on the function, seasonality, and chronology of kites discovered on the slopes of Mount Aragats, in Armenia. Among their hypotheses relevant to function, Malkinson et al. propose that the kites without antennae would have been meant for pastoralism, while those with antennae would have been for large herbivore game. In our opinion, this hypothesis appears to be particularly flimsy: it rests on a very incomplete body of evidence, and does not take into consideration the analysis of the morphological and morphometric aspects of these constructions. The question is whether kites with antennae and kites without them have characteristics that are sufficiently apart from one another to consider different functions.

Many desert kites have recently (2010) been discovered on the basaltic slopes of Mount Aragats in Armenia. The implementation of various complementary techniques (geomatics, statistical analyses, geoarchaeology, malacology, radiocarbon analysis) has enabled definition of their specificities. Isolated from the classic Syro-Jordanian zone, they are characterised by a certain simplicity, great morphological homogeneity, strongly related locations to the morphological characteristics of the mountain massif, and dated between the Bronze Age and the first centuries AD., De nombreux kites – ou desert kites – ont récemment (2010) été découverts sur les flancs basaltiques du Mont Aragats, en Arménie. La mise en oeuvre de techniques variées et complémentaires (géomatique, analyses statistiques, analyse architecturale, géoarchéologie, malacologie, analyse radiocarbone) permet de préciser leurs spécificités. Isolés de la zone classique syro-jordanienne, ils sont caractérisés par une certaine simplicité, une grande homogénéité morphologique, des implantations en lien fort avec les caractères morphologiques du massif et un âge compris entre l’Âge du Bronze et les premiers siècles apr. J.-C., Brochier Jacques-Élie, Barge Olivier, Karakhanyan Arkadi, Kalantaryan Iren, Chataigner Christine, Chambrade Marie-Laure, Magnin Frédéric. Kites on the margins. The Aragats kites in Armenia. In: Paléorient, 2014, vol. 40, n°1. pp. 25-53.

Catalogue d'exposition (Bilingue). 1er juillet - 13 novembre 2017; International audience; This chapter presents a micro-chronological study of human occupations in the Grotte Mandrin site. Focus on the transition between rhodanian Quina Mousterian and Neronian (levels F and E). This chapter is part of the exhibition catalog "The Third Man: Prehistory of the Altaï" of the Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac (01/07 - 13/11/2017).; Ce chapitre présente une étude micro-chronologique des occupations humaines à la Grotte Mandrin, avec focus sur la transition entre le Moustérien de type Quina rhodanien et le Néronien (respectivement niveaux F et E). Ce chapitre fait partie du catalogue de l'exposition "Le troisième Homme : Préhistoire de l'Altaï" du Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac (01/07 - 13/11/2017).

International audience; Soot marks, witnesses of past human activities, can sometimes be noticed in concretions (speleothem, travertine, carbonated crust, etc.) formed in cavities. We demonstrate here that these deposits, generally ignored in archaeological studies, turned out to be a perfectly suitable material for micro-chronological study of hominin activities in a site. At the Grotte Mandrin (Mediterranean France), thousands of clastic fragments from the rock walls were found in every archaeological level of the shelter. Calcareous crusts containing soot deposits are recorded on some of their surfaces. They appear in thin section as thin black laminae. Microscopic observation of these crusts revealed that they kept track of many occupations. We show that is possible to link them with the archaeological units identified during the excavation. Minimum Number of Occupations (MNO) can be built out of these sooted crusts. MNO are usually high and attest to the cumulative nature of each archaeological unit. They are witnesses of each occupation of hominin groups in each archaeological level of the cave. This study also shows that, in Grotte Mandrin, a very short time separates the first Middle/Upper Paleolithic transitional groups' occupations from those of the last Mousterians. The research perspectives on soot deposits are diversified and raise the possibility of studying multiple aspects of past human life, and in this case, to rethink the Middle/Upper Paleolithic transition, with an unmatched temporal resolution. Sooted concretion analysis provides high temporal resolution archaeology. There is a real possibility of extending this study with chronological implications to cavities of all ages and areas.

