dAf 41
ARBOGAST Rose-Marie, BLOUET Vincent, BOURA Frédérique et alii
Le Néolithique du nord-est de la France et des régions limitrophes
Actes du XIIIe colloque interrégional sur le Néolithique, Metz, octobre 1986
Organised for the first time in Lorraine, this 13th interregional meeting on the Neolithic quite naturally privileged the origins of this period in eastern France: important synthesis concerning the region as well as contributions related to adjoining Germany and Belgium are to be found. Amongst others, the question, still controversial, concerning the Rubané and Cardial influences on the French Neolithic is largely discussed here. Finally, several articles concerning later stages of the Neolithic, notably the Michelsberg, are presented here.
Abstract
Abstract
1. North-south relationships in western Europeduring the early Neolithic
J. ROUSSO-LARROQUE
The traditional model for the neolithisation has been that of a subdivision of France into two parts. The southern part was occuped by communities adopting Cardium impressed pottery. The northern and western part were admittedly submitted to a rather simple trend from east to west, the expansion of LBK groups and later related communities. However, the actual situation is more complex. In the atlantic coastal region, a western branch of the Cardial complex has been evidenced, stretching from the Pyrenees up to the Loire. In the main land develop early neolithic expressions originating neither from the Cardial, nor from the LBK direct influences. Such are the Roucadourien, in the southern part of Central France, or the La Hoguette style ceramic from Normandy to Alsace. Some of them appear unexpectedly early. Those non-Lbk western neighbours of the LBK complex could have inspired some features of early neolithic culturals groups, such as Blicquy and Villeneuve- Saint-Germain. On this basis, one may argue for a reversal of the "genealogical chronological" model. Being quite different from the LBK standards, these groups should not necessarily be Post- LBK. They should be influenced by earlier non-LBK cultures, and even be earlier themselves than the "pure" LBK expressions in Belgium or the Paris basin. For Atlantic Europe, arguments are set against the predominant model of an expanding colonization by the allochtonous Lbk complex alone, without any reference to the locally preexisting forms of culture and economy, already neolithic in a broad sense.
2. North-south relationships in western Europe during the early Neolithic: a northern point of vue
P.-L. VAN BERG, D. CAHEN
Classical theory suggests that the neolithicalisation of western Europe occured from east to west folowing two directions : one danubian (Rubané), limited to the south by the Loire, the other Cardial, confined to mediterranean region. The apparent absence of early neolithic material in the centre of France has for a long time given the impression that these two groups never entered into contact. However, numerous discoveries of the passed thirty years have revealed the existence of several entities distinct from the Rubané of the Paris bassin such as to the south of the Loire, where an impressed ceramique similair to the Cardial of the Atlantic coast and in central west france is attested. As the same time the existence of non-Cardial groups on the mediterranean coast, in the interior, in the Iberian peninsula and in Aquitaine is equally attested. Southern influences can be felt in most of the north-western groups is so much as rubané or non-rubané.
3. Recent research on the Rubané in the middle valley of the Moselle
E. SCHMIDGEN-HAGER
In the region of the middle Moselle (Wittlich bassin), the number of Rubané sites has increased. Besides classic situations on lower terraces, are finds now on middle and upper terraces. Evenmore, Limbourg ceramic in a Rubané context has been found on the site of Maring-Noviand. Occupation commenced during the middle Rubané and continued to the end of this period, Limbourg ceramic being associated during all the occupation of the site.
4. Relationships between the Rubané of south-west Germany with RRBP
H.-C. STRIEN
The study of the evolution of the RRBP style of the Aisne valley with the Rubané of south-west Germany and Alsace as enabled the classification of the early neolithic of the Paris basin into a relative chronology. A series of transversal studies, quantitative and qualitative, suggests a much earlier date than that generaly admitted for the RRBP.
5. The Rubané of Liège
M. OTTE
The favourable chemical and acid conditions of the valley bottom sites of Liège has enabled the reconstruction of diverse aspects of the environment. The most important aspect is the apparent association of a developed mesolithic industry (trapèzes, feuilles de gui) and several sherds of non-Rubané ceramic (limbourg or La Hoguette).
