Chronology of Upper Paleolithic human activities recorded in a stalagmite at Points Cave (Aiguèze, Gard, France)
Maïlys Richard
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
Edwige Pons-Branchu
(2, 3)
,
Hélène Valladas
(2, 3)
,
Michael Toffolo
(1)
,
Stéphan Dubernet
(1, 5)
,
Arnaud Dapoigny
(2, 3)
,
Jean‐pascal Dumoulin
(2, 6)
,
Pierre‐antoine Beauvais
(7)
,
Julien Monney
(8)
1
Archéosciences Bordeaux
2 LSCE - Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]
3 GEOTRAC - Géochrononologie Traceurs Archéométrie
4 Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Allemagne
5 UBM - UFR Humanités - Université Bordeaux Montaigne
6 LMC14 - UMS 2572 - Laboratoire de mesure du carbone 14
7 TRACES - Travaux et recherches archéologiques sur les cultures, les espaces et les sociétés
8 EDYTEM - Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne
2 LSCE - Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]
3 GEOTRAC - Géochrononologie Traceurs Archéométrie
4 Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Allemagne
5 UBM - UFR Humanités - Université Bordeaux Montaigne
6 LMC14 - UMS 2572 - Laboratoire de mesure du carbone 14
7 TRACES - Travaux et recherches archéologiques sur les cultures, les espaces et les sociétés
8 EDYTEM - Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne
Maïlys Richard
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 181054
- IdHAL : mailys-richard
- ORCID : 0000-0003-3252-1444
- IdRef : 201044188
Edwige Pons-Branchu
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 181174
- IdHAL : edwige-pons-branchu
- ORCID : 0000-0002-7941-3144
- IdRef : 067287085
Michael Toffolo
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1211216
- ORCID : 0000-0001-5894-4301
Stéphan Dubernet
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 750951
- IdHAL : stephan-dubernet
- ORCID : 0000-0003-4278-3501
- IdRef : 188975683
Arnaud Dapoigny
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 181161
- IdHAL : arnaud-dapoigny
- ORCID : 0000-0002-4966-3345
Julien Monney
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 171000
- IdHAL : julien-monney
- ORCID : 0000-0003-0884-6126
- IdRef : 184904846
Résumé
In this article, we propose an approach to reconstruct the timing of human activity at Points Cave, an Upper Paleolithic rock art site located in the middle of the Ardèche River Gorge (Rhône valley, France), based on the dating and characterisation of a stalagmite containing soot. Points Cave (‘Grotte aux Points’ in French), also called the ‘little sister of Chauvet Cave’, is famous for its parietal art including a series of dots made of palm prints. A large number of stalagmites formed in the cave during the last 500 ka. However, quarrying of the cave floors during historic times led to the partial destruction of the sedimentary deposits, and many of the stalagmites were found lying on the floor. In particular, one of them (STM‐18‐04) showed the presence of at least four dark layers in cross‐section, which appeared as possible remnants of fire‐related activities in the cave. Despite being present at the same site, no other specific link between STM‐18‐04 and the rock art has been documented. This stalagmite, however, allows us to identify phases of human presence, located at the cave entrance. To do so, we performed a series of analyses to determine its period of growth and the nature of the dark layers that it contains. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy confirmed that the dark layers include soot, and uranium‐series dating indicated that the fire events occurred, respectively, around 14,200–14,100 and 12,500 years ago, in agreement with the radiocarbon ages of charcoal specimens recovered from the excavation areas nearby. We thus highlighted phases of human activity at the site during the Upper Magdalenian and/or beginning of the Epipaleolithic. By comparing our results with the regional paleoclimatic record, the soot layers trapped in the stalagmite appear to be synchronous with two cold periods, likely the Older Dryas and the Younger Dryas.