Ermenistan'ın Neolitik ve Kalkolitik dönem kültürleri yakın zamanlara kadar yalnızca farklı höyüklerde yapı­lan küçük çaplı kazı çalışmalarından biliniyordu. 1999-2004yılları arasında Ermeni-Fransız ortak projesi ola­rak Arastashen yerleşiminde yürütülen kazı çalışmaları, tabakalanmış Neolitik ve Kalkolitik dönem dolgularıyla, MÖ 6. ve 5. binyılda görülen kültürel ve ekonomik gelişmeleri değerlendirmemize olanak sağlayan anah­tar bir yerleşim durumuna gelmiştir. Ağrı Ararat Ovası'nda, Sev Jur vadisinde, deniz seviyesinden 838 m yük­seklikte bulunan Aknashen-Khaturnarkh/Aknashen, 100 m çapı ve 3,5 m yüksekliği olan bir höyük yerleşimi­dir. Geniş çaplı yürütülen çalışmalarda 313 m2'lik bir alan kazılmıştır.Çanak çömlek üzerinde yapılan değerlendirmelere göre en üst tabaka I Kalkolitik, bunun altında bulunan taba­kalar ise II-V Neolitik döneme ait olmak üzere höyükte beş ana evre belirlenmiştir. Bunlardan en alt evreyi tem­sil eden tabaka V, sadece A açmasında ayrıntılı olarak kazılmıştır. Yapılan toprak analizleri, höyükte hem insan etki­li, hem de doğal etkenlerle oluşmuş dolguların incelenmesine olanak sağlamıştır.7 no'lu açmada hocker pozisyonunda gömülmüş olan bir çocuk iskeleti üzerinde yapılan değerlendirmelerin, gömü-tün olasılıkla Neolitik döneme ait olduğunu ortaya koyması, bunun şimdiye kadar Ermenistan'dan bilinen en eski gömüt olması açısından önem taşımaktadır.Radyokarbon ölçümleri için höyükten alınan 24 örneğin 18 tanesi Neolitik dolgulardandır Tablo 1 . Höyük­te bulunan 7000den fazla çanak çömlek parçası içinde yalnızca 9 tanesinin ithal mal olduğu belirlenmiştir. Höyük­te bulunan 22485 tane yontmataş bulgunun % 96'sı obsidyenden oluşur; çakmaktaşı ve kuvartz gibi ham­maddelerden yapılmış alet ve yonga sayısı ise oldukça düşüktür. Kaynak analizine göre yerleşimde bulunan obsidyenler 10 ayrı kimyasalın bileşimini içermekte ve obsidyenlerin büyük bir kısmının 3 ana kaynaktan temin edil­diği anlaşılmaktadır. Yontmataş aletlerin büyük bir kısmını dilgi üzerine yapılan aletler oluştururken, yongala­rın sayısı özellikle Kalkolitik dönemde oldukça azalmıştır. Özellikle alt tabakalarda çok sayıda öğütmetaşı ve bunlar ile ilişkili olarak sıkıştırılmış toprak kenarları, çakıl döşeli tabanları olan ocakyerleri bulunmaktadır. Ögütmetaşları genelde bazalt ve tüfgibi püskürük kayaçlar ayrıca az sayıda granit ve kireçtaşından da yapılmıştır. Öğütmetaşlarının yanı sıra çok sayıda vurgu taşı da bulunmaktadır. Bakır ve taştan küçük boncuklar, gerdan-çeler, delinmiş hayvan dişleri, deniz kabukları süs eşyaları arasında sayılabilir. Bakır, Neolitik tabakalarda da kullanılmıştır. Kazıda çıkan çok sayıdaki kemik ve boynuz aletlerin arasında bız ve deliciler çoğunluktadır.Hayvan kemiklerinin analizinde balıklar, sürüngenler, kuşlar ve memeli hayvanlardan oluşan 30 farklı hayvan türü belir­lenmiştir. Evcilleştirilmiş hayvanlar arasında başta keçi ve koyun olmak üzere, sığır, domuz ve köpekyer almaktadır; ancak yabani hayvanlardan da yararlanıldığı kuşkusuzdur. Tablo 8’de de görüleceği gibi bitki analizleri de zengin bir çeşitlilik gös­termektedir. Karbonlaşmış ağaç kalıntıları arasında genelde dere yataklarında yetişen ağaç türleri yoğunluktadır.Sonuç olarak, Aknashen-Khatunarkh yerleşimi, MÖ 6. ve 5. binyıllarda sadece Ermenistan değil, tüm Güney Kafkaslar için kesintisiz tabakalanmasıyla önemli bir yerleşim yeridir. Alt tabakalarda V-IV sıkıştırılmış çamurdan yapılmış yuvarlak planlı yapılar, zengin bir kemik ve yontmataş buluntu topluluğu olan ve çanak çöm­lek üretiminin ilk evrelerini tanımlamamızı sağlayan önemli katmanlar kazılmıştır. Alt tabakalardan itibaren evcilleştirilmiş bitki ve hayvan türleri bulunmaktadır. Neolitiğin son evrelerinde III-II çanak çömlek kullanı­mı artmakta, taş ve kemik aletler ise azalmaktadır. Bu dönemde göçebe yaşama geçiş olabileceğini gösteren bazı izlere rastlanılmıştır. Kalkolitik dönemde I çanak çömlekte saman katkıda büyük bir artış izlenmekte Sioni kültürünü andıran ağız, tutamak ve bezemeli parçalar bulunmaktadır. Bu sayede Aknashen-Khatunarkh çanak çömleği, Son Neolitik ve İlk Kalkolitik arasındaki geçiş evresi hakkında önemli verilere ulaşmamızı sağ­lamaktadır. Vurgulanması gereken iki önemli unsur ise: a evreler arası geçişin yavaş ve uzun sürdüğü, b bir devamlılık olsa da genel olarak bakıldığında dönemler arasındaki farklılıkların da belirgin olduğudur., This paper presents the preliminary results of the excavations ofAknashen-Khatunarkh, a Neolith­ic site in the plain of Ararat. More than 300 m2 has been excavated of this tell, which is about 100 m in diam­eter and 3,5 m in height. The cultural layer, more than 4 m thick, was subdivided preliminarily into five hori­zons, the upper one I belonging to the Early Chalcolithic and the others II-V to the Late Neolithic. A series of14C dates enables dating the Neolithic horizons to the first half of the 6th millennium

