dAf 39
BLANCHET Jean-Claude, BULARD Alain, CONSTANTIN Claude
Le Néolithique au quotidien
Actes du XVIe colloque interrégional sur le Néolithique, Paris, novembre 1989
Within the framework of conferences dedicated to the neolithic period, the 16th meeting which took place in 1989 (Archaeology Year), was oriented towards the general public rather than professionals. It was organised to expose recent results of research on daily life, in particular settlements, food Production, the environment, techniques concerning ceramic production and the working of bone and lithic material. If specialists can find in these important publications precisions such as the characterisation of the Blicquy group, the non-specialist can discover the impact of man on the Mediterranean forest and the environment of western Armorica; and amongst others, a panorama of the bone industry up to the Bronze age. This diversified approach is a witness to the dynamism and the quality of recent research on the Neolithic.
Abstract
Abstract
1. Environment
1.1. Management and degradation of the mediterranean prehistoric forest
C. HEINZ, S. THIÉBAULT, J.-L. VERNET
Charcoal recovered in an archaeological context provides very often a good representative sample of the prehistoric vegetational environment. Today charcoal analysis provides essential data concerning our knowledge of the prehistoric Mediterranean forest. References to present exploitation are taken into consideration, notably that concerning wood for construction, fire wood and also the historic forest as a witness to agricultural practices. Prehistoric patterns and the contribution of anthracology to past ecosystems and its utilisation are especially studied.
1.2. The transformation of the Armorican Landscape under the influence of man
A. GEBHARDT, D. MARGUERIE
This paper reviews current environmental research (palynology, identification of wood charcoal, soil micromorphology) on human impact in Brittany from the end of the Mesolithic to the Neolithic. At the end of the Atlantic period, mixed oak-forest dominates much of the area, although a lack of forest cover is characteristic of a coastal belt of variable width. During the middle Neolithic there are the first signs of heath land development and cereal cultivation. Shortly before the Late Neolithic, human impact, largely in the form of slash and bum, is well advanced on the coasts. In the interior, soil erosion is less developed, and indications of human impact relate to later periods. At the end of the Neolithic, the deciduous forest recolonises the area, although heath lands continue to develop.
2. Habitat
2.1. Villeneuve-Saint-Germain occupation at the site of Longueil-Sainte-Marie / La Butte de Rhuis (Oise)
F. BOSTYN, F. PRODEO, B. VALENTIN
The site of La Butte de Rhuis II at Longueil-Sainte-Marie (Oise) has revealed two pits dating from the second stage of the V.S.G. period. The excellent state of preservation of the ceramic allows a detailed study of the fabrication and decoration techniques. Amongst the artifacts of the lithic industry, we can distinguish two different types of production according to the nature of the flints and the technical approaches which are undoubtedly distinct. The types of tools differ according to the nature of their mounts, and subsequently, to the material used. The study of this site adds to our knowledge of the Ancient Neolithic of the mid-valley of the river Oise.
2.2. The settlement of Longues-Raies at Jablines
A. BULARD, J. DEGROS, C. DROUHOT, P. DUHAMEL, J. TARRÊTE, avec la collaboration de R.-M. ARBOGAST, A. BOUQUILLON, H. DUDAY, C. ET G. FRUGIER, G. QUERRÉ, Y. TABORIN
During 1978-1979 a rescue excavation carried out in a quarry situated near Jablines in the Marne Valley (Seine-et- Marne) led to the excavation of a large neolithic building with associated pits and an inhumation. Despite heavy erosion, the interpretation of the general plan of the various structures has permitted the identification of a building of the danubian tradition: about fifty post-holes outline a plan slightly trapezoidal, 28 m long, varying in width from 4,50 m to 6 m, divided into 10 bays and surrounded by refuse pits. Although poor and fragmented, the artifacts recovered (lithic industry, ceramic, wild and domesticated fauna) indicates an attribution to the Villeneuve-Saint-Germain culture, perhaps in the latest phase if the radiocarbondate 5510 ± 140 (GIF 5002) is taken into consideration. The inhumation can be associated to this group, notably by the nature of the associated grave goods of remarkable quality: 4 bracelets, 2 in limestone and 2 in an extracted hard stone, pierced sea shells (placed around the head) and a chalk pearl pendant. Regardless of the mediocre conditions of conservation, the structured ensemble - the first attributed to the VSG to have been discovered in the Île-de-France- contributes to the study of neolithic settlements on the periphery of the mine of the Haut Chateau.
