Taphonomie des ensembles lithiques du Paléolithique moyen en contexte loessique

• Main Authors: Jean-Paul Caspar, Bertrand Masson, Luc Vallin
• Format: Article
• Language: fra
• Published: Editions de la Maison des Sciences de l'Homme 2009-12-01
• Series: Les Nouvelles de l’Archéologie
• Subjects: experimental archaeology; periglacial dynamics; polygonal soils; spatial analysis; taphonomy; use-wear analysis
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/nda/882

The periglacial climatic environment affected most of the European Palaeolithic settlements. The dynamic processes, especially produced by frost, have altered distinctive morphology and spatial distribution of lithic artefacts. The possible similarity of features resulting from natural processes and anthropic actions is studied by field and laboratory experiments which are carried out since 2004. The supposed action of ground ice on the surface of flint has been tested but the laboratory results differ from use wear analysis of archaeological artefacts. On the other hand the experiments led in a high-mountain environment have showed, especially in one case (Gavarnie), that spatial distribution of archaeological items could be quickly and deeply modified by patterned grounds such as polygonal soils. The observation of an experimental flint workshop in northern France confirms that needle ices play an essential part in the artefacts transfers after their leaving.