The Upper Magdalenian in the south of Aquitaine (France). Reflection from the archeosequences of the Bourrouilla cave (Arancou, Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and the rockshelter of the Grand Pastou (Sorde-l’Abbaye, Landes)

• Main Authors: Dachary, Morgane, Merlet, Jean-Claude, Plassard, Frédéric, Chauvière, François-Xavier, Ajas, Aurelie, Birouste, Clément, Chevallier, Aude, Ferrier, Catherine, Laroulandie, Véronique, Mistrot, Vincent
• Other Authors: Travaux et recherches archéologiques sur les cultures, les espaces et les sociétés (TRACES), École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS)-Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J)-Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (MCC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie (PACEA), Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Office du patrimoine et de l’archéologie du canton de Neuchâtel, section archéologie, Paléotime, musée d'Aquitaine, Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (MCC), Straus L. G, Langlais Mathieu
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2018
• Subjects: reindeer; red deer; snowy owl; portable art; south of Aquitaine; Upper Magdalenian; backed bladelets; lamelles à dos; art mobilier; sud de l’Aquitaine; Magdalénien supérieur; cerf; harfang; archeo; geo; Flint; The Corridor
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02862921/file/2020_Dachary%20etal_SE15.pdf; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02862921

International audience The cave of Bourrouilla at Arancou (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and the rockshelter of the Grand Pastou at Sorde-l’Abbaye (Landes) are two sites in the extreme south of Aquitaine, on the edge of the Pyrenean foothills. The excavations were done within the framework of multi-year programs, using Cartesian recording methods of finds and yielded comparable stratigraphic sequences in which the Upper Magdalenian is well represented. The analytical approach taken at the two sites is analogous, in particular as regards verification of the conservation status of the different occupation layers.The Grand Pastou Rockshelter contains a rather homogeneous sedimentary sequence within which several stratigraphic units arenonetheless identifiable. The top of the sequence documents visits of the site attributable to the Terminal Magdalenian as evidencedby the presence of thumbnail scrapers and a cortical flake of flint engraved with a geometric motif. The underlying layers document aclassic Upper Magdalenian with no noticeable changes in basic contents from the base to the top.The excavations at the Bourrouilla site were located in the rear chamber of the cave, under the entrance overhang (“porch”) and infront of it. However, a karstic resurgence in the corridor prohibits stratigraphic correlations between the back room on the one hand andthe porch area and exterior on the other. Nevertheless, both sequences document occupations attributable to the Upper Magdalenian(Ensemble B in the vestibule and outside, and US [Stratigraphic Unit] 2007 in the cave). The geoarchaeological study and refittingsconfirm that the archaeological levels are well preserved, which is consistent with a series of radiocarbon dates.The comparison between archaeological data from the two sites leads to the identification of both clear similarities and differences.Both reindeer and red deer played essential roles in the hunted fauna at both sites. The snowy owl is well represented; salmon is rarein the Grand Pastou, while it is abundant in ...