Results of the analysis of 56 faunal assemblages from 21 Lateglacial and Postglacial archaeological sites are presented in this paper. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of hunting diversification at the end of the Lateglacial in the French Pyrenees. The analysis demonstrates that a major change in animal hunting occurs at 12300 uncal. BP when Reindeer was no longer hunted. It also indicates that the diversity of hunted large mammals was the same from the Oldest Dryas to the onset of the Holocene. Finally, it reveals that there is no significant increase in the proportion of small game between 15000 uncal. BP and 8000 uncal. BP, which demonstrates that there was no hunting diversification at the end of the Lateglacial. Studies focusing on the French Jura and the Northern Alps have provided similar results., Cet article présente les résultats de l’analyse de 56 séries fauniques issues de 21 sites archéologiques du Tardiglaciaire et du début du Postglaciaire. L’objectif était de tester l’hypothèse d’une diversification de la prédation à la fin du Tardiglaciaire dans les Pyrénées françaises. Les analyses effectuées démontrent que la date de 12300 BP (non calibrée) marque une rupture dans le choix des espèces, le Renne n’étant plus chassé. Elles indiquent clairement qu’aucune diversification de la chasse aux grands mammifères n’est perceptible entre le Dryas ancien et le début du Postglaciaire. Enfin, elles mettent en évidence l’absence de toute augmentation significative de la part des petits gibiers capturés entre 15000 et 8000 BP, ce qui réfute l’opinion souvent émise d’une diversification de la prédation à la fin du Tardiglaciaire. Ces résultats ne sont pas sans rappeler ceux qui ont été obtenus pour le Jura français et les Alpes du nord., Fontana Laure, Brochier Jacques-Élie. Diversification ou stabilité de la prédation au cours du Tardiglaciaire dans les Pyrénées françaises : et si on analysait les données ?. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 106, n°3, 2009. pp. 477-490.

