Transformations des productions lithiques du premier au second Mésolithique en Bretagne et en Irlande

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the available factors of the transformation of lithic production during the Mesolithic in north-west Europe on the basis of examples from Brittany and Ireland, at the turn of the 7th millennium cal. BC. Changes in lithic productions in these two areas -concerning all stages of the "chaîne opératoire”, i. e. techniques, methods and end products - are so important that it is possible to speak about a before and an after 7th millennium, or an Early and a Late Mesolithic. Many reasons can be advanced for these changes as a technical or economical shift due to environmental changes or a transformation of exploitation strategies of the available resources. However our study shows that the transformation of lithic production must be regarded as a shift in social organization of these communities, even if the causes of the social modification are still unknown.

Les lames à coche du second Mésolithique : des outils dédiés au travail des plantes ?

“…Dans l'immédiat, il semble que les bases économiques et sociales de ces peuples de chasseurs-cueilleurs ne connaissent pas de révolution majeure durant le VII e millénaire, les traces de domestication animales ou végétales étant bien évanescentes et sujettes à caution (Marchand, 1999 ;Costa et Marchand, 2006 ;Marchand et Ard, 2009). La piste des changements environnementaux a été également empruntée récemment pour expliquer l'origine du phénomène ou certains aspects de son développement.…”

The First Mesolithic in the French Alps: New data from La Grande Rivoire rockshelter (Vercors range, Isère, France)

“…In this study, we chose to divide the period into a First and a Second Mesolithic following Costa and Marchand (2006) and Marchand (2008). This division values a break between axial points and triangle industries made on irregular blanks by direct percussion and trapezes made on larger and regular blanks obtained by indirect percussion.…”

No pottery at the western periphery of Europe: why was the Final Mesolithic of Britain and Ireland aceramic?

“…6500–7500 cal BC), the occurrence of hollow-based microlith forms within southern Britain and northern France during the French Middle Mesolithic (8000–6500 cal BC; Ghesquiére & Marchand 2011) suggests that sea-level rise did not sever these links. Synchronicity between the Irish Early/Late Mesolithic and French ‘premiere/seconde’ transitions have been noted (Costa & Marchand 2006), and may indicate a cultural dialogue between these regions between 7000 and 6000 cal BC (Warren 2015). This suggests a significant history of contact between Britain, Ireland and mainland Europe prior to 5000 cal BC.…”