Magdalenian occupations between 20000 and 15000 cal BP in the Pyrenean foothills: test-pitting the Paleolithic sequence of Laa 2 cave (Arudy, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France)
Résumés
Par sa richesse en sites magdaléniens, le bassin d’Arudy est un lieu privilégié pour étudier les dynamiques de repeuplement des vallées pyrénéennes après le Dernier Maximum glaciaire, mais les interprétations sont limitées par l’ancienneté de nombreux travaux de terrain. La grotte de Laa 2 contribue à combler cette lacune, même si la fouille des niveaux paléolithiques a dû se limiter à une surface très réduite. La couche C5 montre une réoccupation précoce (20000-19500 cal BP), mal caractérisée, suivant sans doute de peu la déglaciation de la vallée. Les couches C4 à C2 (18500-15000 cal BP) documentent l’évolution du Magdalénien moyen et supérieur, dans un milieu frais, humide et découvert (bien que des signes de fermeture du paysage apparaissent en couche C2). D’abord marqué par une présence importante des ongulés de montagne, le tableau de chasse donne ensuite plus de place au cheval et au renne. Oiseaux et renards sont aussi exploités, et la question de la présence de chiens est posée. Les sources de matières lithiques semblent se diversifier dans le Magdalénien supérieur, en parallèle avec une évolution du gabarit des armatures. L’industrie osseuse aussi montre des indices de transformation du design des armatures (avec notamment des éléments fourchus), à côté d’un unique témoignage d’art mobilier (une scapula gravée).
Entrées d’index
Mots-clés :
archéozoologie, art mobilier, Arudy, datation radiocarbone, industrie lithique, industrie osseuse, Magdalénien, Pyrénées, stratigraphie, taphonomieKeywords:
Arudy, bone and antler industry, lithic industry, Magdalenian, portable art, Pyrenees, radiocarbon dating, stratigraphy, taphonomy, zooarchaeologyPlan
Haut de pageNotes de la rédaction
Received: 12 October 2016 – Admitted after revisions: 21 March 2017
Texte intégral
1Thanks to its rich record of Magdalenian sites (fig. 1), the Arudy Basin is a key case for the study of hunter-gatherer resettlement dynamics in the Pyrenean valleys after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Interpretations are, however, hampered by the very old date of many excavations and the incomplete publication of others. The recently acquired data from Laa 2 cave contribute to filling this gap, although the excavation had to be interrupted (for non-scientific reasons) while the Paleolithic layers had been excavated over just a small surface.
Fig 1. Location of Paleolithic sites in the Arudy basin
1: Malarode 1 and Malarode 2; 2: Laa 2; 3: Poeymaü; 4: Espalungue; 5: Bignalats; 6: Saint-Michel; 7: Tastet cave in Sainte-Colome. Bottom left: location of the Arudy basin in the Pyrenean isthmus
Map: IGN (www.geoportail.gouv.fr)
Site description
2The Arudy basin is located at the point where the Gave d’Ossau river exits the northernmost Pyrenean massifs and enters the foothills; it lies at about 400 m ASL and is surrounded by hills, the summits of which are about 150 m higher. Laa 2 cave opens at 457 m ASL in a small limestone massif west of Arudy town. The cave is 43 m long with two opposite entrances, each of which hosts a large debris cone (fig. 2 and 3). The excavations were carried out between 2006 and 2010 and yielded evidence of occupation during the Late Iron Age and Late Antiquity (northern half of the cave: salles 1 to 3 on fig. 3) as well as the Mesolithic and the Late Neolithic (southern part of the cave: Laa 3). The Paleolithic layers were excavated in the lowermost part of the cave (salle 4) over 2.5 m2 and a maximum depth of 1.2 m; the bedrock was not reached.
Fig. 2. Section of Laa 2 cave before the beginning of the excavations, showing the location of the Paleolithic test pit
Topography: M. Douat (CDS64) with M.-C. Douat, M. Lauga, P. Dumontier
Fig. 3. Topography of Laa 2 cave before the beginning of the excavations, showing the location of the Paleolithic test pit
Topography: M. Douat (CDS64) with M.-C. Douat, M. Lauga, P. Dumontier
Stratigraphy
3During the excavation, several stratigraphic units (US) were distinguished. The sequence was also divided into three lithostratigraphic ensembles (1 to 3). Finally, post-excavation work on the archeological material led to the identification of five archeological layers (from C5 at the bottom to C1 at the top: table I). The lithostratigraphy (fig. 4 and 5) begins with Ensemble 1, which is over 50 cm thick and rich in pebbles (limestone, ophite-type dolerite, and igneous rocks) likely accumulated through alluvial processes (e.g., fluvio-glacial). The top of this ensemble is mainly composed of angular limestone blocks (fig. 6), originating from the cave’s ceiling, walls and exterior cliffs, mixed with pebbles probably resulting from the reworking of old material. Ensemble 2 (fig. 7) is ca. 50 cm thick and is made of limestone blocks accumulated from the outside by gravity (and maybe also other processes such as surface runoff and solifluxion). Ensemble 3 is a polyphased stalagmite floor with a maximum thickness of 30 cm; its formation reflects a reduction in the detritic supply and a change in outside climate conditions. The archeological stratigraphy (fig. 8) begins with layer C5 (base of Ensemble 1), which is 30 cm thick and which has little diagnostic cultural material but with a faunal spectrum characterized by its scarcity of reindeer. The overlying layer C4 (top of Ensemble 1) is 10-15 cm thick and is separated from C5 by an archeologically poor level. Layer C3 (the base of Ensemble 2) is also separated from C4 by a level with very little archeological material, especially since the material at the bottom of C3 probably migrated there by gravity from the top of the layer. Layer C3 has yielded lithic and osseous industry pertaining to the Middle Magdalenian and a faunal spectrum with an abundance of reindeer. At the top of Ensemble 2 and base of Ensemble 3, layer C2 (25 cm thick) is not separated from C3 by a sterile layer but the archeological material indicates changes in the lithic and osseous industry (Upper Magdalenian) and in the faunal spectrum (evidence of climate warming). Finally, layer C1 (10 cm thick), which is not included in this study, lies within the stalagmite floor Ensemble 3 and is characterized by the almost complete disappearance of lithic and osseous tools and the presence of ceramic sherds mainly from the Late Antiquity. Eleven radiocarbon dates (table II; table III; fig. 9) place the occupations of layer C5 ca. 20000-195000 cal BP, layer C4 ca. 18500-18000 cal BP, layer C3 ca. 18000-16500 cal BP and layer C2 ca. 16500-15000 cal BP.