International audience; The lithic industry with shouldered points and truncated backed bladelets from the rockshelter of Chinchon 1 in the Vaucluse has been variously interpreted over the past few decades: some authors clearly see it as belonging to an ultimate, classic, phase of the final Magdalenian, whereas others link it just as clearly to an early, Italic, phase of the Tardigravettian. The results of stratigraphic, sedimentological and palaeontological analyses speak for an early date for this complex, a date that had hitherto eluded absolute dating. Here we present a series of new chronological markers for this episode, subjected to Bayesian analysis and modelling. We examine the chronological relationship between these new data and the Salpetrian Tardisolutrean of Languedoc as well as the recent phase of activity in Cosquer Cave and show that the (early) Salpetrian Tardisolutrean and early Tardigravettian with shouldered points are partly synchronous; further, that in the Tardigravettian region where Cosquer Cave is located, it is in the early phase of the Tardigravettian with shouldered points that the paintings and engravings of the second period of activity at Cosquer were created.; Le complexe industriel à pointes à cran et lamelles à dos tronquées de l’abri de Chinchon 1, dans le Vaucluse, a été diversement interprété au cours des dernières décennies : pour certains, il se rattache de toute évidence à une phase très finale, et classique, du Magdalénien supérieur ; pour d’autres, il se rattache, de façon tout aussi évidente, à une phase ancienne, italique, du Tardigravettien. Les résultats des études stratigraphiques, sédimentologiques et paléontologiques plaident pour accorder un âge ancien à ce complexe qu’il n’avait pas été, jusqu’à présent, possible de dater de façon absolue. Nous présentons ici des jalons chronologiques absolus nouveaux pour cet épisode. Ils sont analysés dans le cadre d’une modélisation chronologique bayésienne. Leurs rapports chronologiques avec le Tardisolutréen salpêtrien du Languedoc et avec la période de fréquentation la plus récente de la grotte Cosquer sont précisés. On montre que Tardisolutréen salpêtrien (ancien) et Tardigravettien ancien à pointes à cran sont partiellement synchrones et que, dans la région tardigravettienne où s’ouvre la grotte Cosquer, c’est pendant la phase ancienne du Tardigravettien à pointes à cran qu’ont été réalisées les peintures et gravures de la seconde période de fréquentation de la grotte.

The microscopic objects presented by F.O. Freitas and P.S. Martins as ‘recrystallized calcite crystals’ and ‘starch grain aggregates’ are both compound crystals, end products of the transformation of plant calcium oxalate crystals into calcite in wood fires. These calcareous silty particles are the major component of the wood ashes familiar to archaeologists. Petrographic microscope remains the more efficient tool for this kind of research.

Resume De petits galets calcaires, dont la taille est comprise entre quelques millimetres et 40 mm, sont choisis et transportes par les Mesolithiques dans les habitations vauclusiennes de bord de riviere ou ils sont utilises dans des activites liees au feu. Leur abondance et leur taille evoluent entre le moment de leur apparition, a l'extreme fin de l'Azilien et celui de leur rarefaction, au Sauveterrien a trapeze. Dans des contextes morphologiques particuliers, leurs formes evoluent rapidement et permettent, en l'absence de reperes chronologiques absolus, d'ordonner les differentes occupations.

