Reconstructing palaeoenvironmental conditions faced by Mousterian hunters during MIS 5 to 3 in southwestern France: A multi-scale approach using data from large and small mammal communities

Discamps, Emmanuel; Royer, Aurélien

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2016.02.067

Cited by 42 publications

(58 citation statements)

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“…The approach detailed here allows more robust explorations of Neanderthal paleobiology and prehistoric environmental conditions than conventional assessment of associated fauna or geological signatures ( 30 ). Broader applications may also help to clarify the purported relationship between climate variation and technological innovation in members of the genus Homo ( 1 , 2 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wintertime stress, nursing, and lead exposure in Neanderthal children

et al. 2018

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wintertime stress, nursing, and lead exposure in Neanderthal children

et al. 2018

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“…The Middle Palaeolithic occupations of Combe-Grenal are currently beyond the limits of conventional radiocarbon dating. However, several regional syntheses of changes in faunal communities proposed the upper part of the Combe-Grenal sequence to span the period from MIS 5 (130-82 ka) to the beginning of MIS 3 (57-29 ka) (Discamps et al, 2011;Faivre et al, 2014;Discamps and Royer, 2017). Faunal data from on-going excavations has, however, highlighted substantial recovery biases in Bordes' faunal collections (Discamps and Faivre, 2017), calling into question previously proposed chronological models (Guadelli and Laville, 1990;Discamps et al, 2011;Morin et al, 2014).…”

Section: The Combe-grenal Sequence: Archaeological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 98%

Manganese and iron oxide use at Combe-Grenal (Dordogne, France): A proxy for cultural change in Neanderthal communities

Dayet

Faivre

Bourdonnec

et al. 2019

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Neanderthal material culture patterning in Western Europe has been primarily approached from retouched stone tools and associated flake production methods. While considerable effort has been devoted over the past decade to better characterize Middle Palaeolithic lithic techno-complexes (LTCs) in this region, the extent to which they reflect cultural groups still remains unclear. In this respect, integrating other forms of archaeological evidence could provide valuable insights on the cultural significance of late Middle Palaeolithic industrial variability. The site of Combe-Grenal (Dordogne, France) has yielded consistent evidence of mineral pigment use throughout the upper part of the sequence. Here we explore whether mineral pigments might be embedded with an indexical meaning and if changes in pigment exploitation potentially reflect cultural changes. We combined a microscopic use-wear approach with SEM-EDS, pXRF, and XRD analyses of 73 pigment fragments from layers 26 to 11 in order to reconstruct the different stages of their acquisition and use (provenance, selection, processing, function). Our results show manganese oxides to have been used in the lower layers of the Quina LTC, while red and/or yellow iron oxide pieces were employed during the Discoid and Discoid/ Levallois LTCs. This decrease in manganese oxide use correlates with a change in lithic technology and may represent some form of cultural change.

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“…4) show a pattern similar to what we had already found at the nearby sites of Roc de Marsal and Pech IV: there are substantial periods in the sequence exhibiting low percentages of heated lithics, which is evidence for less frequent fires, and, with the exception of Layer 20, the greater evidence for fire is limited to MIS 5 or earlier deposits that are associated with milder climates. Note that the Combe Grenal sequence is undated, so our climate reconstructions and chronology are based on the work of Morin et al (2014) and Discamps (2011;Discamps and Royer 2017), as well as the previously published palynological (Paquereau 1974), paleontological (Bordes et al 1966;Chase 1986;Guadelli and Laville 1988;Bouchud 1966;Delpech and Prat 1995), and geological (Laville 1975) evidence.…”

Section: How Well Does the Evidence Hold Up At Other Sites?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Were Western European Neandertals Able to Make Fire?

et al. 2018

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Significant variability has been observed in the frequency of fire use over the course of the Late Pleistocene at several Middle Paleolithic sites in southwest France. In particular, Neandertals appear to have used fire more frequently during warm climatic periods and very infrequently during cold periods. After reviewing several lines of evidence and alternative explanations for this variability, the null hypothesis that these Neandertals were not able to make fire still stands.

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Reconstructing palaeoenvironmental conditions faced by Mousterian hunters during MIS 5 to 3 in southwestern France: A multi-scale approach using data from large and small mammal communities

Cited by 42 publications

References 101 publications

Wintertime stress, nursing, and lead exposure in Neanderthal children

Wintertime stress, nursing, and lead exposure in Neanderthal children

Manganese and iron oxide use at Combe-Grenal (Dordogne, France): A proxy for cultural change in Neanderthal communities

Were Western European Neandertals Able to Make Fire?

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