Les séquences loessiques pléistocène supérieur d’Havrincourt (Pas-de-Calais, France) : stratigraphie, paléoenvironnements, géochronologie et occupations paléolithiques

• Published in: Quaternaire
• Main Authors: Antoine, Pierre, Goval, Emilie, Jamet, Guillaume, Coutard, Sylvie, Moine, Olivier, Hérisson, David, Auguste, Patrick, Guérin, Gilles, Lagroix, France, Schmidt, Esther, Robert, Vincent, Debenham, Nick, Meszner, Sascha, Bahain, Jean-Jacques
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: Association française pour l’étude du quaternaire 2016
• Subjects: loess; paléosols; Pléistocène supérieur; nord de la France; structures périglaciaires; paléoenvironnement; Paléolithique; geo; Flint; Tundra
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/quaternaire/7278

In connection with the future Canal Seine-Nord Europe (Seine-Scheldt), a large-scale rescue archaeological survey was conducted between 2008 and 2011 in northern France. At Havrincourt (Pas-de-Calais), the discovery of several levels of Palaeolithic flint artefacts embedded in a relatively thick loess sequence (~ 6-7m) preserved on a gentle slope facing north-east, has resulted in a rescue archaeological excavation on a total surface of 6 000 m2. Four Palaeolithic levels were uncovered in primary position. This sequence has been the subject of a continuous stratigraphic survey over nine months and an interdisciplinary approach combining pedostratigraphy, sedimentology, micromorphology, palaeontology, malacology, environmental magnetism, OSL and 14C dating. Based on this research, we propose: 1) a new pedostratigraphic reference sequence for Northern France, especially with regard to the Lower and Middle Pleniglacial periods (~ 70-30 ka), 2) a new regional geochronological framework for the Last Glacial (luminescence and radiocarbon) as well as a revision of the regional pedostratigraphic and chrono-climatic systems, and 3) the description and dating of a unique succession of periglacial horizons including five ice-wedge cast networks associated with tundra gley horizons representing a first regional reference sequence. In addition, the good preservation of archaeological levels, associated with the multidisciplinary analysis and dating of the pedosedimentary sequences leads to the chronostratigraphic and chrono-climatic interpretation of the four Palaeolithic levels including a unique occupation related to the Early Upper Palaeolithic (Early Gravettian). These results and new discoveries allow us to propose Havrincourt as a new pedostratigraphic and archaeological reference sequence for the Late Pleistocene of northern France and more broadly for the west-European loess area. Dans le cadre des travaux préalables au creusement du futur Canal Seine-Nord-Europe (liaison Seine-Escaut), une opération de diagnostic ...