International audience; In the last few years, the number of inventoried kites has increased fivefold, and the known distribution zone has been greatly extended across the Near East, Arabia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. High-resolution satellite images provide substantial amounts of data that can be subjected to geomatics analysis. The resulting spatial data is used to identify regional differences.We present here a study of these kite structures at the global, regional and local scales, carried out by means of GIS. The recognition of a number of morphological characteristics, without any subjective attribute, leads to a geographically referenced inventory that clearly distinguishes five main regions. This paper suggests a method to define the morphology of the kites, which will be further augmented with cross-variables including the surrounding environment, settlement distribution, animal exploitation and ethology, providing a base for future studies.

International audience; Desert kites are found across a vast region. This paper presents a detailed description of kites from the Harrat al-Shaam region (Jordan) and proposes a comparative study, as well as an analysis of the morphology and organisation of kites known from Mount Aragats (Armenia) and the Ustyurt Plateau (Kazakhstan). A complete inventory of the structures in each region highlights their architectural characteristics and their spatial distribution in the landscape. Some preliminary results were obtained by comparing both regions: the core area in eastern Jordan, and peripheries—sometimes very dis-tant—such as in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Chronological data were also compared , when available. All these different and complementary aspects were finally combined with satellite imagery analyses. The interactive process between satellite images and fieldwork observations has enriched both approaches, while yielding preliminary key elements of interpretation for a better understanding of the kite phenomenon on a global scale.

International audience; The Aralo-Caspian region includes a ninth of the total number of ‘desert kites’. These are located at a considerable distance from the large concentrations of the Near East and the Levant. A combined fieldwork and satellite image analysis, undertaken in September 2013 on the southwestern fringe of the Ustyurt plateau, allowed us to record and describe 143 kites of different morphological types and to obtain new chronological data. Within the framework of the Globalkites research project, set up at the scale of the whole distribution area of kites, a GIS database was constructed using a methodology successfully tested in other regions (Armenia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia). This paper is a detailed description of the kites of this region, focusing on location in the landscape, morphology, architecture and chronology. Despite the lack of accurate information about their use, relationships with animal migration routes can sometimes be suggested. Our chronological data show that the south-western Ustyurt kites have a long history of use and were abandoned only very recently. Some architectural details and morphological features, commonly observed on Near Eastern kites, lead to the conclusion that Ustyurt kites belong to a single phenomenon.

Results of multidisciplinary studies, involving anthracology, archaeology and geoarchaeology, that have been carried out on Neolithic to Bronze Age deposits from Belesta Cave, eastern Pyrenees, are reported. These show that the type of human activity, i.e. pastoralism alone or a more diversified farming economy, and continuity/discontinuity of occupation are the main factors that determine the structure and evolution of the Holocene vegetation in the region. Neolithic pastoral activities were not continuous and so did not have an enduring influence on the natural environment. The more continuous and diversified exploitation associated with Bronze Age cultures was responsible for the development and maintenance of the low garrigues.