Table I. Equivalence between the lithostratigraphic units, the stratigraphic units (“US”) identified during the excavation in 2006 and in 2009-2010, and the archeological layers defined after the study of the material
| Lithostratigraphie | US 2006 | US 2009-2010 | Archéostratigraphie |
| Ensemble 3 | 2001 | surface | C1 |
| 2002 et 2005 | 4001 | ||
| 2003a | 4002 | ||
| 2003 | 4003 sommet | ||
| Ensemble 2 | 2004 | 4003 base | C2 |
| 2006 sommet | 4006 et 4006b | ||
| 2006 et 2007 | 4008 | ||
| 2008 et 2009 | 4009 | ||
| 2010 | 4010 | C3 | |
| 2011 | 4011 sommet | ||
| Non atteint | 4011 base | C4 | |
| Ensemble 1 | 4012 sommet | ||
| 4012 base | C5 | ||
| 4013 |
Fig. 4. View of the I28/I29 section and partial view of square I29.
1: surface of Ensemble 1 (US 4012); 2: Ensemble 2 (blocks); 3: Ensemble 3 (stalagmite floor). Scale: 50 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column)
Picture J.-M. P.
Fig. 5. I30/I31 profile, showing US 4003, 4011, 4012, 4013
4003: stalagmite floor; 4011: limestone debris with semi-open structure; 2012: filled limestone debris; 4013: alluvial material and blocks collapsed from the ceiling. Scale: 50 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column)
Pictures C. F.
Fig. 6. I30/I31 profile, US 4012
Lens with semi-open structure (a) resulting from the leaching of the fine-grained fraction below water drippings from the ceiling. Scale: 37 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column)
Picture C. F.
Fig. 7. I30/I31 profile, US 4011. Semi-open structure of US 4011
Scale: 50 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column)
Picture C. F.
Fig. 8. Vertical plot of all remains with 3D coordinates in squares I29 and I30, along the north-south axis
The radiocarbon-dated bones are indicated. The 16070 ± 75 BP date is linked to two objects because the bone dated could be refitted with another. As indicated in the text, the material at the bottom of layer C3 –and thus the bone that yielded the date of 14570 ± 75 BP– probably migrated here from the upper part of the layerNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column)
Table II. Bone samples submitted for radiocarbon AMS dating
| ID échantillon | US | Carré | Année fouille | N° | Couche | Élément | Taxon | Traces anthropiques | Long. (mm) | Masse (g) |
| C2_Cer | 2007 | H30 | 2006 | 22 | C2 | métatarsien | cerf | stries | 110 | NC |
| C2_Ran1 | 4003 | I30 | 2009 | 37 | C2 | dent (LP4) | renne | néant | 21 | 3,66 |
| C2_Ran2 | 4008 | I29 | 2009 | 490 | C2 | métatarsien | renne | stries | 76 | 10,06 |
| C3_Cap | 4010 | I30 | 2009 | 203 | C3 | métatarsien | bouquetin | néant | 75 | 6,21 |
| C3_Equ | 2010 | I30 | 2006 | 121 | C3 | radius | cheval | stries | 100 | NC |
| C3_Cer | 4011 | I30 | 2009 | 271 | C3 | tibia | cerf | stries | 112 | 45,93 |
| C4_Rup | 4012 | I29 | 2010 | 628 | C4 | tibia | isard | stries, percussion | 90 | NC |
| C4_Bov | 4012 | I30 | 2010 | 156 | C4 | coxal | boviné | stries, percussion | 150 | NC |
| C4_Cap | 4012 | I29 | 2010 | 622 | C4 | tibia | bouquetin | percussion | 86 | 12,5 |
| C5_Cap1 | 4012 | I30 | 2010 | 198 | C5 | phalange 1 | bouquetin | percussion | 48 | 4,38 |
| C5_Cap2 | 4012 | I30 | 2010 | 181 | C5 | humérus | bouquetin | percussion | 53 | 43,62 |
| C5_Equ | 4013 | I30 | 2010 | 277 | C5 | fémur | cheval | néant | 136 | 86,3 |
NC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column)
Table III. Results of the radiocarbon dates. Calibration with the OxCal 4.2 software (Bronk Ramsey, 2009), IntCal13 dataset (Reimer et al., 2013)
| ID échantillon | Code labo | Date BP | Date cal BP (95,4 %) | Masse collag. (mg) | Taux collag. (%) | %C | d13C | d15N | C:N | Activité 14C (%) |
| C2_Cer | Erl11112 | 12552 ± 83 | 15160-14320 | NC | NC | NC | -20,6 | NC | 2,6 | 20,96 ± 0,22 |
| C2_Ran1 | Poz52969 | 13370 ± 70 | 16296-15842 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | 3,4 | NC |
| C2_Ran2 | OxA26674 | 13550 ± 60 | 16566-16107 | 13,34 | 2,6 | 43,7 | -19,3 | 4,1 | 3,1 | NC |
| C3_Cap | OxA26673 | 13665 ± 60 | 16755-16247 | 48,93 | 8 | 43,4 | -19,3 | 2,5 | 3,1 | NC |
| C3_Equ | Erl11113 | 14252 ± 94 | 17625-17069 | NC | NC | NC | -21,3 | NC | 2,6 | 16,96 ± 0,20 |
| C3_Cer | OxA26672 | 14570 ± 65 | 17951-17556 | 18,19 | 3,1 | 44 | -19,9 | 3,3 | 3,1 | NC |
| C4_Rup | Lyon11706 (SacA39177) | 14880 ± 120 | 18411-17814 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | 15,69 ± 0,23 |
| C4_Bov | Lyon11707 (SacA39178) | 15240 ± 120 | 18772-18211 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | 15 ± 0,22 |
| C4_Cap | non daté : échec au test d'azote | |||||||||
| C5_Cap1 | OxA26671 | 16070 ± 75 | 19609-19165 | 26,81 | 5,2 | 43,4 | -19,4 | 2,7 | 3,2 | NC |
| C5_Cap2 | OxA27935 | 16380 ± 80 | 20010-19549 | 13,7 | 5,7 | 45,6 | -19,7 | 2,4 | 3,2 | NC |
| C5_Equ | OxA29934 | 16555 ± 75 | 20203-19708 | 25,81 | 4,3 | 41 | -21,1 | 4 | 3,3 | NC |
For the dates Lyon11706 (SacA39177) and Lyon11707 (SacA39178), the laboratory indicates that the physical-chemical reliability of the samples was “very good”. NC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column in table II)
Fig. 9. Calibrated radiocarbon dates for the Paleolithic sequence in Laa 2 cave
Calibration with the OxCal 4.2 software (Bronk Ramsey, 2009), IntCal13 dataset (Reimer et al., 2013). One sigma (68.2%) and two sigma (95.4%) intervals are shown
Lithic industry
