UNE OCCUPATION ACHEULEENNE EN HAUTE MONTAGNE :
LE SITE DE TSONA (SUD DU CAUCASE, GEORGIE)
Résumé
The cave of Tsona is located at the foot of the Great Caucasus, on southern slope, in the area of Djava in Shida
Kartli (Central Georgia). This cave is in a high altitude area (2100 m) and it has yielded two levels related to Acheulian. Their date is not known and they has been estimated on archaeological bases (end of Acheulian or Upper Acheulian), or by correlation with one level of Koudaro I cave dated around 350.000 years.
The two archaeological levels have yielded Ursus bone remains in great quantity while only few remains of Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Capra caucasica and Bison have been discovered. These species could be related to a human activity in the cave. The location of the cave in a high altitude area, such as the characteristics of the lithic assemblages composed by brought tools (bifaces, cleavers, flake tools), provide evidence of short human occupations, perhaps specific ones, based on a
management of the surroundings. The raw materials are local such as argilite, schiste, and various volcanic stones, excepted for the flint coming from a southern area (35 km).
Kartli (Central Georgia). This cave is in a high altitude area (2100 m) and it has yielded two levels related to Acheulian. Their date is not known and they has been estimated on archaeological bases (end of Acheulian or Upper Acheulian), or by correlation with one level of Koudaro I cave dated around 350.000 years.
The two archaeological levels have yielded Ursus bone remains in great quantity while only few remains of Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Capra caucasica and Bison have been discovered. These species could be related to a human activity in the cave. The location of the cave in a high altitude area, such as the characteristics of the lithic assemblages composed by brought tools (bifaces, cleavers, flake tools), provide evidence of short human occupations, perhaps specific ones, based on a
management of the surroundings. The raw materials are local such as argilite, schiste, and various volcanic stones, excepted for the flint coming from a southern area (35 km).
Le site de Tsona est localisé au sud du Grand Caucase. Cette grotte, située en haute altitude (2100 m), a livré deux niveaux acheuléens dont l'âge précis n'a été estimé que sur des bases archéologiques ou par corrélation avec un des niveaux de la grotte de Koudaro I (environ 350.000 ans). Les deux niveaux archéologiques ont livré en grande quantité des restes d'Ursidés mais quelques restes de Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Capra caucasica et de Bison semblent être des témoignages de l'activité anthropique. La localisation de la grotte en haute altitude et les caractères de l'assemblage lithique composé uniquement de bifaces, hachereaux, et outils sur
éclats font penser à des indices d'occupations de courte durée, dans le cadre d'une gestion locale de l'environnement. Ce site attesterait de la mobilité de groupes humains entre plaines et montagnes à la faveur de périodes tempérées comme en témoigne la présence de pièces en silex originaires de 35 km environ.
Mots-clés : Achéuleen, Paléolithique inférieur, Grand Caucase, bifaces, hachereaux
éclats font penser à des indices d'occupations de courte durée, dans le cadre d'une gestion locale de l'environnement. Ce site attesterait de la mobilité de groupes humains entre plaines et montagnes à la faveur de périodes tempérées comme en témoigne la présence de pièces en silex originaires de 35 km environ.
Mots-clés : Achéuleen, Paléolithique inférieur, Grand Caucase, bifaces, hachereaux