The lithic industry with shouldered points and truncated backed bladelets from the rockshelter of Chinchon 1 in the Vaucluse has been variously interpreted over the past few decades : some authors clearly see it as belonging to an ultimate, classic, phase of the final Magdalenian, whereas others link it just as clearly to an early, Italic, phase of the Tardigravettian. The results of stratigraphic, sedimentological and palaeontological analyses speak for an early date for this complex, a date that had hitherto eluded absolute dating. Here we present a series of new chronological markers for this episode, subjected to Bayesian analysis and modelling. We examine the chronological relationship between these new data and the Salpetrian Tardisolutrean of Languedoc as well as the recent phase of activity in Cosquer Cave and show that the (early) Salpetrian Tardisolutrean and early Tardigravettian with shouldered points are partly synchronous ; further, that in the Tardigravettian region where Cosquer Cave is located, it is in the early phase of the Tardigravettian with shouldered points that the paintings and engravings of the second period of activity at Cosquer were created., Le complexe industriel à pointes à cran et lamelles à dos tronquées de l’abri de Chinchon 1, dans le Vaucluse, a été diversement interprété au cours des dernières décennies : pour certains, il se rattache de toute évidence à une phase très finale, et classique, du Magdalénien supérieur ; pour d’autres, il se rattache, de façon tout aussi évidente, à une phase ancienne, italique, du Tardigravettien. Les résultats des études stratigraphiques, sédimentologiques et paléontologiques plaident pour accorder un âge ancien à ce complexe qu’il n’avait pas été, jusqu’à présent, possible de dater de façon absolue. Nous présentons ici des jalons chronologiques absolus nouveaux pour cet épisode. Ils sont analysés dans le cadre d’une modélisation chronologique bayésienne. Leurs rapports chronologiques avec le Tardisolutréen salpêtrien du Languedoc et avec la période de fréquentation la plus récente de la grotte Cosquer sont précisés. On montre que Tardisolutréen salpêtrien (ancien) et Tardigravettien ancien à pointes à cran sont partiellement synchrones et que, dans la région tardigravettienne où s’ouvre la grotte Cosquer, c’est pendant la phase ancienne du Tardigravettien à pointes à cran qu’ont été réalisées les peintures et gravures de la seconde période de fréquentation de la grotte., Brochier Jacques-Élie. Les datations radiocarbone du Tardigravettien ancien à crans de l’abri de Chinchon 1 à Saumane-de-Vaucluse et la chronologie du Paléolithique supérieur récent provençal / Radiocarbon dates for the early shouldered Tardigravettian from the rockshelter of Chinchon 1 at Saumane-de-Vaucluse and the chronology of the recent Provençal Upper Palaeolithic. In: Gallia préhistoire, tome 56, 2014. pp. 3-27.

International audience; Culling profiles are important and widely used statistical objects in archaeozoological studies. Topics such as site specific use (like seasonal cave penning), sites complementarity, site status (“producer” versus “consumer” sites), specialized production strategies (milk, meat and/or wool strategies) and, more generally, long term evolution of pastoral practices rely strongly upon this kind of data. Here we show that a long lasting and widespread error in the construction and interpretation of culling profiles sheds doubts on the validity of the economic, territorial and breeding practice models proposed in old world recent prehistory.

Microscopic analysis of the silt fraction in the PPNB sediments of Çayönü sets the beginning of ovicaprine domestication in the Cell Room phase, earlier than suggested by fauna I analysis. New methodological approaches provide information on sedimentation rates, the relative duration of occupation phases and their continuity in time. Humanly-induced, environmental changes are limited in the first agricultural phase, become more important in the pastoral phase (even though occupation was discontinuous) and are very strong in the pre-Halafian Neolithic., L'analyse des poussières PPNB de Çayönü fixe le début de l'élevage des caprines dans la phase Cell Room, un peu plus tôt que ne le laissaient supposer les résultats zooarchéologiques. Elle permet également, grâce à une méthodologie nouvelle, d'apporter quelques précisions sur les rythmes de sédimentation, sur la durée relative des phases d'occupation et sur leur continuité. Enfin sont abordés quelques problèmes ayant trait à la dégradation anthropique du milieu naturel. Celle-ci apparaît très modérée dans la phase ancienne agricole, plus forte dans la phase récente pastorale (malgré une présence plus discontinue) et très forte au néolithique pré-Halafïen., Brochier Jacques-Elie. Cayönü Tepesi. Domestication, rythmes et environnement au PPNB. In: Paléorient, 1993, vol. 19, n°2. pp. 39-49.