4A sample of 485 lithic artifacts (fig. 10; table IV) has been analyzed for raw material sourcing. Almost all the artifacts (98 %) are made of flint, four types of which could be distinguished (fig. 11). Type 1 is the most common type in all the layers (fig. 12 and 13, table V) and has direct parallels with the Cretaceous Flysch formations observed in the northern Pyrenees from the Atlantic coast to the central part of the range (fig. 14). In the current state of knowledge and given the high variability of this type, it is not possible to locate the supply source of the Flysch flints in Laa 2 more precisely. The three other types are less common but seem to become more and more frequent from layer C5 to layer C2. Type 2 represents 4-10% of the artifacts from C4, C3 and C2. It is similar to the Chalosse flint found north of Arudy on the left bank of the Adour river (fig. 14) and might originate from the Bastennes-Gaujacq outcrop some 60 km north of the site. Type 3 (3%) is similar to the Upper Cretaceous flint from Hibarette and Montgaillard and the Maastrichian flint from Montsaunès, both of which come from outcrops ca. 40 km east of Laa 2. Type 4 (3%) is a lacustrine variety unlike any of the flint sources around Laa 2, but found in the Miranda-Treviño basin 200 km to the southwest and more generally in the Ebro basin (fig. 14). It was brought to Laa 2 in the form of a few tools and blanks and demonstrates contact with the southern part of the Pyrenean range.
Table IV. Analyzed lithic elements: Distribution per layer compared with the whole of the material
| couche | NR lithique analysé | NR total lithique | % analysé / total | % couche / corpus analysé |
| C5 | 15 | 19 | 78,9 | 3,1 |
| C4 | 58 | 278 | 20,9 | 12,0 |
| C3 | 298 | 1041 | 28,6 | 61,4 |
| C2 | 114 | 168 | 67,9 | 23,5 |
| Total | 485 | 1506 | 32,2 | 100,0 |
Fig. 11. Macroscopic view with the more representative micropalaeontological content of the four analyzed cherts
Pictures M. S.
Pictures M. S.
Fig. 12. Distribution, in percentage per layer, of the analyzed lithic industry after characterization
Table V. Distribution per layer of analyzed lithic industry, after identification
| Matière | C5 | C4 | C3 | C2 | Total |
| Silex T1 | 8 | 35 | 156 | 40 | 239 |
| Silex T2 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 31 |
| Silex T3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 17 |
| Silex T4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 14 |
| Silex indet. | 6 | 15 | 98 | 51 | 170 |
| Autres roches | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 14 |
| Total | 15 | 58 | 298 | 114 | 485 |
Fig. 14. Main flint outcrops with similarities in the archaeological assemblage of Laa 2
Blue: flysch type; lilac: Chalosse type; pink: Montgaillard / Montsaunès type; brown: lacustrine type. 1: Bidache. 2: Iholdy. 3: Salies-de-Béarn. 4: Précilhon. 5: Meillon. 6: Turbón. 7: Tercis. 8: Audignon. 9: Hibarette. 10: Montgaillard. 11: Montsaunès. 12: Treviño. 13: “Monegros”. 14: Peraltilla. 15: Serra Llarga
5The lithic industry (tables 6 and 7, fig. 15-18) has been subject to a typological and technological analysis. The assemblage from layer C5 is too poor to be precisely characterized but is broadly compatible with a Magdalenian attribution. Layer C4 has yielded a few tools on blades, and an assemblage of narrow backed bladelets made on flake (or blade) edge, a characteristic that suggests an attribution to the Middle Magdalenian. Layer C3 is the richest of the sequence and has yielded evidence of a standardized blade production along with a few tools on blades. The main type of microlith is a population of straight, narrow and standardized backed bladelets made on flake edge, similar to those identified in several Late Middle Magdalenian assemblages from the northern Pyrenees. Layer C2 has also yielded a small set of tools on flakes and blades, but in this layer the bladelets are wider, made on blocks (not on flake cores) and accompanied by two backed points made on small blades. This evolution in the design of armatures can be attributed to the transition from the Middle to the Upper Magdalenian.
Fig. 15. Examples of tools from the sequence of Laa2
Layer C2: 1, burin; 2-3, endscrapers. Layer C3: 4-5, blades with lateral retouch; 5, endscraper. C4: 7, burin
Drawings S. Pasty, CAD ML
Fig. 16. Examples of backed bladelets from the sequence of Laa 2
Layer C4: narrow backed bladelets. Layer C3, top row: simple backed bladelets. Layer C3, middle and bottom rows: narrow backed bladelets. Layer C2: backed points and bladelet. Grey silhouettes: scale 1:1; drawings: scale 2:1
Drawings S. Pasty, CAD ML
Fig. 17. Layer C3: examples of sub-products from blade and bladelet knapping on blocks or on the edge of a flake
Drawings S. Pasty
Fig. 18. Layer C3: examples of bladelet cores on the edge of a flake (1-3) and “enveloppants” on block, pyramidal (4-5) and prismatic (6-7) types
Drawings S. Pasty
Table VIII. Typological and technological composition of the osseous industry
| C4 | C3/C4 | C3 | C2 | total | |||
| BdC | déchets de déb. de baguettes | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| déchets de faç. de baguettes | 2 | 2 | |||||
| support (baguette) | 1 | 1 | |||||
| objets finis sur baguette | baguette demi-ronde | 1 | 1 | ||||
| pointe | 1 | 1 | |||||
| pte mono-barbelée | 1 | 1 | |||||
| ptes à base fourchue | 2 | 2 | |||||
| os | déchet de débitage longitudinal | 1 | 1 | ||||
| objets finis | poinçon | 1 | 1 | ||||
| lissoirs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||
| aiguille à chas | 1 | 1 | |||||
| outils sur éclat : retouchoir | 2 | 2 | |||||
| os travaillés | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |||
| os décoré | 1 | 1 | |||||
| total | 1 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 27 | ||
Fig. 20. Layer C3, antler industry
1: piece of manufacturing waste indicating splinter production with the groove and splinter technique (GST, multiple longitudinal grooving), with anatomical origin and detailed view of the blunting on the distal extremity. 2: piece of shaping waste on a splinter produced with the GST. 3: self-barbed point, with detailed view of the incisions on the lower side and reconstitution of its probable hafting. 4: fork-based point. 5: tine of fork-based point. For artifacts 1 and 2 the arrows indicate groove edges
Pictures J.-M. P.