Format du dépôt | Fichier |
---|---|
Type de dépôt | Article dans une revue |
Titre |
en
Chronology of Upper Paleolithic human activities recorded in a stalagmite at Points Cave (Aiguèze, Gard, France)
|
Résumé |
en
In this article, we propose an approach to reconstruct the timing of human activity at Points Cave, an Upper Paleolithic rock art site located in the middle of the Ardèche River Gorge (Rhône valley, France), based on the dating and characterisation of a stalagmite containing soot. Points Cave (‘Grotte aux Points’ in French), also called the ‘little sister of Chauvet Cave’, is famous for its parietal art including a series of dots made of palm prints. A large number of stalagmites formed in the cave during the last 500 ka. However, quarrying of the cave floors during historic times led to the partial destruction of the sedimentary deposits, and many of the stalagmites were found lying on the floor. In particular, one of them (STM‐18‐04) showed the presence of at least four dark layers in cross‐section, which appeared as possible remnants of fire‐related activities in the cave. Despite being present at the same site, no other specific link between STM‐18‐04 and the rock art has been documented. This stalagmite, however, allows us to identify phases of human presence, located at the cave entrance. To do so, we performed a series of analyses to determine its period of growth and the nature of the dark layers that it contains. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy confirmed that the dark layers include soot, and uranium‐series dating indicated that the fire events occurred, respectively, around 14,200–14,100 and 12,500 years ago, in agreement with the radiocarbon ages of charcoal specimens recovered from the excavation areas nearby. We thus highlighted phases of human activity at the site during the Upper Magdalenian and/or beginning of the Epipaleolithic. By comparing our results with the regional paleoclimatic record, the soot layers trapped in the stalagmite appear to be synchronous with two cold periods, likely the Older Dryas and the Younger Dryas.
|
Auteur(s) |
Maïlys Richard
1, 2, 3, 4
, Edwige Pons-Branchu
2, 3
, Hélène Valladas
2, 3
, Michael Toffolo
1
, Stéphan Dubernet
1, 5
, Arnaud Dapoigny
2, 3
, Jean‐pascal Dumoulin
2, 6
, Pierre‐antoine Beauvais
7
, Julien Monney
8
1
Archéosciences Bordeaux
( 1084285 )
- Maison de l'Archéologie, 8 Esplanade des Antilles, Université Bordeaux-Montaigne, F-33607 PESSAC Cedex, France
- France
2
LSCE -
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]
( 518 )
- Bât. 12,
avenue de la Terrasse,
F-91198 GIF-SUR-YVETTE CEDEX
- France
3
GEOTRAC -
Géochrononologie Traceurs Archéométrie
( 578523 )
- LSCE. CEA Paris-Saclay. Orme des merisiers. 91190 Saint-Aubin.
- France
4
Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Allemagne
( 1161043 )
- Allemagne
5
UBM -
UFR Humanités - Université Bordeaux Montaigne
( 1069760 )
- Bâtiment I - Esplanade des Antilles - Domaine Universitaire - 33607 Pessac Cedex
- France
6
LMC14 - UMS 2572 -
Laboratoire de mesure du carbone 14
( 1881 )
- Bâtiment 450 - Porte 4E CEA Saclay 91191 GIF SUR YVETTE CEDEX
- France
7
TRACES -
Travaux et recherches archéologiques sur les cultures, les espaces et les sociétés
( 44675 )
- Maison de la Recherche, 5 allée Antonio Machado 31058 TOULOUSE Cedex 9
- France
8
EDYTEM -
Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne
( 20150 )
- Université de Savoie, Campus scientifique, 73376 Le Bourget du Lac cedex
- France
|
Langue du document |
Anglais
|
Nom de la revue |
|
Date de publication |
2024-03-08
|
Vulgarisation |
Non
|
Comité de lecture |
Oui
|
Audience |
Internationale
|
URL éditeur |
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gea.22001
|
Domaine(s) |
|
Projet(s) ANR |
|
Mots-clés |
fr
PANOPLY
|
DOI | 10.1002/gea.22001 |
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