6. Origin and extension of the Alsace Rubané group
C. THÉVENIN
The survey of the ceramic material in the areas occupied during earlier periods by the Linear Pottery culture (periods I and II) to the east of the upper Rhine valley (valley of the Danube, of the Neckar, région du Ries) allows us to determine that Alsace (Bas and Haut-Rhin) was colonized from the middle valley of the neckar during period IIB. The most plausible route of this colonization is the way at the north and the centre of the Black Forest through the valley crossing this mountain from east to west. Later on, during the periods III and IV, the Rubané of the Bas-Rhin seems to become separated and to evolve in its own way; it plays a percursory part in some fields (pottery decoration, funerary ritual). Otherwise, the Rubané culture of the Haut-Rhin remains in close contact with the other groups settled in Southern Germany. If the groups of the Bas-Rhin don't seem to have spread out the area they settled around Strasbourg, the groups of the Haut-Rhin advance westwards towards the Bassin parisien through the Belfort Gap as early as the end of period II. In Champagne, the Rubané moyen champenois develops; it schows cultural features very similar to those of the period IIIB of the Rubané of the Haut-Rhin; this relationship lasts until period V. During period IV and perhaps at the end of period III of the Rubané Moyen Champenois, the groups of the Marne make their way towards the valleys of the Seine, Aisne and Yonne where a fusion with southern elements seems to take place, giving rise to the Rubané récent du Bassin parisien. ln Franche-Comté some rock-sheltered sites have provided some elements of the Rubané.
7. The Rubané of Lorraine
V. BLOUET, E. DECKER
The Lorraine has known during the early neolithic two zones of implantation: the first is centered in the middle valley of the Moselle between Metz and Sierck, the second is situated on the lower Vosges plain between Mirecourt and Epinal; A chronology for the lower valley of the Moselle presents six phases. The decorations have affinities with those of the Rhine-Maine group and the Rhine- Meuse for the eariest phases. In the more recent phases, privilaged relationships must have existed with the Maine-Neckar region. At the same period contacts must have existed with groups situated in the Paris bassin such as is illustrated by the use at Metz of flint imported from the region of Reims. The implantation of the Rubané on the lower Vosges plain from the Haut-Rhin occured during a later phase. The two groups developed in their final phase the "tremolo" technique and “T” motifs. The authors propose the hypothesis of a diffusion from east to west of the stylistic innovations.
8. Late Rubané of the Paris basin and of the haut-Rhin
M. ILETT, C. CONSTANTIN
Similarities and differences in Late Bandkeramik decorated ceramic from the Paris Basin and the Haut-Rhin (southern Alsace) are examined. The main difference is the greater frequency, in the Paris Basin, of use of combs with more than two teeth, of pivoted comb impression techniques, and of vertical T decoration. On the contrary, chevron decoration is more common in Alsace. Conception or rim and secondary decoration is identical in both regions.
9. A contribution towards the elaboration of a model concerning raw materials for the late neolithic in the Paris basin
M. PLATEAUX
This article examines lithic raw materials (stone, flint, sandstone, schist) in the Aisne valley (France) during the Neolithic (Rubané récent du Bassin parisien, Villeneuve-Saint-Germain and Cerny periods). A model is proposed for the origin of materials and exploitation patterns, the development of exchange networks and the definition of territories.
10. Villeneuve-la-Guyard and the Villeneuve-Saint-Germain group of the Yonne
M. PRESTREAU
For 20 years a large number of settlements have been excavated in the Yonne valley, to the south est of the Paris basin. Most of them remain unpublished. Examining all these sites, in particular the settlement of Villeneuve-la-Guyard, the following modifications to the chronological frame of the early Neolithic are proposed. The Villeneuve- Saint-Germain group could be divided in two parts: the earlier part seems to be a final "rubane", the youngest, still called Villeneuve-Saint-Germain group, appears to be the beginning of the Cerny group.