Fig. 21. Layer C3, bone industry
1: piece of GST manufacturing waste on a half-section of rib; grooves are indicated by arrows. 2: eyed needle. 3: retoucher on radius flake, with detailed view of the two used zones. 4: spatula on horse hyoid bone
Pictures J.-M. P.
Fig. 22. Layer C3: engraved scapula
Picture (assemblage of x20 microphotographs) and drawing of the engravings and parasite lines
Pictures and drawing: O. R.
Fig. 23. Layer C3: engraved scapula
Microphotographs (x50) of the technical details described in the text. 1: slipping of the tool in the upper line of the tail. 2: lines with flat section, made by a single stroke of the tool, in the buttock line. 3: multiple incisions at the top of the back leg. 4: strokes representing the hair on the hump, made from right to left (or from bottom to top). The arrows indicate the direction of the strokes
Pictures O. R.
Fig. 24. Layer C3: engraved scapula
Probable chronology of the engraving of the different parts of the figure according to the technical analysis
Drawing O. R.
Fig. 25. Layer C2, antler industry
Piece of manufacturing waste on unshed red deer antler, showing splinter production with the GST (multiple longitudinal grooving) with indication of anatomical origin. The arrows indicate groove edges
Pictures J.-M. P.
Fig. 26. Layer C2, antler industry
Piece of manufacturing waste on shed reindeer antler, showing splinter production with the GST with indication of anatomical origin, and detailed view of the part showing a groove edge (indicated by an arrow) and traces of sectioning by scraping
Pictures J.-M. P.
Fig. 27. Layer C2, antler industry
1: splinter produced with the GST, with detailed view of one extremity; the arrows indicate groove edges. 2: fragment of object on splinter, with detailed view of the scraping marks on the fracture surface. 3: half-round rod with forked extremity: fragment of bivalve foreshaft
Pictures J.-M. P.
Fig. 28. Layer C2, bone industry
1: reindeer metapodial with incipient longitudinal grooving (shown by the arrow). 2: crude awl on rib, with detail of the distal extremity. 3: spatula on half-section of a rib, with detail of the transversal incisions
Pictures J.-M. P.
Faunal remains
Species present
6The excavations at Laa 2 have yielded several thousand faunal remains that can be attributed to nearly 40 bird and mammal taxa (table IX). The assemblage of micromammals is rich, the most abundant taxa being shrews (Sorex sp.) and several species of vole (M. œconomus, M. arvalis, C. nivalis, Terricola sp.). The medium-sized mammals include, in decreasing order of frequency, the red fox, the arctic fox, the hare, and the stoat. Four teeth from layers C3 and C3/C4 can be attributed to a small-sized canid of undetermined species; the lower premolar from layer C3/C4 has dimensions incompatible with both wolves and foxes and may suggest the presence of a small dog (fig. 29), although this evidence alone is not conclusive. The large mammals are represented by several species of ungulate, the proportion of which vary from one layer to another (table X): horse, reindeer, red deer, ibex, Pyrenean chamois, bovines, and two roe deer bones in layer C2. Bird remains belong to 7 orders, small passerines being the most abundant, followed by corvids (Alpine chough, red-billed chough and common raven) and galliformes (ptarmigans, grey partridge and black grouse); nocturnal raptors are documented as well as diurnal ones (an eagle ulna and several bones from small falcons), and four goose bones were found in layer C4.
Table IX. Faunal spectrum per layer expressed in the number of identified (NRD) or unidentified (NID) remains
| C5 | C4/C5 | C4 | C3/C4 | C3 | C2/C3 | C2 | Total | |
| Talpa sp. | (3) | (1) | (4) | (3) | (11) | |||
| Sorex sp. | (26) | (8) | (49) | (3) | (86) | |||
| Sorex minutus | (1) | (2) | (3) | |||||
| Neomys sp. | (3) | (2) | (5) | (1) | (11) | |||
| Crocidura sp. | (1) | (1) | (2) | |||||
| Glis glis | (2) | (2) | ||||||
| Eliomys quercinus | (2) | (2) | ||||||
| Clethrionomys glareolus | (2) | (2) | ||||||
| Arvicola sp. | (11) | (9) | (19) | (3) | (42) | |||
| Microtus arvalis | (70) | (19) | (94) | (2) | (185) | |||
| Microtus agrestis | (1) | 10 | (1) | (12) | ||||
| Microtus oeconomus | (27) | (7) | (41) | (2) | (77) | |||
| Microtus gregalis | (1) | (1) | ||||||
| Terricola sp. | (9) | (5) | (18) | (2) | (34) | |||
| Chinomys nivalis | (6) | (4) | (18) | (6) | (34) | |||
| Apodemus sp. | (1) | 5 | 12 | (18) | ||||
| Total micromammifères | (158) | (56) | (269) | (39) | (522) | |||
| Vulpes vulpes | 1 (1) | 6 (2) | 1 | 14 (2) | 3 (2) | 24 | ||
| Alopex lagopus | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 4 | |||||
| Vulpes/Alopex | 3 | 1 | 26 | 9 | 43 | |||
| Canidé indéterminé | 1 | 3 (1) | 4 | |||||
| Mustela erminea | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Mustela erminea/nivalis | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Lepus sp. | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 3 | ||||
| Mésomam. indéterminée | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Total mésomammifères | 5 | 7 | 2 | 50 | 15 | 82 | ||
| Equus caballus | 37 (3) | 1 | 7 (2) | 173 (6) | 193 (5) | 415 | ||
| Rangifer tarandus | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 3 | 117 (6) | 1 | 81 (4) | 206 | |
| Capra pyrenaica | 12 (2) | 1 | 16 (2) | 2 | 76 (3) | 2 | 24 (2) | 133 |
| Rupicapra rupicapra | 8 (1) | 1 | 26 (2) | 1 | 34 (2) | 9 (2) | 79 | |
| Capriné | 4 | 4 | ||||||
| Cervus elaphus | 3 (1) | 23 (3) | 39 (2) | 69 | ||||
