Incursions spéléologiques mésolithiques dans la grotte d'Aldène (Cesseras, Hérault)

Ambert, Paul; Galant, Philippe; Colomer, Albert

doi:10.3406/bspf.2001.12535

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…On the other hand, we do not rule out the possibility that in the future the number of phases of visits will be extended, for example with phases of occupation related to the last hunter-gatherers (Epipalaeolithic phases), already recorded in the stratigraphic sequence of the entrance rooms and common in the internal areas of other caves decorated with Palaeolithic art (some of them in areas very far from the entrance and/or with very complicated access) [50][51][52][53][54] . Nevertheless, and in the same way as for the previous case referring to the beginning of the visits from the Middle Palaeolithic, and although we have two dates that could testify to Epipalaeolithic visits (n. 20,21), for the moment, we prefer not to take this information into account, as it did not pass the validity test to which we subjected all the dates before the Bayesian study (for more information, see Supplementary information S1, S2 and S3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses

Medina‐Alcaide

Vandevelde

Quilès

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Charcoal and micro-layers of soot trapped in speleothems from the inner galleries of Nerja Cave were analysed through an interdisciplinary study. The absolute dating of the prehistoric subterranean activity of the cave and the identification of different phases of visits to the deep parts are presented and discussed. The charcoal analysis includes anthracological analysis and SEM–EDX. The soot analysis includes optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and TEM–EDX, and the microcounting of soot microlayers. The 14C dating of 53 charcoals identified 12 phases of prehistoric visits to the cave between 41,218 and 3299 cal. BP, putting back the origin of human occupation of this emblematic cave by 10,000 years. The interdisciplinary analysis of the soot microlayers allowed us to perform a high-precision zoom on the last three visitation phases identified by Bayesian analysis (8003–2998 cal. BP.), demonstrating that these phases contain at least 64 distinct incursions, with an average of one visit every 35 years for the Neolithic period. Spatial analysis showed that not all areas of the cave were used in the same periods, highlighting the repetition of visits to certain specific sectors of the Lower Galleries of the cave. Lastly, the anthracological data indicate a cross-cultural and unique use of Pinus tp. sylvestris-nigra wood for lighting activities over an extended period between the Gravettian and Upper Magdalenian.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses

Medina‐Alcaide

Vandevelde

Quilès

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…In this scheme, the archaeological evidence had made it possible to establish the chronology of events for the most recent periods of the network's functioning. Thus, with regard to human footprints, it was possible to highlight the reasons for their conservation and, above all, the specificity of their situation in this part of the cave (Ambert et al 2001). For our part, we coordinated in this program the study of the traces of torches on the walls of the Galerie des Pas (Galant et al 2007).…”

Section: Exceptional Deposit Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric Speleological Exploration in the Cave of Aldène in Cesseras (Hérault, France): Human Footprint Paths and Lighting Management

Galant¹,

Ambert²,

Colomer³

2021

Reading Prehistoric Human Tracks

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Aldène Cave is a system of 9 km of extent, on four hydrogeological levels. Within the first two fossil levels, which comprise more than half of the system, many archaeological remains have been discovered. They represent a continuum of more than 350,000 years of human history. On the second level, we find the Paul Ambert gallery, discovered in 1948 by the Abbé Dominique Cathala. This gallery contains many human traces, with footprints and marks of torches that were brought into the cave. A recent geomorphological study of these elements concerned registration and systematic analysis of the lighting marks, as well as an initial determination of the footprints. This work confirmed the contemporaneousness and functional link of these archaeological remains. Lighting management could be determined precisely with the traces on the walls and the remains discovered on the floor in connection with the footprints. These data, investigated with a spatial approach in relation to the cave network, clarify the prehistoric passages and allow an interpretation of the behaviour of visitors. All elements together form the picture of a family at a speleological investigation, which is attributed to the Mesolithic.

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“…In cave settings, they reached their peak between the 1970s and the early 2000s but were less developed Garcia 1985, 1986;Garcia 1986). Human and non-human tracks have been documented and studied in the caves of Niaux (Clottes and Simonnet 1972;Pales 1976;Garcia et al 1990), Pech Merle (Duday and Garcia 1983), Foissac (Garcia and Duday 1983), Aldène (Ambert et al 2000;Ambert et al 2001) and Chauvet Pont d'Arc (Garcia 2001(Garcia , 2005. Recently, interest in ichnology in the karst setting has re-emerged among prehistorians, who have resumed the study of tracks in several ornated caves such as the Tuc d'Audoubert (Bégouën et al 2009;Pastoors et al 2015; see Pastoors et al Chap.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproduce to Understand: Experimental Approach Based on Footprints in Cussac Cave (Southwestern France)

Ledoux

Bérillon

Fourment

et al. 2021

Reading Prehistoric Human Tracks

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The morphology of a track depends on many factors that must be considered when interpreting it. An experimental approach is often required to understand the influence of each of these factors, both at the time of the track formation and after its formation. These aspects, which are fairly well documented for tracks found in open-air settings, are much more limited for those found in karst settings. Although caves are stable environments enabling the preservation of archaeological remains, many taphonomical processes can alter the grounds and the walls. Based on the observations made on footprints found in Cussac Cave (Dordogne region of southwestern France), this study focuses on one of these natural phenomena and tests the impact of flooding episodes and the resulting clay deposits on the track’s morphology and topography. Our experiments show that although the general morphology of footprints and some details such as digits are preserved, their topography is altered by successive flooding episodes and clay deposits. The loss of definition of the footprints due to flooding episodes can also lead to misinterpretation. This work sheds new light on the Cussac footprints, while the further development of such experiments will allow us to improve our results and apply them to other settings and sites.

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Incursions spéléologiques mésolithiques dans la grotte d'Aldène (Cesseras, Hérault)

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses

35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses

Prehistoric Speleological Exploration in the Cave of Aldène in Cesseras (Hérault, France): Human Footprint Paths and Lighting Management

Reproduce to Understand: Experimental Approach Based on Footprints in Cussac Cave (Southwestern France)

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