Evolution of the Palaeolithic landscape at the westernmost tip of continental Europe: The shoreline seen by the Menez Dregan dwellers

Lefort, Jean‐Pierre; Monnier, Jean‐Laurent; Danukalova, Guzel; Ravon, Anne-Lyse

doi:10.1080/14614103.2015.1129719

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

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“…Gradual collapse of the cave roof has led to preservation of the deposits, with improved protection from the erosive action of the Atlantic Ocean at each marine transgression. Paleoenvironmental data indicate that during the prehistoric occupation of most of the archaeological levels, the sea level was much lower, with a shoreline probably 5 to 10 km further than the current coast (Lefort et al, 2007(Lefort et al, , 2016. During these phases of occupation, the deposit stood at the top of a rocky promontory and opened onto a vast landscape, providing a strategic shelter for hominins giving them an ideal position above the plain .…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The distance to the shoreline, therefore, varied from ca. 1 km across a coastal plain to perhaps 5-10 km (Table 10), through a forested plain or even steppe (Lefort et al, 2007(Lefort et al, , 2016. Located at the top of a rocky promontory, but sheltered in a marine cave, the site was likely a strategic vantage point overlooking the plain below.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…This link between raw materials and tool types persists between MIS 12-8: the apparent homogeneity of the lithic industries of MDI indicates an environmental constraint, where flint is only available as small marine pebbles, leading the hominins to select other raw materials on the fossil beaches surrounding the site for the manufacture of the heavy-duty tools. The glossy sandstone is almost entirely absent in the oldest levels (layer 9 and SU 8c; Table 4), suggesting a different territory or type of mobility, paleogeography or access to raw materials for these early occupations (Lefort et al, 2016;Ravon, 2017a, b). The selection of raw materials and the link between raw material selection and tool type is a consistent feature of the lithic technology at MDI through time, with flint, quartz and glossy sandstone used specifically for the flakes and small tool production, while larger cobbles of sandstone and microgranite are shaped into macro-tools, demonstrating an adaptation of choices and practices to a specific environment and landscape, but also a transmission of knowledge and habits within a group through several generations.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Acheulean variability in Western Europe: The case of Menez-Dregan I (Plouhinec, Finistère, France)

Ravon

García-Medrano

Moncel

et al. 2022

Journal of Human Evolution

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The establishment of the Acheulean in Europe occurred after MIS 17, but it was after the harsh glaciation of MIS 12 and during the long interglacial of MIS 11 that human occupation of western Europe became more sustained, with an increased number of sites. Menez-Dregan I (Brittany, France) is one of the key sites in western Europe that dates from this threshold, with an alternating sequence of 16 occupation levels and four marine deposits, from MIS 12 to 8. The large lithic assemblages of over 154,000 artifacts from knapping (cores, flakes) and shaping (macro-tools and shaping flakes) show the varying use of raw materials and activities at the site through the sequence. This work focuses on the study of the handaxes and cleavers using technological and metrical methods with multivariate analysis, in combination with geometric morphometrics, and places these analyses within the context of other technological changes at the site. Collectively, results show the persistent use through the sequence of the same lithic raw materials and technologies, including fire-use and the import of glossy sandstone from 20 km away, but with variation in activities at the site. These findings suggest that Menez-Dregan I shows the development of a specific material culture that reflects the local resources and environment. Results further indicate that the site shows the sustained hominin occupation of the area, despite varying climate and environment, with strong traditions of social learning that were maintained through flexibility of site-use, deep understanding of the local territory and the innovation of new technologies, such as the use of fire. Evidence from the site is placed within the wider context of Europe, and contrasted with areas to the north, such as Britain, where hominin occupation was more sporadic and driven by cyclical climate change.

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Section: <Table 10>mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: <Table 10>mentioning

confidence: 99%

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