| Cervidé | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | ||||
| Bison priscus | 4 (2) | 5 (1) | 8 (3) | 1 (1) | 18 | |||
| Capreolus capreolus | 2 (1) | 2 | ||||||
| Total Ongulés | 68 | 3 | 58 | 6 | 434 | 3 | 351 | 932 |
| Mam. très petite taille | 1 | 8 | 15 | 26 | ||||
| Mam. petite taille | 4 | 4 | 8 | |||||
| Mam. petite/moy. taille | 5 | 14 | 80 | 147 | 251 | |||
| Mam. moy. taille | 21 | 28 | 142 | 2 | 134 | 328 | ||
| Mam. grande/moy. taille | 26 | 21 | 87 | 88 | 224 | |||
| Mam. grande taille | 7 | 16 | 1 | 34 | 32 | 91 | ||
| Total mam. indéterminés | 60 | 0 | 79 | 1 | 355 | 2 | 420 | 928 |
| Total grande faune | 128 | 3 | 137 | 7 | 789 | 5 | 771 | 1860 |
| Anser sp. | 4 (1) | 4 | ||||||
| cf. Aquila | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Falco sp. | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 6 (1) | 8 | ||||
| Perdix perdix | 2 (1) | 2 | ||||||
| Lyrurus tetrix | 2 (1) | 2 | ||||||
| Lagopus mutus | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Lagopus sp. | 1 (1) | 7 (1) | 1 (1) | 9 | ||||
| Galliformes | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||
| Columba sp. | 4 (1) | 3 (1) | 7 | |||||
| Bubo sp. | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Strigiformes | 9 (1) | 1 (1) | 10 | |||||
| Pyrrhocorax cf. pyrrhocorax | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Pyrrhocorax graculus | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 5 (3) | 7 | ||||
| Corvidés (taille Chocard) | 12 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 41 | ||
| Corvus corax | 1 (1) | 1 | ||||||
| Passériformes (petits) | 13 (5) | 3 | 12 (4) | 3 | 30 (4) | 61 | ||
| Aves indéterminés | 7 | 8 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 53 | |
| Total oiseaux | 34 | 3 | 38 | 6 | 117 | 2 | 14 | 214 |
The minimal number of individuals appear in parentheses
Fig. 29. Measurements of the first lower premolar in foxes (light blue), dogs (black dots), wolf (red) and measurements of the individual from Laa 2 (blue diamonds)
The crosses indicate the individuals from late Pleistocene deposits
Table X. Number of identified ungulate remains and MNI per taxon for each layer
| C5 | C4 | C3 | C2 | |||||||||||
| NRD | %NRD | NMI | NRD | %NRD | NMI | NRD | %NRD | NMI | NRD | %NRD | NMI | Total | ||
| cheval | 37 | 58,7 | 3 | 7 | 12,1 | 2 | 173 | 40,1 | 6 | 193 | 55,3 | 5 | 410 | |
| renne | 2 | 3,2 | 1 | 1 | 1,7 | 1 | 117 | 27,1 | 6 | 81 | 23,2 | 4 | 201 | |
| bouquetin | 12 | 19,0 | 2 | 16 | 27,6 | 2 | 76 | 17,6 | 3 | 24 | 6,9 | 2 | 128 | |
| isard | 8 | 12,7 | 1 | 26 | 44,8 | 2 | 34 | 7,9 | 2 | 9 | 2,6 | 2 | 77 | |
| cerf | 0 | 0,0 | 0 | 3 | 5,2 | 1 | 23 | 5,3 | 3 | 39 | 11,2 | 2 | 65 | |
| bovinés | 4 | 6,3 | 2 | 5 | 8,6 | 1 | 8 | 1,9 | 3 | 1 | 0,3 | 1 | 18 | |
| chevreil | 0 | 0,0 | 0 | 0 | 0,0 | 0 | 0 | 0,0 | 0 | 2 | 0,6 | 1 | 2 | |
| total | 63 | 100 | 9 | 58 | 100 | 9 | 431 | 100 | 23 | 349 | 100 | 17 | 901 | |
Taphonomy
7The excellent preservation of the faunal remains (including bone refittings: fig. 34) has facilitated their taphonomic study. For the micromammals, the digestion rate of the teeth (tables 11 and 12, fig. 33) indicates an accumulation by owls. For the ungulates, concretions and longitudinal cracks are the most common postdepositional alterations (tables 15 and 16), and the accumulation is clearly of anthropic origin, although carnivore traces are rather frequent (fig. 30: 1.9% of the remains, distributed among almost all taxa) and sometimes indicative of large carnivore species (canids?). For the medium-sized mammals, anthropic traces (cutmarks and distal burning marks) have been observed on several fox remains from layers C3 and C2, showing that humans accumulated at least part of the bones from this species. On medium-sized mammals, however, traces of non-human predators are more numerous (fig. 31: digestion traces and pitting, observed on bones from layers C5, C3 and C2); the size of some digested bones might suggest scavenging by a small canid (dog?). For the bird remains, only two bones bear traces of human modification: a goose carpometacarpus and an ulna possibly attributed to an eagle. Other bird remains from small and medium-sized species show digestion marks indicating accumulation by large nocturnal raptors, and pit marks demonstrating the intervention of small carnivore mammals (tables 13 and 14, fig. 32). Only the Alpine chough remains are devoid of predation marks and are characterized by a large proportion (80%) of bones from juveniles, thus suggesting that the individuals from this species died in the cave without the intervention of predators.
Fig. 30. Distal part of horse humerus (C3) and ibex proximal phalanx (C2) with marks related to carnivore action
Pictures D. K.
Fig. 31. Chewing and digestion marks
1: partially digested third phalange of a fox. 2: left talus of a fox with acid attacks. 3: semi-digested third upper incisor of a fox. 4: first phalange of a fox with digestion marks. 5: distal part of a left tibia of a fox with digestion marks. 6: semi digested first phalange of a hare. 7: femoral head of a fox with digestion marks. 8: left calcaneus of a fox with chew marks. 9: femoral head of a fox with digestion marks. 10: second phalange of a hare with digestion marks
Fig. 32. Example of non-human predator marks observed on bird bones
1: Light digestion on a pigeon humerus proximal fragment, layer C2. 2: Chew marks on a ptarmigan tibiotarsus, layer C3. 3: Gnaw marks on the deltoid crest of a humerus from a black grouse, layer C2
Pictures V. L.