2.3. The organisation of the settlement at Charavines-les-Baigneurs (Isère)
A.-M. CHRISTIEN, A. BOCQUET
An in-depth quantitative spatial analysis, carried out in its entirety, is an approach not usually encountered in the study of drowned villages. In Charavines, however, this kind of archaeology research has proven to be particularly interesting. This study deals with only the latest level of occupation and with a sample of the artefacts. Nevertheless, this first step has increased our knowledge of the site's internal organization - synchronically and diachronically. This confirms and nuances the field hypothesis and the interpretations of the dendrochronological analysis. The main objective is to discuss the distribution of discards in comparison with dwelling's structures in order to identify possible functional differentiations within and between each building, and to define the distribution of production and consumption activities. The initial data concern, among other things, structure number one: there are, most probably, two dwellings; the term "structure number one" should then be applied to one room only which contains a hearth with an opening facing north-west, and which is preceded by a porch roof. The discard areas of several types: vast undifferentiated dumps formed by repeated depositions, domestic dumps, and refuse areas dispersed throughout. Concerning the diachronic aspect, it has been possible to furnish some supplementary details. For example, it is known that structure number three was abandoned, at the latest, seventeen years after founding of the village. The present results are partial but very encouraging, demonstrating the advantages of spatial analysis applied to a drowned village.
2.4. Open air settlements in Provence: recent research
A. D’ANNA
The excavation of neolithic settlements is not new in south eastern France, but until 1970, this type of site had only been the object of limited operations. In the last few years research has been developed in three directions: ”fouilles programmées” on hill-top settlements of the late neolithic; “fouilles de sauvetage” on early and middle neolithic settlements of western Provence; “fouilles de sauvetage" on middle and late neolithic settlements on plains and in river valleys due to large building projects. These different directions of research have resulted in an improvement of our knowledge, especially that concerning the late neolithic. This does not however concern all the neolithic nor the geographical area of Provence.
3. Culturals groups and their evolution
3.1. Rubané and the group of Blicquy at Vaux-et-Borset / Gibour (Hesbaye liégeoise)
C. CONSTANTIN, J.-P. CASPAR, A. HAUZEUR, L. BURNEZ, I. SIDERA, J. DOCQUIER, C. LOUBOUTIN, F. TROMME
The site of Vaux-et-Borset produced Bandkeramik features: some of which were stratigraphically inter-related. These included pits, storage-pits, a building and a large enclosure ditch. Eighteen Blicquy group pits, including several construction pits, were discovered in a neighbouring but separated sector of the site. A complete range of finds from the Blicquy features are indicative of a permanent agricultural settlement of this group in Hesbaye. The very small number of mixed finds between the two occupations, together with stratigraphic information from the fill of the enclosure ditch, argue for the non contemporaneity of the Bandkeramik and the Blicquy group.
3.2. The transition of the early : middle neolithic in the valley of Petite-Seine
A. AUGEREAU, C. LEROYER, A. TRESSET
Lithic, zooarchaeological and palynological analyses of Neolithic sites in the Petite Seine valley (Seine-et-Marne and Aube) show profound techno-economical changes during period of the Early to Middle Neolithic transition (VSG culture / Cerny culture):
- in lithic technology, blade-knapping by indirect percussion is abandoned and simple flake-knapping with a large proportion of flake-scrapers made from local flint becomes the main technique;
- in the provision of meat, the proportion of hunted animals (especially red deer) increases; at the same time, sheep and goat husbandry seems to decline;
- the palynological sequences of Noyen show an increased impact of Man during Middle Neolithic.
These changes, which seem to appear rapidly, indicate the breakdown of the Danubian culture entity. Their causes could be connected with a reorganization of production systems and resource management.
3.3. The late neollthic enclosures of Diconche at Saintes (Charente- Maritime)
Since 1987 a rescue excavation on the Diconche .causewayed camp at Saintes has made possible the chance to investigate one of the numerous recent / late neolithic sites along the valley of-the Charente and its tributaries. Three following phases have 50 far been detected:
- a primary single ditched enclosure belonging to the Peu-Richard culture un within which a refuse pit had been excavated during an occupation by a new cultural group radiocarbon dated to around 4500 B.P.; it was superseded by a double ditched causewayed enclosure during the Artenac ± 4200 B.P. (chantier 3);
- a large circular pit, still under excavation has been quarried during the Peu-Richard and used as a dump by the Artenac (chantier 4);
- an extension of the site during this last cultural phase by a multiphased causewayed enclosures with two "crab claws" timbered entrances and possibly steles which an engraved stone fragment suggests (chantier 5).
4. Food
4.1. Recent results on agriculture and food gathering during the early / middle neolithic in northern France
P. MARINVAL
Neolithic agriculture in Northern France is still badly known. Therefore, all supplementary data is precious. ln this context a new table of the production of cultivated species is presented.
