Landscape Evolution and Human Settlement in the Iroise Sea (Brittany, France) during the Neolithic and Bronze Age

Abstract

International audienceThe Molène archipelago appears to be particularly rich in Neolithic and Bronze Age remains and an exceptional concentration of megaliths has been brought to light. Several settlements are confirmed by dry-stone structures or by shell middens. These data give precious indications on the occupation chronology of the area. Moreover they allow us, for the first time in Brittany, to reconstruct everyday life during the late Prehistoric period.A prerequisite to this reconstruction was a better understanding of the evolution of the environment during this period, which locally implies a better knowledge of paleogeographic changes related to Holocene sea-level rise as well as on floral and faunal resources. The results obtained through paleogeographic reconstructions show that the archipelago since 4500 BC was already disconnected from the mainland. The megalithic monuments must therefore have been erected and used by islanders present on the archipelago from the middle of the 5th to the 2nd millennium BC. The distribution of the megalithic tombs reveals landscape occupation strategies which respond to both cultural choices and natural constraints. Throughout the entire period, geographic isolation has continued to increase, although it did not imply strong cultural specificities. Nevertheless, the increasing remoteness of the islands has fostered the search for livelihoods based on the intense exploitation of coastal resources. Despite their focus on the sea, these people did not neglect what inland areas could offer as evidenced by the early agro-pastoral practices in the archipelago

The Stone Tidal Fish Weirs of the Molène Archipelago, Iroise Sea, Brittany, Western France: a long‐term tradition with early megalithic origins

“…Besides these specific and quite logical traits of the insular diet, everyday life on these islands was very similar to that on the continent to the east. All the standard traits of mainland Neolithic culture (agriculture, animal breeding, new technical systems, megalithic funerary monuments, and so on) are found on the islands, moreover some imports of material from the continent have been highlighted (Pailler et al ., ).…”

“…Strong cultural links were maintained between the insular and continental populations, as highlighted by the studies of stone and ceramic industries (Pailler et al. , , ). The abundance of faunal remains, whether marine (fish, mammals, molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms) or terrestrial (mammals and birds), also provide an insight into these insular populations’ diet and methods of resource use.…”

“…From these data, Pailler et al . () proposed a model of palaeogeographic changes by simulating the relative rise of sea level on the topo‐bathymetric data available. This approach is approximate but likely reliable because there is little sedimentation in the subtidal area.…”

“…Over the past 10 years, an extensive programme of archaeological research has been conducted on these islands, coupled with the construction of a model of Holocene palaeogeographic changes (Pailler et al ., ), which highlights significant coastal variations over the past 8000–7000 years. An exceptional concentration of archaeological remains has provided a detailed overview of the island communities whose subsistence was based on intensive exploitation of marine resources in an environment characterized by a great biodiversity.…”

“…An exceptional concentration of archaeological remains has provided a detailed overview of the island communities whose subsistence was based on intensive exploitation of marine resources in an environment characterized by a great biodiversity. Issues surrounding strategies developed by the past insular communities in response to the evolution of: i) coastal environments; ii) climate; and iii) natural resources is at the heart of the discussions initiated about these islands (Stéphan et al ., ; Pailler et al ., ). The several shell middens, funerary monuments and domestic sites excavated have delivered a large quantity of skeletal remains of ichthyofauna (Dréano et al ., ; Pailler et al ., ; Gandois et al ., , , 2017a, ).…”