Fig. 34. Layer C3: articular restitution of two thoracic vertebrae and two extremities of ibex ribs found in anatomical connection (z=-955 to -960)
Pictures D. K.
Paleoenvironmental indications
8Paleoenvironmental data can be inferred from the faunal record. The assemblages of micromammals from layers C5 to C3 belong to the same biozone (2a, 2b, 2c: fig. 35): a cool and humid climate with very open landscapes. Layer C2 represents biozone 1: a more temperate, dryer climate with a more closed landscape (sparse forest). Among the ungulates, species from arctic and steppe milieu (horse and reindeer) are the most common in all the layers, except in layer C4, which is dominated by ibex and Pyrenean chamois. Ungulates from more closed environments (red deer and roe deer) are absent in layer C5 but become more frequent with time, especially in layer C2, which has yielded the only roe deer remains (fig. 36). Among the medium-sized mammals, the identification of the arctic fox in layers C3 and C2 indicates a rather cool and open environment. Several species of bird are also indicative of open, cold landscapes: ptarmigans (layers C4 to C2) and the Alpine chough (layers C5 to C3). However, in layer C2, the presence of two other bird species (grey partridge and black grouse) indicates the development of forest cover.
Exploitation of animals by humans
9There is no evidence of bird consumption in Laa 2 and only two bones document the non-alimentary exploitation of avian fauna (fig. 37): a goose carpometacarpus with cutmarks probably indicating the removal of feathers (C4); and a fragment of ulna possibly attributed to an eagle, the surface of which is covered with scraping marks, indicating the use of the bone as raw material (C2). In the other Magdalenian sites in the Arudy basin, the exploitation of birds is also limited, while other contemporary sites in the Pyrenees show the much more systematic hunting of certain avian species. This specificity of the Arudy Magdalenian remains to be explained.
Fig. 37. Bird bones with marks resulting from human activity
1: Cutmarks on a goose carpometacarpus, layer C4. 2: Worked ulna from cf. Eagle, layer C2
Pictures V. L.
10Among the bones of medium-sized mammals, 6 fox remains from layers C3 and 2 from layer C2 show either cutmarks or burn marks (fig. 38). These marks indicate that foxes (including one artic fox) were skinned, defleshed (removal of fleshy parts such as the tongue), and cooked.
Fig. 38. Anthropogenic marks on fox remains
1: left half of a fox mandible with cut marks on the medial border. 2: right half of a fox mandible with cut marks on the lateral border. 3: half mandible of an arctic fox with cut marks on the symphysis. 4: fifth metatarsal of a fox and schematic drawing of the location of the marks (skinning). 5: first phalange of a fox with heating marks on the distal part. 6: shaft fragment of a fox ulna with burn marks on the distal part. Scale bar is 1 cm
Pictures J.-B. M.
11The age at death based on tooth eruption and wear could be determined for most ungulates in the two main layers (C3 and C2). The hunters mainly targeted young and prime age individuals, except several very old horses, especially in layer C2. The hunting season is rather poorly documented. The presence of a few fetal bones from large ungulates in layers C4 to C2 indicates the capture of pregnant females during the winter and/or the beginning of spring; a rib from a newborn horse and deciduous reindeer incisors in layer C3 are also compatible with winter/spring hunts. The skeletal part profiles of the two main ungulates in the two main layers (horse and reindeer in C3 and C2: fig. 39) suggest that only incomplete carcasses were brought to the site, favoring the parts rich in marrow, while all or part of the axial postcranial skeleton might have been discarded offsite.
Fig. 39. Layers C3 and C2: skeletal representation of horse and reindeer with test results of Spearman correlation for bone density, sFUI ranks and marrow indices
1: horse, layer C3. 2: reindeer, layer C3. 3: horse, C2 layer. 4: reindeer, C2 layer
CAD D. K.
12On the ungulate remains, butchery traces are frequent and well preserved (cutmarks and percussion marks: table XVII). Traces on the bones from layer C5 document the defleshing of the limb bones and ribs of large ungulates, and the skinning of ibex and Pyrenean chamois. In layer C4, the bones of ibex and Pyrenean chamois show abundant traces of skinning, disarticulation, defleshing and marrow collection, while traces of defleshing and marrow collection are documented on large ungulates (horse and bison). In layers C3 and C2 (fig. 40 to 44), skinning, disarticulation and defleshing traces are documented on all major ungulate species, and marrow collection is especially intensive, as indicated by the high frequency of percussion marks on marrow-rich limb bones and mandibles.
Table XVII. Percentage of ungulate remains with butchery marks (cutmarks and percussion impact marks) per taxon and layer
| Digestion (NR) | ||||||
| Couche | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| C2 | 81,2 | 11,1 | 6,0 | 1,7 | 0 | 100 |
| C3 | 95,2 | 1,0 | 3,1 | 0,3 | 0,3 | 100 |
| C4 | 78,6 | 15,5 | 3,9 | 1,5 | 0,5 | 100 |
| C5 | 82,8 | 9,6 | 5,5 | 1,8 | 0,3 | 100 |
| Total | 88,2 | 6,2 | 4,2 | 1,1 | 6 | 100 |
Bold: species for which the number of identified remains (NRD) is greater than 30
Fig. 40. Layer C3: schematic representation of the butchery activities on the main ungulates
CAD D. K.
Fig. 42. Layer C3: distal end of an ibex humerus with disarticulation cutmarks and percussion impact marks
Pictures D. K.
Fig. 43. Layer C2: schematic representation of the butchery activities on the main ungulates
CAD D. K.
Fig. 44. Layer C2: split barrel horse teeth, resulting from the fracturing of the mandibles
CAD D. K.
