The karst of the Vaucluse, an exceptional record for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the Late-glacial period palaeoenvironment of southeastern France

Crégut-Bonnoure, Évelyne; Argant, Jacqueline; Bailón, Salvador; Boulbes, Nicolas; Bouville, Claude; Buisson-Catil, Jacques; Débard, Evelyne; Desclaux, Emmanuel; Fietzke, Jan; Fourvel, Jean‐Baptiste; Frèrebeau, Nicolas; Kuntz, Delphine; Krzepkowska, Jadwiga; Laudet, Frédéric; Lachenal, Thibault; Lateur, Nicolas; Manzano, Alaric; Marciszak, Adrian; Margarit, Xavier; Mourer‐Chauviré, Cecile; Oppliger, Julien; Roger, Thierry; Teacher, Amber G. F.; Thinon, Michel

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.10.058

Cited by 9 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…They stopped their investigation in 1973 [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Our investigations began in 2007 and are still in progress [2,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The material is stored in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Avignon (Requien Museum).…”

Section: Presentation Of Coulet Des Roches (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our investigations began in 2007 and are still in progress [2,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. The sediments extracted by the spelunkers from 1971 to 1973 were screened, and contained modern, Holocene (Atlantic and Subboreal periods [2,18]) and Pleistocene species. At the bottom of the hole, a sequence comprising three main stratigraphic units was identified [2].…”

Section: Presentation Of Coulet Des Roches (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sediments extracted by the spelunkers from 1971 to 1973 were screened, and contained modern, Holocene (Atlantic and Subboreal periods [2,18]) and Pleistocene species. At the bottom of the hole, a sequence comprising three main stratigraphic units was identified [2]. Today, five stratigraphic units have been defined (US) [17].…”

Section: Presentation Of Coulet Des Roches (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a sector located at the base of the south-western corner of the chamber, an earthy layer (US4) is dated to GI 10-11 ("Hengelo" interpleniglacial; MIS 3), on the basis of a Cervus elaphus radiocarbon date [2]. It seems to result from the draining of a crack.…”

Section: The Lgm and Lg Infillings (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Up until now, in the east of Southern France, and more precisely in the Provence area, data relating to the environmental transformation from the LGM to the climatic optimum were confined to several archaeological sites and our knowledge of the fauna was limited to the large mammals hunted by man. Recently, several small pits, about ten feet deep, were discovered near the Vaucluse highlands [2] (Figure 1). They acted as natural traps for the local fauna.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Insights into the LGM and LG in Southern France (Vaucluse): The Mustelids, Micromammals and Horses from Coulet des Roches

et al. 2018

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Coulet des Roches is a natural karst trap in Southern France. Its infilling dates back to the end of the Pleniglacial (Last Glacial Maximum, LGM) and the end of the Tardiglacial (Last Glacial, LG). Three mustelid species have been identified in this infilling: the common polecat (Mustela putorius, minimum number of individuals (MNI) = 4), the stoat (Mustela erminea, MNI = 14) and the weasel (Mustela nivalis, MNI = 48). The common polecat remains are metrically and morphologically indistinguishable from recent European specimens. The smallest mustelids are mainly represented by average-sized specimens, which are slightly smaller than extant species. A partial weasel skeleton of an extremely small pygmy weasel, regarded as a typical glacial element, was also discovered. Sexual dimorphism is strongly pronounced. Seventeen horses have been identified, corresponding to the chrono subspecies Equus ferus gallicus. The analysis of the muzzles and metapodials shows overall adaptation to cool and dry weather conditions. The ibexes are typical of Capra ibex (MNI = 15). The p3 morphology is similar to the LGM populations located on the southern side of the Durance River, with an important dilation of the metaconid, except for the oldest LGM specimen. This dilation is older on the southern side of the Durance River, as it occurs at the end of MIS 3. This difference could reflect the barrier role of the Durance River. Micromammals are abundant (mostly related to rodents and shrews; 18 genera/species; MNI = 470). The paleoecological study highlighted important and rapid climatic and environmental fluctuations throughout the sequence. As a result of climatic fluctuations, the plains constituted a corridor for the migration of temperate species to Provence during cold periods (“southern refuge zone”) and their re-immigration to Western Europe during temperate episodes. In a related and complementary way, the highland areas not only played a natural role as a geographical barrier, but also constituted a refuge zone during interglacial episodes for some micromammal species originating from northern and eastern parts of Europe (“cryptic southern refugia”).

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Section: Presentation Of Coulet Des Roches (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Presentation Of Coulet Des Roches (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Presentation Of Coulet Des Roches (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Lgm and Lg Infillings (Ecb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Insights into the LGM and LG in Southern France (Vaucluse): The Mustelids, Micromammals and Horses from Coulet des Roches

et al. 2018

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Identifying the accidental‐natural mortality of leporids in the archaeological record: insights from a taphonomical analysis of a pitfall without evidence of human presence

Pelletier

Desclaux

Mallye

et al. 2020

J Quaternary Science

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Leporids (Lagomorpha, Mammalia), especially the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), have been among the most abundant small game in western Europe since the Pleistocene. These animals are preferred prey for more than 40 predators, which increases the chances of finding their skeletal remains at archaeological or natural sites, and in particular karstic formations alternately occupied by Palaeolithic human societies and other predators. Moreover, specific eco‐ethological characteristics for both species also offer the possibility to produce a substantial quantity of their bones accumulated by natural mortality without predation, making it more difficult to identify their origin in the fossil record. Despite this fact, the taphonomic signature of accidental‐natural accumulations of leporids in karsts, such as pitfalls, has never been properly characterised. In order to address these issues, we carried out a detailed taphonomic study of leporid remains in a pitfall without any evidence of human activity, namely at Coulet des Roches (Monieux, Vaucluse, south‐eastern France). At this site, leporids are the most abundant species throughout the Last Glacial Maximum sedimentary sequence. The bone accumulation was analysed in order to determine the most relevant criteria to identify a natural accumulation that results from the accidental fall of individuals in the pitfall. The relative proportions of each species are consistent with their current ethology, and their mortality profiles are compatible with the structure of a living natural population. The completeness rate of the different skeletal portions for both species is relatively high, bones are less fragmented and, unlike what might be expected, very few anatomical connections were preserved. The observed anatomical representation, breakage, and bone surface modification patterns are discussed and compared with available data concerning accumulations with predation. Taken together, the identified criteria contribute valuable help in the recognition of accidental mortality in the fossil record, as well as to evaluate the proportion of leporid bones accumulated naturally and those accumulated by predation, human or not, in a deposit.

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Avian remains from new Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Spanish Pyrenees

Núñez‐Lahuerta

Galán

Sauqué

et al. 2018

Quaternary International

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The karst of the Vaucluse, an exceptional record for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the Late-glacial period palaeoenvironment of southeastern France

Cited by 9 publications

References 20 publications

New Insights into the LGM and LG in Southern France (Vaucluse): The Mustelids, Micromammals and Horses from Coulet des Roches

New Insights into the LGM and LG in Southern France (Vaucluse): The Mustelids, Micromammals and Horses from Coulet des Roches

Identifying the accidental‐natural mortality of leporids in the archaeological record: insights from a taphonomical analysis of a pitfall without evidence of human presence

Avian remains from new Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Spanish Pyrenees

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