Biochronologie des mammifères quaternaires. apport des cervidae du site pléistocène moyen de la Caune de l’Arago (Tautavel, Pyrénées-Orientales, France)

• Published in: Quaternaire
• Main Authors: Magniez, Pierre, Moigne, Anne‑Marie, Testu, Agnès, De Lumley, Henry
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: Association française pour l’étude du quaternaire 2013
• Subjects: biochronologie; Caune de l’Arago; Cervus elaphus; Dama cf. clactoniana; Eurasie; Pléistocène moyen; Rangifer tarandus; biochronology; Eurasia; Middle Pleistocene; archeo; geo
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4000/quaternaire.6830; http://journals.openedition.org/quaternaire/6830

The long stratigraphic sequence of the Caune de l’Arago site (Tautavel, France) is contemporary of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. The Middle Complex, correlated to MIS 14-12, has yielded very rich large mammal assemblages. Concerning the Cervids, three species: Cervus elaphus, Rangifer tarandus and Dama clactoniana, were identified in the infilling. Although they are typical of the Middle Pleistocene faunas, these taxa show particular etho-ecological preferences and are of remarkable biochronological interest, notably because of the geographical position of the site, in southern France. The revision of the abundant material from the Middle Complex units I, II and III provides both a diachronic and synchronic approach of fossil series. Thus, comparative analyses show homogeneity of characters on the lower dentition of both Cervus and Dama which sets them apart from other fossil and present forms. Otherwise, Rangifer premolars (P2 and P3) are polymorphic compared to more recent series. The validity of a specific (or sub-specific) assignment is discussed concerning the genera Cervus and Dama. The results of morphometric studies are analysed in terms of palaeoenvironmental stress (geographical and ecological) in order to precise the phyletic position of each taxa and check their reliability as biochronological markers. Le site de la Caune de l’Arago (Tautavel, France) présente une longue séquence stratigraphique dont les dépôts sont contemporains du Pléistocène moyen et supérieur. Le complexe moyen (SIM 14 à 12) a livré des assemblages fauniques très riches en grands mammifères. En ce qui concerne les Cervidés, Cervus elaphus, Rangifer tarandus et Dama clactoniana sont les trois espèces identifiées. Bien que caractéristiques du Pléistocène moyen eurasiatique, ces taxons aux préférences étho-écologiques singulières montrent un intérêt biochronologique remarquable, notamment en raison de la position géographique du site, au Sud de la France. A partir du matériel abondant des ensembles I, II et III du Complexe ...