Summary and discussion
13Stratigraphic sequences such as that at Laa 2 are rarely found in the northern Pyrenean Magdalenian. Geological and radiocarbon data from layer C5 suggest that this layer represents the earliest human reoccupations of the cave at the end of the LGM. These are the oldest dates for human presence in the Arudy basin and they correspond to the Lower Magdalenian, a little-known phase in the northern Pyrenees. Layer C4 is attributed to the Middle Magdalenian and radiocarbon dates point to the early part of this phase. This Early Middle Magdalenian might be documented locally in the Arudy basin at Tastet and Espalungue caves; elsewhere in the Pyrenees, it is usually related to the presence of a specific type of antler single-beveled point, the Lussac-Angles point. Layers C3 and C2 are attributed to the Late Middle Magdalenian and Upper Magdalenian, both of which correspond to the major development of the Magdalenian occupation of the northern Pyrenees. Specifically, lithic and osseous armatures (narrow, straight bladelets “on flake edge”; forked points and foreshafts) point to obvious links with other Magdalenian sites, both locally in Arudy and beyond in the Pyrenees.
14One of the interests of the Laa 2 sequence is that it documents coeval changes in the environment and in the hunting, technical and economic choices of the human groups. The faunal record from layers C5 to C3 indicates a very open, humid and cool landscape, but evidence of reforestation appears in layer C2, an evolution that can be related to the beginning of GI-1e (Bølling). While many aspects of human behavior remain stable throughout the sequence (non-alimentary use of birds in layers C4 and C2; exploitation of fox in layers C3 and C2; possible presence of dogs in the same layers; evidence of winter/spring hunts in several layers), changes are visible in the ungulates hunted: mountain species are dominant in the lower layers but then lose importance in favor of horse and reindeer; red deer becomes increasingly present throughout the sequence; conversely, bovines almost totally disappear in layer C2. Although these changes can theoretically result from purely anthropic choices (shift of preferred hunting grounds), it is tempting to interpret them as an echo of the coeval environmental fluctuations. In the lithic and osseous industries, only layers C3 and C2 have yielded assemblages large enough for comparison. Although the flysch flint (type 1) is dominant in all the assemblages, the proportion of the other types clearly increases from C3 to C2, suggesting a more diversified flint supply. At the same time, the design of the lithic armatures changes, possibly towards a more integrated blade and bladelet production. An evolution of armature technology is also visible in the antler industry (i.e., forked implements present only at the C3/C2 interface, and the presence in C3 of a self-barbed point that has no equivalent in C2).
15These results must be considered in terms of the small surface excavated, an unfortunate situation that probably accounts for the scarcity of certain categories of material (absence of personal ornaments and almost complete absence of portable art) and the underrepresentation of certain activities. Nevertheless, this excavation has yielded important information for our understanding of population dynamics in the northern Pyrenees after the LGM. Unexpectedly ancient resettlement episodes occur shortly after the deglaciation in a cool, humid and very open environment. They are followed by several occupation episodes over five millennia in a foothill zone that was obviously attractive to hunter-gatherers; a zone that was progressively impacted by the local consequences of global climate changes. Similarly, the changes documented in the industries offer a local reflection of the evolution affecting hunter-gatherer societies in the last millennia of the Upper Paleolithic.
Table des illustrations
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| Titre | Fig 1. Location of Paleolithic sites in the Arudy basin |
| Légende | 1: Malarode 1 and Malarode 2; 2: Laa 2; 3: Poeymaü; 4: Espalungue; 5: Bignalats; 6: Saint-Michel; 7: Tastet cave in Sainte-Colome. Bottom left: location of the Arudy basin in the Pyrenean isthmus |
| Crédits | Map: IGN (www.geoportail.gouv.fr) |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-1.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 2,6M |
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| Titre | Fig. 2. Section of Laa 2 cave before the beginning of the excavations, showing the location of the Paleolithic test pit |
| Crédits | Topography: M. Douat (CDS64) with M.-C. Douat, M. Lauga, P. Dumontier |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-2.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,1M |
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| Titre | Fig. 3. Topography of Laa 2 cave before the beginning of the excavations, showing the location of the Paleolithic test pit |
| Crédits | Topography: M. Douat (CDS64) with M.-C. Douat, M. Lauga, P. Dumontier |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-3.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 198k |
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| Titre | Fig. 4. View of the I28/I29 section and partial view of square I29. |
| Légende | 1: surface of Ensemble 1 (US 4012); 2: Ensemble 2 (blocks); 3: Ensemble 3 (stalagmite floor). Scale: 50 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column) |
| Crédits | Picture J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-4.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,1M |
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| Titre | Fig. 5. I30/I31 profile, showing US 4003, 4011, 4012, 4013 |
| Légende | 4003: stalagmite floor; 4011: limestone debris with semi-open structure; 2012: filled limestone debris; 4013: alluvial material and blocks collapsed from the ceiling. Scale: 50 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column) |
| Crédits | Pictures C. F. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-5.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,9M |
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| Titre | Fig. 6. I30/I31 profile, US 4012 |
| Légende | Lens with semi-open structure (a) resulting from the leaching of the fine-grained fraction below water drippings from the ceiling. Scale: 37 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column) |
| Crédits | Picture C. F. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-6.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,0M |
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| Titre | Fig. 7. I30/I31 profile, US 4011. Semi-open structure of US 4011 |
| Légende | Scale: 50 cmNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column) |
| Crédits | Picture C. F. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-7.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,8M |
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| Titre | Fig. 8. Vertical plot of all remains with 3D coordinates in squares I29 and I30, along the north-south axis |
| Légende | The radiocarbon-dated bones are indicated. The 16070 ± 75 BP date is linked to two objects because the bone dated could be refitted with another. As indicated in the text, the material at the bottom of layer C3 –and thus the bone that yielded the date of 14570 ± 75 BP– probably migrated here from the upper part of the layerNC: unknown. The name of the sample indicates which species was dated (see the “taxon” column) |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-8.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 748k |
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| Titre | Fig. 9. Calibrated radiocarbon dates for the Paleolithic sequence in Laa 2 cave |
| Légende | Calibration with the OxCal 4.2 software (Bronk Ramsey, 2009), IntCal13 dataset (Reimer et al., 2013). One sigma (68.2%) and two sigma (95.4%) intervals are shown |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-9.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 162k |
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| Titre | Fig. 10. Distribution per layer of analyzed lithic industry |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-10.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 191k |
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| Titre | Fig. 11. Macroscopic view with the more representative micropalaeontological content of the four analyzed cherts |
| Crédits | Pictures M. S. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-11.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 2,1M |
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| Titre | Fig. 12. Distribution, in percentage per layer, of the analyzed lithic industry after characterization |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-12.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 216k |
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| Titre | Fig. 13. Flint count per blank and per layer |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-13.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 201k |