The Wadi Assaka drains a large watershed on the southwest border of Anti-Atlas and its Saharan edges in the Guelmim area. It crosses the last folded chains of the Anti- Atlas before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. In this part of its course, it aggraded a large system of alluvial terraces. The oldest of them are stepped terraces, the last ones are inset terraces. One of them is particularly interesting by its thickness, its various deposits as well as their content. The whole formation is now deeply cut, so the different sedimentary faciès can be observed and it is possible to reconstruct the palaeoenvironments, the ancient dynamics of the river and to connect the deposits with the regional and general climatic evolution. This stratigraphy has seemingly recorded rapid climatic events with a high resolution during the isotopic stages 5 to 2 It gives reference points about the way the African continent responded to global climatic changes between the Mediterranean and Saharan areas., L'oued Assaka draîne un important bassin versant sur la bordure sud de l'Anti-Atlas occidental et ses marges sahariennes dans la région de Guelmim. Il traverse les derniers chaînons anti-atlasiques plissés avant de déboucher dans l'océan Atlantique. Dans cette partie de son cours, il a édifié un système de terrasses alluviales étagées pour les plus anciennes et emboîtées pour les dernières. L'une d'entre elles est particulièrement remarquable à la fois par sa puissance, la variété de ses dépôts, ainsi que par leur contenu. Les divers faciès sédimentaires visibles grâce à une forte incision linéaire actuelle qui recoupe l'ensemble de la formation permettent de reconstituer les paléoenvironnements, la dynamique passée de l'oued et de proposer une interprétation des dépôts en relation avec l'évolution climatique régionale et globale. Cette séquence sédimentaire paraît avoir enregistré en haute résolution des événements climatiques rapides durant les stades isotopiques 5 à 2. Elle fournit des repères concernant la réponse du continent africain face aux changements climatiques globaux à la frontière des domaines méditerranéen et saharien., Wengler Luc, Weisrock André, Brochier-do not use Jacques-Élie, Brugal Jean Philippe, Fontugne Michel, Magnin Frédéric, Mathieu Julien, Mercier Norbert, Ouammou Abderrahman, Reyss Jean-Louis, Sénégas Franck, Valladas Hélène, Wahl Laurent. Enregistrement fluviatile et paléoenvironnements au Pléistocène supérieur sur la bordure méridionale atlantique de l'Anti-Atlas (Oued Assaka, S-O marocain). In: Quaternaire, vol. 13, n°3-4, 2002. Événements rapides, instabilités, changements culturels au Quaternaire. pp. 179-192.

The authors present the stratigraphical results produced from new excavations in the Pendimoun rock shelter (Castellar, Alpes-Maritimes) ; geoarchaeological, archaeozoological and palaeobotanical preliminary studies are also submitted. New data related to the Early Neolithic period (Impressed Ware Cultural Complex) are more largely developed. This period shows two cultural phases, ancient (Impressa) and recent (Early Cardial), enclosing a funeral episode. This cultural sequence is discussed in a French and Italian context. Twice over, the anthropological field studies presented in this paper give evidence of the voluntary filling of the funeral pits and of the installation of funeral devices upon the burials., Les auteurs présentent la stratigraphie établie lors des nouvelles fouilles de l'abri Pendimoun à Castellar (Alpes-Maritimes) et les résultats des études tests réalisées dans les domaines géoarchéologique, archéozoologique et paléobotanique. Les documents relatifs au Néolithique ancien (complexe culturel de la Céramique Imprimée) font l'objet d'un développement plus large. Cette période montre deux phases culturelles, ancienne (Impressa) et récente (Cardial ancien), encadrant un épisode funéraire. Cette séquence culturelle est discutée dans un contexte géographique limité à l'aire franco-italienne. Les études anthropologiques de terrain présentées ici ont permis de mettre en évidence à deux reprises le comblement volontaire des fosses sépulcrales et l'installation de dispositifs de signalisation des tombes., Binder Didier, Brochier Jacques-Élie, Duday Henri, Helmer D., Marinval Philippe, Thiebault Stéphanie, Wattez Julia. L'abri Pendimoun à Castellar (Alpes-Maritimes). Nouvelles données sur le complexe culturel de la céramique imprimée méditerranéenne dans son contexte stratigraphique. In: Gallia préhistoire, tome 35, 1993. pp. 177-251.

