Enfin des traces d’habitat à l’intérieur d’une enceinte du Néolithique récent du Centre-Ouest de la France : premiers résultats et perspectives des fouilles du site de Bellevue (Chenommet, Charente)

Ard, Vincent; Dufraisse, Alexa; Fouéré, Pierrick; Frémondeau, Delphine; Liard, Morgane; Maingaud, Audrey; Maitay, Christophe

doi:10.3406/bspf.2009.13883

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Crab claw entranceways are considered characteristic of the regional Late Neolithic during the third millennium (Burnez & Louboutin 2002) and have been dated to the beginning of the Late Neolithic ( c . 3650 BC) at the nearby Bellevue enclosure at Chenommet (Ard 2022). Dating on charcoal from the fill of St. 125 at Le Peu (Beta-594523: 5120±30 BP) indicates that it was dug as early as the Middle Neolithic, making it the oldest known example in west-central France.…”

Section: A Monumental and Possibly Defensive Enclosurementioning

confidence: 99%

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The emergence of monumental architecture in Atlantic Europe: a fortified fifth-millennium BC enclosure in western France

Ard

Onfray²,

Aoustin³

et al. 2023

Antiquity

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The earliest monumentality in Western Europe is associated with megalithic structures, but where did the builders of these monuments live? Here, the authors focus on west-central France, one of the earliest centres of megalithic building in Atlantic Europe, commencing in the mid fifth millennium BC. They report on an enclosure at Le Peu (Charente), dated to the Middle Neolithic (c. 4400 BC), and defined by a ditch with two ‘crab claw’ entrances and a double timber palisade flanked by two timber structures—possibly defensive bastions. Inside, timber buildings—currently the earliest known in the region—were possibly home to the builders of the nearby Tusson long mounds.

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Section: A Monumental and Possibly Defensive Enclosurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…2007). A defensive function is apparent at many Late and Final Neolithic enclosures in the region, as evidenced by, for example, the narrowness of entrance passages, the use of chicanes, and the erection of banks alongside ditches (Ard 2022).…”

Section: A Monumental and Possibly Defensive Enclosurementioning

confidence: 99%

The emergence of monumental architecture in Atlantic Europe: a fortified fifth-millennium BC enclosure in western France

Ard

Onfray²,

Aoustin³

et al. 2023

Antiquity

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“…years bc , as evidenced by the numerous remains (flint, sherds and faunal bones). The first archaeological results of these excavations have been presented in several papers (Ard et al ., , ; Ard, ). This paper describes another aspect of this research, namely the fundamental contribution of geophysical survey for the detection, characterization and interpretation of archaeological features by comparing geophysical data and archaeological evidence, which had never been done as accurately for the Neolithic of western France.…”

Section: The Site: Discovery and Studies Prior To The Geophysical Surmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Magnetic Survey of a Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure in West‐central France for the Interpretation of Archaeological Features

Ard

Mathé

Lévèque

et al. 2014

Archaeological Prospection

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This paper describes an interdisciplinary study of the Neolithic causewayed enclosure of Bellevue (Chenommet, France). Geophysical investigations and archaeological excavations were used alternately in order to optimize the acquisition of accurate data at different spatial scales: mapping of major structures was obtained by magnetic prospection of the whole site, while excavation identified small features weakly expressed in the prospecting results. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and total magnetic field anomalies were also recorded during the excavation in order to identify the source of the magnetic signal of the ditches. This mutual transdisciplinary contribution is also methodological: the geophysics reveals archaeological information invisible to the eye of the archaeologist and, in turn, the excavation allows refinement of the interpretation of the geophysical data by identifying the sources of signal variations. This article presents the results of the first comprehensive magnetic mapping of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure in the west of France.

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“…However, manual stripping of the substratum in the 1970s at the enclosures of Champ‐Durand in Nieul‐sur‐l'Autise (Joussaume et al. 2012) and Coteaux de Montigné in Coulon (Pautreau 1978), as well as the Chenommet in Bellevue in the 2000s (Ard 2022), exposed numerous small features, such as postholes and fences that were not previously visible. In addition, magnetic surveys over the entire surface of the enclosure have revealed magnetic anomalies that have helped create excavation strategies by uncovering building plans; this occurred at the Peu site at Charmé (Ard et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, the pit features (pits, ditches, fences, postholes, etc.) of causewayed enclosures are generally truncated by surface and anthropogenic erosion (ploughing; Ard 2014a; Soler 2012). At some sites, occupation layers, or even occupation soils from the time of enclosure, may be preserved and contain archaeological artefacts or small features in situ.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thickness Estimation of the Soil‐Sedimentary Cover Inside Causewayed Enclosures to Locate an Occupation Layer: Map of the Archaeological Potential of the Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure of Le Pontet

Bruniaux,

Onfray,

Dandurand

et al. 2024

Archaeological Prospection

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The western centre of France is one of the richest regions of Western Europe in terms of causewayed enclosures from the Neolithic period. To date, more than 300 such sites have been identified. Most causewayed enclosures in the region range in size from some hectares to over 10 ha. Exhaustive excavation of such sites is rarely performed because such operations are both financially expensive and time intensive. Completing an exhaustive excavation of these sites is also extremely complicated due to their complexity. Recording the most complete possible site plan is a major challenge for optimizing excavation. Traditionally, aerial photography has been the primary method used for delineating causewayed enclosure plans. A magnetic survey can also provide complementary information. Magnetic imaging reveals both enclosure ditches and internal features (pits, postholes, etc.) quickly and with high spatial resolution. At some sites, occupation layers dating from the time of enclosure may be preserved and contain archaeological artefacts or small features in situ. This article proposes a protocol for locating a Neolithic occupation layer inside a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. To locate the areas where this layer is likely to be present, a map of the archaeological potential of the Le Pontet site was produced based on a thickness map of the soil‐sedimentary cover. This map was created by combining an apparent electrical resistivity map, the results of electrical resistivity tomography, an orthophotograph with contrasting cropmarks and the results of dynamic cone penetration tests. To validate the archaeological potential map, an excavation campaign was conducted in 2020 to investigate several sectors; the aim was to prove the presence of the occupation layer and study the pedo‐sedimentary stratigraphy of the site.

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Enfin des traces d’habitat à l’intérieur d’une enceinte du Néolithique récent du Centre-Ouest de la France : premiers résultats et perspectives des fouilles du site de Bellevue (Chenommet, Charente)

Cited by 5 publications

References 4 publications

The emergence of monumental architecture in Atlantic Europe: a fortified fifth-millennium BC enclosure in western France

The emergence of monumental architecture in Atlantic Europe: a fortified fifth-millennium BC enclosure in western France

A Comprehensive Magnetic Survey of a Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure in West‐central France for the Interpretation of Archaeological Features

Thickness Estimation of the Soil‐Sedimentary Cover Inside Causewayed Enclosures to Locate an Occupation Layer: Map of the Archaeological Potential of the Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure of Le Pontet

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