Mobiliers céramiques de l’âge du Bronze de la grotte de La Fourbine à Saint-Martin-de-Crau (Bouches-du-Rhône)

Abstract

This paper proposes the publication of significant ceramics collected at various times between 1940 and 1980 in the cave of La Fourbine in Saint-Martin-de-Crau (Bouches-du-Rhône), remained mainly unpublished. By lack of precise stratigraphic context, we opted for a classification using the typochronology, obtained by comparison with many sites of southern France, of the Rhône Valley and surrounding areas. The Early Bronze Age corresponds to the first stage of this period in southern France: the style of the Camp de Laure characterized by barbed wire decorations. The Middle Bronze Age shows typological connections with Italy, which are reduced over time in favor of the lower Rhone valley. The Late Bronze Age 1 clearly shows a ceramic style specific of the lower Rhone valley, however oriented towards the northern area. This situation extends at The Late Bronze Age 2b, under limited impact of the "Rhin-Suisse-France orientale" group. At the Late Bronze Age 3a and 3b, the southern styles are even more independent from the contemporary facies. Regarding the quantity of ceramics brought to light, the Late Bronze Age 1 and 2b seem to correspond to the main moments of the occupation of the cave. Secondarily, the occupation is also significant in the Late Bronze Age and Middle Bronze Age.