Within the context of a synthetic study of the sites of the narrow pass of Donzère, a rescue excavation was carried out in 1983 and 1986 in the cave of the Toals. This cave was used as a sheepfold several times, especially during the first half of the 6th century B.C. This evidence is given by the study of the archeological finds which is typical of the Languedoc sites. The place does not seem to have been a refuge, connected with a structured social life. Besides, some neolithic and Gallo-Roman objects were discovered., Dans le cadre de l'étude synthétique des sites du Défilé de Donzère, une fouille de sauvetage a été réalisée en 1983 et 1986 dans la grotte des Crapauds. Cette cavité a été utilisée comme bergerie à plusieurs reprises, notamment durant la première moitié du VIe siècle av. J.-C, d'après l'étude du mobilier archéologique qui renvoie directement aux complexes languedociens. Le statut des occupations semble essentiellement routinier et sans rapport avec d'éventuelles contraintes de société (refuge). Quelques témoins néolithiques et gallo-romains ont également été recueillis hors contexte., Vital Joël, Arbogast Rose-Marie, Argant Alain, Argant Jacqueline, Brochier Jacques-Elie, Girel Jacky, Labbe Augustin, Méniel Patrice. La grotte des Crapauds à Donzère (Drôme) : une halte-bergerie de l'Age du Fer. In: Revue archéologique de Narbonnaise, tome 20, 1987. pp. 389-401.

Resume Un changement de milieu est mis en evidence par l'analyse sedimentologique de depots d'abri sous roche et par celle des faunes qui leurs sont associees. Deux associations fauniques differentes permettent d'etablir une coupure dans le Tardi et le Postglaciaire. Ce changement de milieu et de faune n'est pas contemporain du passage du Paleolithique superieur au Mesolithique et ne semble donc pas avoir eu d'influence sur l'evolution des industries lithiques. Les nombreux gisements du Paleolithique superieur et du Mesolithique du Vaucluse ont fait recemment l'objet d'une revision stratigraphique, sedimentologique et typologique (J.-E. Brochier, 1977 ; M. Livache, 1976 a et b) qui permet d'avoir une vue d'ensemble de l'evolution des industries dans leur contexte paleoecologique. Si de nombreux points restent encore obscurs, les grands traits de l'evolution des paysages et de la faune peuvent etre mis en evidence.

After a brief report about the history of works devoted to Chinchon Rock Shelter I (Saumanes, Vaucluse) the chronological position of layer C is debated : this level is older than Boiling interstadium and, therefore, it is not Magdalenian Via ; the assemblage is compared to Ligurian Tardigravettian (Arene Candide). Cluster analysis results suggest that magdalenoids industries from Vaucluse proceed from Tardigravettian., Après un bref exposé de l'historique des travaux consacrés à l'abri n°1 de Chinchon (Saumanes, Vaucluse), la position chronologique du niveau C est discutée. Il apparaît être plus ancien que l'interstade de Boiling. Il ne peut donc s'agir d'un Magdalénien Via. L'industrie du niveau C est rapprochée du Tardigravettien ligure (Arene Candide). Les résultats d'une analyse des correspondances suggèrent que les industries magda-lénoides du Vaucluse (abri de Chinchon n°l, abri Soubeyras) sont issues du Tardigravettien., Brochier Jacques-Elie, Livache Michel. Le niveau C de l'abri n° 1 de Chinchon à Saumanes de Vaucluse : analyse des correspondances et ses conséquences quant à l'origine des complexes du Tardiglaciaire en Vaucluse. In: Géologie Méditerranéenne. Tome 5, numéro 4, 1978. pp. 359-369.

Brochier Jacques-Élie. V. Le remplissage sédimentologique. In: Bulletin de correspondance hellénique. Volume 98, livraison 2, 1974. pp. 754-758.

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