11. The use of the domestic architecture and social anthropology in the study of Neolithic societies. The Danubien exemple
A. COUDART
The house is a material construction which serves as much to dominate a physical (natural) environment as to organize a social environment. It is a very good indicator of the complexity of the phenomena which structure any society. In this respect, domestic architecture is a remarkable tool to understand the social equality which structures Neolithic Danubian groups as well as the regionalization which characterizes the transformation of the Bandkeramik cultural identity.
12. Archaeology and the logic of peripherisation:the Neolithic perforated quoins
J.-P. FARRUGGIA
With the help of dated perforated quoins (for the most part from burials), a sequence of 7 quoin categories (fig. 4) is proposed for the following cultures: the Lengyel-Céramique Pointillée and the Hinkelstein-Grossgartach-Rössen. despite the difficulties of diverse nature (rough manufacture of quoins, the reciprocal exclusion of ceramic and polished tools in alsacian burials at the end of the linear ceramic sequence, the absence of quoins in Rössen funerary material of southern Germany), dated evidence from the Rhine and the ex-GDR to refute the hypothesis of an imperceptable and rapid diffusion (fig. 7c), between the two neighbouring regions of Worms and Strasbourg. Clear indications of peripherisation concern the distribution (fig. 8) and movement (fig. 9). Ali communication routes are ignored, long or short, which join the valley of the Rhine and the Moselle, in so much as the quoins mosellans; discovered on the surface, are difficult to date. The Moselle region can however (fig. 10) be interpreted, for hypothesis, as the southwest periphery of the ex-GDR or like the Alsace compared as the region the most progressive of Worms: the "modern" Mosellan quoins having been introduced either by the middle Rhine, or by the Nahe or the Col de Saverne, and must be provisionally attributed in consequence; surface discoveries of complete quoins attest less the existence of hoards but more that of destroyed burials wounds, and the persistance of mortuary rites, known in the ex-GDR, and to not exclude perforated quoins (fig. 1 : 4) from funerary material.
13. Spatulas, statuettes, the state of thinking and the cult during the Neolithic
H. CARRÉ
The discovery of different worked bone with artifacts representing parts of the human body, chiefly in tombs, placed near the head of the dead, indicates the idea of a cult. The research carried out in Europe indicates that these representations follow the danubian tradition from the coast of the Black Sea and in that region, the spatulas were substituted by statuettes. The bisexed representations and the shapes of dibble define well, if it is necessary, a cult based on the fertility of the earth and the reproduction of animals and men.
14. Archaeozoological results from chasséen and Michelsberg sites of northem France and eastern limits
R.-M. ARBOGAST
This paper presents a synthesis of the principal caracteristics of the place and use of animals during the middle neolithic in the north of France. The evolution but also the intervening modifications since the early neolithic are equally outlined.
15. The Belgian Michelsberg and its relationships with ajoining countries
P.M. VERMEERSCH
The origin of the Belgian Michelsberg is to be situated about 5400-5300 B.P. in the Hainaut and northern France. The geographical site distribution, the occupation chronology, the utilisation of a flint temper for the ceramics and a renewed flint artifact series suggests that the Belgian MK populations were related to those from the Menneville group, the Cerny, the ancient MK and the Chassean of northern France. The rhenan influence is probably very reduced. Only at the end of the MK occupation the rhenan influence tends to become more important especially in northern Belgium which, elsewhere, seems to form a separate province with southern Holland, in which one can detect certain influences coming from England.
16. The discovery of a beaker settlement at Vandières (Meurthe-et-Moselle): first results
F. BOURA
The beaker settlement of Vandières / Les Grandes Corvées is situated in the alluvial valley of the Moselle. The beaker occupation levels were situated in a paleochannel cutting into the alluvial terrace. Excavation of 800 m2 has indicated that it comprises a unique level constituted by deposited material, disturbed shortly after the abandonment of the site. A pit deposit, perhaps a burial, comprised a beaker vessel at the foot of which was placed a flint striker and a fragment of iron pyrite. The ceramic artefacts comprised beaker vessels, decorated with "A.O.C." and "maritime" motifs, decorated coarse pottery, with suspension hotes and flat bases. The latter evoques the ceramic associated with the diffusion of beaker pottery or eventually a composant close to the late neolithic of the Paris basin.
