dAf 43
TABORIN Yvette
Environnements et habitats magdaléniens dans le centre du Bassin parisien
The application of different analytical methods (sedimentology, malacology, palynology, anthracology, micromorphology, archaeozoology, radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dating) to a research . programme has brought together information’s concerning the way Magdalenian groups were implanted and organised in the centre of the Paris basin. In this synthesis, the interaction of all these results are coordinated, which enables the render to discover and appreciate the multiplicity of contacts established between the prehistoric communities observed and their environment on one hand, and between prehistorians and their subject on the other.
Abstract
Abstract
Part 1 - The natural environment and its exploitation
1. Climats and landscapes
1.1. The physical environment
A. ROBLIN-JOUVE
The Magdalenian sites concerned by this study are set on the loess covered slopes and particularly on the lower levels of the Seine valley and its tributaries. They can be used to establish a chronostratigraphy of late Pleistocene and Holocene of the centre of the Paris basin, set on loess - deposits and alluvia. They indicate that during late glacial period, large amounts of loess and fine sands were transported while the bottom of the valley acquired its present aspect. The four main Magdalenian sites of Etiolles, Marsangy, Pincevent and Verberie had been preserved on the top of these alluvial accumulation sequences.
1.2. The climats in Pincevent : data trom the observations on deposite
M. ORLIAC
In Pincevent silts, the presence of coarse materials, the structure of the deposits, the absence of the erosion and bioturbation, the stratigraphical and topographical repartition of Magdalenian artefacts, give informations on the climate and also on the river's level during the summer, on the importance and regularity of river's swelling, and also on the nature and quantity of the atmospheric water's precipitations. These informations allow one to reconstitute the weather during Magdalenian's occupations: rather dry and moderately cold ; each occupation was followed by abundant falls of snow; during the spring, strong flood was probably increased by the accumulation of an ice dam downstream.
1.3. Malacology : a contribution to the ecology and to the chronology of Magdalenian settlements
P. RODRIGUEZ
In the centre of the Paris basin, the study of alluvial molluscans provides us information about ecological context of the magdalenian settlements : Étiolles, Pincevent, Marsangy and Verberie. According to the isotopic datas, the chronological position in the lateglacial can be discussed for each site.
1.4. The vegetational land scape of the late glacial period: the results of palynological studies
C. LEROYER
As the pollen analysis from the Magdalenian sites of the Paris basin has been unsuccessful, peat-bog palynological studies are the most important source of information with respect to late-glacial vegetation. However, these data are general because peat-bogs are often far from the Magdalenian settlements, palynological records differ with the nature of the sites and different zonations of the late-glacial have been used. In consequence our knowledge of the landscape around the settlements is limited. We just suppose the Magdalenian people evolved in clear forests wherein Pine had slowly supplanted birch.
1.5. The chronology of late Magdalenian sites in the Paris basin
H. VALLADAS
The radiocarbon and thermoluminescence (TL) dates for a number of Late Magdalenian sites of the Paris Basin, Étiolles (Essonne), Le Pré des Forges (Marsangy, Yonne), Pincevent and Le Tilloy (La Grande-Paroisse and Ville-Saint- Jacques, Seine-et-Marne), Le Buisson Campin (Verberie, Oise), show that the Magdalenian setllements were established towards the end of the last ice age. The TL dates from heated stone pebbles agree reasonably weil witb 14C dates, obtained by the classical and AMS techniques for organic remains.
2. Resources and exploitations
2.1. Magdalenian seashells
Y. TABORIN
The sea shells discovered on Palaeolithic dwelling-sites provide indications about human groups as far as territory and interband relationships are concerned. Sea shells also give evidence of preference for certain species according to natural supply and cultural practices. At Étiolles, Marsangy, Pincevent and Verberie, Magdalenian people were collecting sea shells very rarely, probably because they were not close to the sea Niether did they look for fossil shells although numerous in the tertiary deposits of their territory. At Étiolles, they have nevertheless collected Dentalia. It draws to our attention the numerous finds of that shell on Magdalenian sites from South- West of France. This cultural choice is not evidenced at the other sites where the shell assemblage only comes from the fossils available in the vicinity.
2.2. The provisioning of flint material during the Upper Paleolithic
M. MAUGER
The identification of the origin flint used on magdalenian sites of the Île-de-France has evidenced the traditionnel movements of nomadis hunters in their regional context. The existence in the centre of the region of high quality flint appears to be an important element concerning the manner in which magdalenian groups occupied the territory.
