Acheulean variability in Western Europe: The case of Menez-Dregan I (Plouhinec, Finistère, France)

Autor: Nick Ashton, Anne-Lyse Ravon, Nicholas Ashton, García-Medrano Paula
Přispěvatelé: Centre de Recherche en Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire (CReAAH), Université de Nantes (UN)-Le Mans Université (UM)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Ministère de la Culture (MC), Institut Catala de Paleoecologia Humana I Evolucio Social (IPHES), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Histoire naturelle de l'Homme préhistorique (HNHP), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD), The British Museum, Department Britain, Europe and Prehistory, Le Mans Université (UM)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Nantes - UFR Histoire, Histoire de l'Art et Archéologie (UFR HHAA), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Ministère de la Culture (MC), Nantes Université (NU)-Ministère de la Culture (MC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Le Mans Université (UM), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Le Mans Université (UM)-Université de Rennes (UR)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Nantes - UFR Histoire, Histoire de l'Art et Archéologie (UFR HHAA), Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES)
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Human Evolution
Journal of Human Evolution, Elsevier, 2021
Journal of Human Evolution, 2021
ISSN: 0047-2484
1095-8606
Popis: International audience; The establishment of the Acheulean in Europe occurred after MIS 17, but it was after the harsh glaciation of MIS 12 and during the long interglacial of MIS 11 that human occupation of western Europe became more sustained, with an increased number of sites. Menez-Dregan I (Brittany, France) is one of the key sites in western Europe that dates from this threshold, with an alternating sequence of 16 occupation levels and four marine deposits, from MIS 12 to 8. The large lithic assemblages of over 154,000 artifacts from knapping (cores, flakes) and shaping (macro-tools and shaping flakes) show the varying use of raw materials and activities at the site through the sequence. This work focuses on the study of the handaxes and cleavers using technological and metrical methods with multivariate analysis, in combination with geometric morphometrics, and places these analyses within the context of other technological changes at the site. Collectively, results show the persistent use through the sequence of the same lithic raw materials and technologies, including fire-use and the import of glossy sandstone from 20 km away, but with variation in activities at the site. These findings suggest that Menez-Dregan I shows the development of a specific material culture that reflects the local resources and environment. Results further indicate that the site shows the sustained hominin occupation of the area, despite varying climate and environment, with strong traditions of social learning that were maintained through flexibility of site-use, deep understanding of the local territory and the innovation of new technologies, such as the use of fire. Evidence from the site is placed within the wider context of Europe, and contrasted with areas to the north, such as Britain, where hominin occupation was more sporadic and driven by cyclical climate change.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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