Le gisement acheuléen de La Grande Vallée à Colombiers (Vienne, France) : stratigraphie, processus de formation, datations préliminaires et industries lithiques

Hérisson, David; Airvaux, Jean; Lenoble, Arnaud; Richter, Daniel; Claud, Émilie; Prieto, Jérôme

doi:10.4000/paleo.2329

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…The retouch scars that form the cutting edges occur on the apex and on the less thick edge. This kind of structure, defined as backed biface, is known in the French Acheulian (fig 17:1, [ 51 ]) (fig 7:4, [ 52 ] (figs 16.5 and 91.2, [ 53 ]) and younger Middle Paleolithic industries [ 54 ]. In some cases (like in TP 12; Fig F in S1 File ) shaping is limited to the distal part and the rest of the edge is unworked (with cortex or a natural surface).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Acheulian and Early Middle Paleolithic in Latium (Italy): Stability and Innovation

et al. 2016

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We present here the results of a technological and typological analysis of the Acheulian and early Middle Paleolithic assemblages from Torre in Pietra (Latium, Italy) together with comparisons with the Acheulian small tools of Castel di Guido. The assemblages were never chronometrically dated before. We have now 40Ar/39Ar dates and ESR-U-series dates, within a geomorphological framework, which support correlations to marine isotope stages. The Acheulian (previously correlated to MIS 9) is now dated to MIS 10 while the Middle Paleolithic is dated to MIS 7. Lithic analyses are preceded by taphonomic evaluations. The Levallois method of the Middle Paleolithic assemblage is an innovation characterized by the production of thin flake blanks without cortex. In contrast, the small tool blanks of the Acheulian were either pebbles or thick flakes with some cortex. They provided a relatively easy manual prehension. The choice of Levallois thin flake blanks in the Middle Paleolithic assemblage suggest that the new technology is most likely related to the emergence of hafting. Accordingly, the oldest direct evidence of hafting technology is from the site of Campitello Quarry in Tuscany (Central Italy) where birch-bark tar, found on the proximal part of two flint flakes, is dated to the end of MIS 7. Nevertheless, a peculiar feature of the Middle Paleolithic at Torre in Pietra is the continuous presence of small tool blanks on pebbles and cores and on thick flake albeit at a much lower frequency than in the older Acheulian industries. The adoption of the new technology is thus characterized by innovation combined with a degree of stability. The persistence of these habits in spite of the introduction of an innovative technique underlies the importance of cultural transmission and conformity in the behavior of Neandertals.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Acheulian and Early Middle Paleolithic in Latium (Italy): Stability and Innovation

et al. 2016

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“…The first assemblages with bifacial tools in Europe are much younger. The usual hypothesis is that the first Acheulean evidence appears at around 600 ka in southern Europe, followed by a rapid colonization of the northwest at 500 ka [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] . This first occurrence could be older [22] , but this has not yet been firmly established (sites of Solana del Zamborino and Cueva Negra Quipar).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Evidence of Acheulean Settlement in Northwestern Europe - La Noira Site, a 700 000 Year-Old Occupation in the Center of France

et al. 2013

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The human settlement of Europe during Pleistocene times was sporadic and several stages have been recognized, both from paleaoanthropological and archaeological records. If the first phase of hominin occupation (as early as 1.4 Ma) seems mainly restricted to the southern part of the continent, the second phase, characterized by specific lithic tools (handaxes), is linked to Acheulean settlements and to the emergence of Homo heidelbergensis, the ancestor of Neanderthals. This phase reached northwestern Europe and is documented in numerous sites in Germany, Great Britain and northern France, generally after 600 ka.At la Noira (Brinay, Central France), the Middle Pleistocene alluvial formation of the Cher River covers an archaeological level associated with a slope deposit (diamicton). The lithic assemblage from this level includes Large Cutting Tools (LCTs), flakes and cores, associated with numerous millstone slabs. The lithic series is classified as Acheulean on the basis of both technological and typological analyses. Cryoturbation features indicate that the slope deposits and associated archaeological level were strongly frozen and disturbed after hominin occupation and before fluvial deposition. Eight sediment samples were dated by the electron spin resonance (ESR) method and the weighted average age obtained for the fluvial sands overlying the slope deposits is 665±55 ka. This age is older than previous chronological data placing the first European Acheulean assemblages north of 45th parallel north at around 500 ka and modifies our current vision of the initial peopling of northern Europe. Acheulean settlements are older than previously assumed and the oldest evidences are not only located in southern Europe. La Noira is the oldest evidence of Acheulean presence in north-western Europe and attests to the possibility of pioneering phases of Acheulean settlement which would have taken place on a Mode 1-type substratum as early as 700 ka. The lithic assemblage from la Noira thus provides behavioral and technological data on early Acheulean occupation in Europe and contributes to our understanding of the diffusion of this tradition.

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“…Nevertheless, absolute age estimates for this period have been few from fluvial sequences (e.g. Voinchet et al ., ; Hérisson et al ., ; Antoine et al ., ) and the preponderance of dating information comes from other techniques, such as the relative position of the deposits within the river terrace succession (e.g. Bridgland, ; Antoine, ; Antoine et al ., , , 2015), from mammalian and molluscan biostratigraphy (Keen, , ; Preece, , ; Schreve, ; Bridgland and Schreve, ; Schreve et al ., ) and from aminostratigraphy (Penkman et al ., ).…”

Section: The Current Chronological Framework For Acheulean Occupationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Editorial: Chronology, palaeoenvironments and subsistence in the Acheulean of western Europe

Schreve

Moncel

Bridgland

2015

J Quaternary Science

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Le gisement acheuléen de La Grande Vallée à Colombiers (Vienne, France) : stratigraphie, processus de formation, datations préliminaires et industries lithiques

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

The Acheulian and Early Middle Paleolithic in Latium (Italy): Stability and Innovation

The Acheulian and Early Middle Paleolithic in Latium (Italy): Stability and Innovation

Early Evidence of Acheulean Settlement in Northwestern Europe - La Noira Site, a 700 000 Year-Old Occupation in the Center of France

Editorial: Chronology, palaeoenvironments and subsistence in the Acheulean of western Europe

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