4.2. The use of ceramic and the food regime
R. MARTINEZ
The ethno-archaeological approach of the pottery may help to understand better that, before it was a sherd, the ware had a function Correlating functional evidence (based on the morphology of the pots), technological signs, ethno-archaeological patterns and internal or external traces, leads to the definition of functional categories. Reasoning by frequency under the form of evolutive trends gives prominence to the tact that the categories are not stable: the disappearance of some of them for the benefit: of others, the technological development, and the modification of the tire structures, lead us to consider about the change of food habits.
4.3. Bone remains of the Rubané north-eastern France
R.-M. ARBOGAST
This study aims to contribute to our knowledge of food production during the early the neolithic in north-eastern France. Based on the analyses of groups of animal remains collected on linear band ceramic (Rubané) sites of the Alsace and Champagne regions, precisions are given on the role of different animal species as well as their management within the food supply system of the first agro-pastoral communities in this region. Brought into evidence is the marginal role of hunting and allows to put aside ideas concerning its evolution during the linear band ceramic period. It also establishes that meat consumption was essentially assured by the exploitation of domesticated livestock. Cattle represent the principal resource. The rearing of pig on most sites indicates a more important development than that of goats and constitutes the second source of meat supply. The role of the different domesticated species envolved during the linear band ceramic period and is marked by a diversified exploitation of domesticated livestock resources. It is caracterised by the reduction of cattle compared to pig and goat. Herd management is carried out mostly by the selection of young animals for slaughter, the older animals being kept for reproduction purposes. Comparisons with evidence from eastern and central european sites have outlined new features of the food economy of the first village communities of this region and tend more particularly to underline the importance of contacts with the Rhineland.
4.4. Neolithic fishing weights from the Loire
M. PHILIBERT
Weights (notched pebbles) for fishing nets are infrequent. Two settlements have produced them in the department of the Loire: Rives (Commune of Amions) and the chasseen house of Les Marais (Cleppé). They are used for sinking tishing nets in rivers or ponds. The site of Les Marais has produced twelve notched pebbles. Three were located close to the south side of a building within a working area, while three others were found inside associated with domestic pottery.
5. Collection and analysis of raw material
5.1. The role of bone in the activities of neolithic man and the metal ages
H. CAMPS-FABRER
During the Neolithic and post-neolithic periods, techniques improve: percussion, the manufacture of splinters using the technique of double grooving, scraping, polishing, abrasion, sawing with sanded string, hollowing-out, and the decortication of deer antler. Double points, harpoons and hooks were used for hunting and fishing.. During the bronze age, elements of bridle bits are associated with the domestication of horses. Axes, pick-axes, hoes are often interpreted as agricultural tools. Picks and levers were used to extract flint, the «chasse-lame »technique for making flint implements. Various points could be used by vanners and leathers workers. Needles and antler points were used for making and repairing nets. Textile combs, spindle whorls and needles can be associated with textile production. The cutting of textiles could be carried out using cutting implements often inserted into slots in deer antler. If the use of deer antler drinking vessels remains enigmatic, bone spoons appear with the development of cereal based meals. Dress ornament becomes diversified.
5.2. Preliminary study of the mining site of Serbonnes / Le Revers de Brossard(Yonne)
J. HASCOET, P.-A. DE LABRIFFE, M. MENDOZA Y ALMEIDA
On the future emplacement of the A5 motorway the flint mining complex of Serbonnes was discovered. Situated on the chalk plateau of the Séronais, close to the Yonne valley, this complex covers at least 2 ha and comprises at least 400 mine shafts of which three have 50 far been investigated. They are variable in form and present complex fillings. One or may be two flint beds have been exploited. The cores are coming from the lower champanian chalk (C4-6h). The artefacts found are: small quantities of flakes, small sherds and antler tools. The excavations at Serbonnes and on other mines, which will be destroyed by future motorway construction, should provide a detailed study of raw material exploitation by the neolithic population of the Séronais area.
5.3. The Pinacle, Jersey : a polished stone axe factory in the Channel Islands
M.-A. PATTON
The site of Le Pinacle, Jersey, is an important multiphase site, with horizons dating to the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Gallo-Roman periods. Recent research suggests that the site functioned as a stone axe production centre during the first half of the 5th Millennium B.C. Petrological analysis of Channel Island stone axes has resulted in the identification of a characteristic dolerite (referred to in this article as «Type P »), the origin of which is almost certainly the site of Le Pinacle. Axes of «Type P » dolerite have been identified in collections from Guemsey, Aldemey and Sark as well as Jersey, and account for over 20% of stone axes known from the Channel-Islands.
5.4. Lithic industries of the Danubien neolithic in the Aisne valley
M. PLATEAUX
This article aims to measure the quality of a lithic assemblage from a settlement context where the former soil horizons have not been preserved. An evaluation is made of quantitative and qualitative constraints on the finds from neolithic (Rubané and Villeneuve-Saint-Germain) settlements in the Aisne valley. Some methods are proposed for quantifying and defining the original lithic production.