2.3. Faunal remains from Étiolles : the animal, taphonomic and human context
F. POPLIN
Faunal remains from Étiolles site are strikingly scarse compared to the abundance of flint artefacts. Poor conservation conditions are only part of the explanation. We have here a human dwelling where domestic activities held second place to the more important flint industry which took place mostly outdoors. Of the four animal species represented, buffalo, reindeer, mammoth and horse, only the first two left a conventionnal pattern of food remains. There are some large mammoth bone remains which may have been used as architectural elements, together with some flag stones; antlers may have been collected for other needs than the production of bone industry. As for the horse, one heap associated the remains of three individuals with evidence for a "one operation only" use, such as the extraction of grease. Smaller species, such as the fox, are absent, so are micromammals. In these conditions, it is hazardous to appreciate the ecological environment using only the evidence of bone remains. Their best contribution will be helping to define, not the general milieu in which man lived, but that of the taphonomic situation of the site, as well as its cultural and technical level.
2.4. The fauna of Pincevent and Verberie
F. DAVID
Mammal remains from the Magdalenian of Pincevent include essentially reindeer (about 98% from all the levels) and a few examples of horse, wolf, fox, hare, mammoth (pieces of ivory) and a lemming (Citellus citellus). The analysis of the teeth of the reindeer allows us to estimate the season of occupation at Pincevent as well as Verberie between september and november, Verberie being a little earlier than Pincevent.
2.5. Rodent remains from Pincevent, section 36
J.-D. VIGNE
The Pincevent 36 section provided about 40 micromammal remains. Eight of them are from the Collared Lemming (Dicrostonys cf. torquatus) and four from the Northern Vole (Microtus ratticeps), two species which characterize driasic tundras. Other observations also indicate that bones came from owl (harfang ?) pellets. Their spatial distribution suggests that owls occasionally perched on magdalenian tents. That may confirm the existence of these tents and may indicate that hunters left them on the site outside occupation periods.
2.6. Comparison between the reindeer herds of Pincevent and Verberie
J.-G. ENLOE
A statistical comparison of osteometric measurements of reindeer remains indicates no significant difference in body proportions between the faunal assemblages of Pincevent and Verberie. This suggests that the prey of hunters who occupied both Paleolithic sites was drawn from the same regional population.
2.7. Charcoal analysis
S. THIEBAULT
The results of charcoal analysis from the hearth of Étiolles and Pincevent were very disappointing because of the bad conservation of samples. In Étiolles the presence of Betula and Carpinus indicates a freshland. In Pincevent the . determination by E. Bazile-Robert of Salix / Populus indicates a marshland vegetation. However these interpretations being based on a very small number of charcoal samples dont permit any conclusion concerning the ecological context to be proposed.
2.8. Micromorphology of hearths at ÉtioUes
J. WATTEZ
The recording of sedimentary deposits from combustion constitutes the factual history of hearths. The use of methods of investigation and interpretation of the micromorphology of soils has permitted the decoding of information concerning sedimentation and the degree of conservation brought about by natural processes which have occurred since their abandonnement and burial. Several combustion structures excavated on the magdalenian settlements of Étiolles, Pincevent and Verberie have been studied. They carry evidence which indicates the fonction and the type of fuel used. The conditions of conservation varies from site to site.
Part 2 - Human settlement
1. The valley sites
1.1. Étiolles
P. COUDRET, M. .LARRIÈRE, M. OLIVE, N. PIGEOT,Y. TABORIN
The Magdalenian site of Étiolles has been heavily and persistently occupied: many different dwelling levels including one or several units have been discovered over the 1,300 square metres so far excavated. This high density of occupation allowed a palaeoethnological approach to be developed through the comparison of different topographical schemes, the analysis of spatial organisations, the identification of domestic activities, the study of differential use of hearths, etc. A very specialised techno-economical process of blade-flaking for large-sized blank production has been evidenced and has been related with the exceptionally high quality of the flint raw-material (with especially large dimensions). The recurrence of some operational patterns must be related to the basic structure and behaviour of the Magdalenian groups (working areas close to the fire, regular cleanups of the inner space, extensive use of the outer spaces for various activities). Strong social relationships are revealed by the movement and sharing of some lithic raw-materials and artefacts between contemporary dwelling-units. The present research gives evidence for the hypothesis of regular stops of Magdalenian groups related to their predatory subsistence and their social structure.
1.2. Marsangy
B. SCHMIDER
Marsangy is an open air Magdalenian settlement, situated on the left bank of the Yonne. Absolute dating (14C and thermoluminescence) corresponding to environmental data, allows a date of 12000 BP; the transition Dryasj II / Alleröd. In the central section (studied here), space is organized around 4 hearths, constituted by a group of loosely arranged blocks of sandstone and quartzite. The most important activities are related to silex, a raw material abundant in the neighborhood. One of the structures, N19, can be interpreted as a work-shop specialized in tool-making, others could represent dormitory units. Hunting was a complementary activity; attested by the presence of animal remains and abandoned artefacts (such as backed and shouldered points) generally considered as projectile armatures.
1.3. Pincevent
F. DAVID, M. ORLIAC
With eleven Magdalenian hearths functioning in the same time on the same surface, it is now possible to evaluate how large was the group regularly visiting Pincevent for a few weeks' stay and estimate it at a minimum of several tens of people, for at least fifteen times. Spatial organization of domestic units follows a model established by A. Leroi- Gourhan : hearth surrounded by area of activities then, on one side, an area set up for dwelling, on the other, a dumping area. The Magdalenians came with a minimum tool kit and their elements of adornment. Local resources gave them the essential raw material, the main part of flint and other stone coming from the river bed. Flint was worked locally and the better products were taken along to their next camp. Exploitation of plants as well as that of river resources remains very hypothetical. Reindeer, of which all parts were used or consume d, was the main game hunted with occasionally horse or hare. Brought back to the camp, animals were partly shared between domestic units, but though estimated with uncertainty, the duration for the occupations poses the problem of the eventuality of storing part of the meat. The abandonment of the site is probably linked to the climatic change which altered the flow of the river and the floods. The exceptional characteristics of deposits at Pincevent and the number of depositional cycles indicate a duration of fifty to one hundred years for the whole of magdalenian silt accumulation. After these silts where deposited, climatic modifications during the Alleröd interstadial provoked substantial erosion and refilling of the minor bed of the river. These modifications are synchronous with a cultural transformation opening the way to the Mesolithic.
1.4. Verberie
F. AUDOUZE
The archaeological site of the Buisson Campinat Verberie (Oise) has yielded remains of the late Magdalenian in three different locations embedded in silts deposited by the river Oise. The main one includes four superimposed occupation layers corresponding to hunting camps of short duration. The latest one is the best known. Its spatial organisation is centered on two hearths: It is a reindeer hunting camp related to the autumn migration. The camp activities focus on reindeer butchering and processing of its different parts. Flint knapping has been extensively practiced in order to produce the tools necessary for these tasks. The presence of a few tools made from exogenous flint and the absence of a few series of good blades indicate that these camps were part of the annual cycle of hunters around the Paris basin.
2. The slops sites
2.1. les Tarterets
B. SCHMIDER
Two sites, Tarterets I and Tarterets II, have been located on the left bank of the Seine valley, in the suburbs of Corbeit-Essonnes. Both had been partially destroyed before excavation which renders their Interpretation difficult. At Tarterets " the most remarkable element is the discovery of a hearth constructed with large slabs of millstone. Here and there, rich in tools, areas of tool-making and areas of domestic activity confront each other. There are few datable elements, fauna and charcoal not being conserved. However, tool style permits considering these sites as Magdalenian final, white malacologie analysis suggests occupation during Bolling. Though difficult to prove, one can envisage relations between the Tarterets and the important site of Étiolles, a settlement on the opposite bank of the Seine.
2.2. Ville-Saint-Jacques
J. DEGROS, B. SCHMIDER, B. VALENTIN
The site of "Le Tilloy" in Ville-saint-Jacques is one kilometre to the southwest of Pincevent, on the edge of a plateau. Surface collections have yielded a large lithic séries attributed to the late Magdalenian. A limited number of sondages have revealed a rich but very disturbed stratum from which must come the lithic industry. The faunal remains are well preserved; they belong to a varied fauna where the reindeer dominates but where horse is abundant. This stratum was dated to the Dryas II by radiocarbon. It is possible that the Magdalenian settlement of "Le Tilloy" is contemporary with that of Pincevent. Several patterns allow us to consider the problem of the relationships between both sites.
The territorial issue
Y. TABORIN
Already mentioned by many contributors, the question about the territorial identity and the cultural unity of those Magdalenian groups had to be raised at the close of this volume. If dwelling patterns show evidence of close similarity, some differences have also been noticed and both should be explained. The chronology is confined within a short span of time; raw-materials are originated from a restricted area which does not exceed the borders of the Paris basin; the debitage working-processes are closely related; the artefact assemblages are quite uniform though peculiar; art and ornaments are scarce: all these features are indications of a cultural homogeneity among human groups living on the same territory which is hardly open to alien trends before Alleröd. Contemporaneous dwellings with persistent successive occupation of several families at almost the same place give evidences for the hypothesis of recurring journeys within one annual home range. We nevertheless have not yet enough evidence to help us understand the itineraries and discuss the seasonality of the dwellings.