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| Titre | Fig. 14. Main flint outcrops with similarities in the archaeological assemblage of Laa 2 |
| Légende | Blue: flysch type; lilac: Chalosse type; pink: Montgaillard / Montsaunès type; brown: lacustrine type. 1: Bidache. 2: Iholdy. 3: Salies-de-Béarn. 4: Précilhon. 5: Meillon. 6: Turbón. 7: Tercis. 8: Audignon. 9: Hibarette. 10: Montgaillard. 11: Montsaunès. 12: Treviño. 13: “Monegros”. 14: Peraltilla. 15: Serra Llarga |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-14.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 651k |
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| Titre | Fig. 15. Examples of tools from the sequence of Laa2 |
| Légende | Layer C2: 1, burin; 2-3, endscrapers. Layer C3: 4-5, blades with lateral retouch; 5, endscraper. C4: 7, burin |
| Crédits | Drawings S. Pasty, CAD ML |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-15.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 475k |
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| Titre | Fig. 16. Examples of backed bladelets from the sequence of Laa 2 |
| Légende | Layer C4: narrow backed bladelets. Layer C3, top row: simple backed bladelets. Layer C3, middle and bottom rows: narrow backed bladelets. Layer C2: backed points and bladelet. Grey silhouettes: scale 1:1; drawings: scale 2:1 |
| Crédits | Drawings S. Pasty, CAD ML |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-16.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 749k |
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| Titre | Fig. 17. Layer C3: examples of sub-products from blade and bladelet knapping on blocks or on the edge of a flake |
| Crédits | Drawings S. Pasty |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-17.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 243k |
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| Titre | Fig. 18. Layer C3: examples of bladelet cores on the edge of a flake (1-3) and “enveloppants” on block, pyramidal (4-5) and prismatic (6-7) types |
| Crédits | Drawings S. Pasty |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-18.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 846k |
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| Titre | Fig. 19. Layer C4, bone industry: spatula on half-section of rib |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-19.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 721k |
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| Titre | Fig. 20. Layer C3, antler industry |
| Légende | 1: piece of manufacturing waste indicating splinter production with the groove and splinter technique (GST, multiple longitudinal grooving), with anatomical origin and detailed view of the blunting on the distal extremity. 2: piece of shaping waste on a splinter produced with the GST. 3: self-barbed point, with detailed view of the incisions on the lower side and reconstitution of its probable hafting. 4: fork-based point. 5: tine of fork-based point. For artifacts 1 and 2 the arrows indicate groove edges |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-20.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 809k |
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| Titre | Fig. 21. Layer C3, bone industry |
| Légende | 1: piece of GST manufacturing waste on a half-section of rib; grooves are indicated by arrows. 2: eyed needle. 3: retoucher on radius flake, with detailed view of the two used zones. 4: spatula on horse hyoid bone |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-21.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 636k |
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| Titre | Fig. 22. Layer C3: engraved scapula |
| Légende | Picture (assemblage of x20 microphotographs) and drawing of the engravings and parasite lines |
| Crédits | Pictures and drawing: O. R. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-22.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1000k |
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| Titre | Fig. 23. Layer C3: engraved scapula |
| Légende | Microphotographs (x50) of the technical details described in the text. 1: slipping of the tool in the upper line of the tail. 2: lines with flat section, made by a single stroke of the tool, in the buttock line. 3: multiple incisions at the top of the back leg. 4: strokes representing the hair on the hump, made from right to left (or from bottom to top). The arrows indicate the direction of the strokes |
| Crédits | Pictures O. R. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-23.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,1M |
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| Titre | Fig. 24. Layer C3: engraved scapula |
| Légende | Probable chronology of the engraving of the different parts of the figure according to the technical analysis |
| Crédits | Drawing O. R. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-24.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 133k |
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| Titre | Fig. 25. Layer C2, antler industry |
| Légende | Piece of manufacturing waste on unshed red deer antler, showing splinter production with the GST (multiple longitudinal grooving) with indication of anatomical origin. The arrows indicate groove edges |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-25.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 831k |
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| Titre | Fig. 26. Layer C2, antler industry |
| Légende | Piece of manufacturing waste on shed reindeer antler, showing splinter production with the GST with indication of anatomical origin, and detailed view of the part showing a groove edge (indicated by an arrow) and traces of sectioning by scraping |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-26.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 661k |
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| Titre | Fig. 27. Layer C2, antler industry |
| Légende | 1: splinter produced with the GST, with detailed view of one extremity; the arrows indicate groove edges. 2: fragment of object on splinter, with detailed view of the scraping marks on the fracture surface. 3: half-round rod with forked extremity: fragment of bivalve foreshaft |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-27.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,1M |
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| Titre | Fig. 28. Layer C2, bone industry |
| Légende | 1: reindeer metapodial with incipient longitudinal grooving (shown by the arrow). 2: crude awl on rib, with detail of the distal extremity. 3: spatula on half-section of a rib, with detail of the transversal incisions |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-M. P. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-28.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 808k |
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| Titre | Fig. 29. Measurements of the first lower premolar in foxes (light blue), dogs (black dots), wolf (red) and measurements of the individual from Laa 2 (blue diamonds) |
| Légende | The crosses indicate the individuals from late Pleistocene deposits |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-29.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 201k |
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| Titre | Fig. 30. Distal part of horse humerus (C3) and ibex proximal phalanx (C2) with marks related to carnivore action |
| Crédits | Pictures D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-30.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 601k |
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| Titre | Fig. 31. Chewing and digestion marks |
| Légende | 1: partially digested third phalange of a fox. 2: left talus of a fox with acid attacks. 3: semi-digested third upper incisor of a fox. 4: first phalange of a fox with digestion marks. 5: distal part of a left tibia of a fox with digestion marks. 6: semi digested first phalange of a hare. 7: femoral head of a fox with digestion marks. 8: left calcaneus of a fox with chew marks. 9: femoral head of a fox with digestion marks. 10: second phalange of a hare with digestion marks |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-31.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 451k |
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| Titre | Fig. 32. Example of non-human predator marks observed on bird bones |
| Légende | 1: Light digestion on a pigeon humerus proximal fragment, layer C2. 2: Chew marks on a ptarmigan tibiotarsus, layer C3. 3: Gnaw marks on the deltoid crest of a humerus from a black grouse, layer C2 |
| Crédits | Pictures V. L. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-32.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 544k |
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| Titre | Fig. 33. Digestion rate of the micromammal assemblages (%) |
| Crédits | Pictures D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-33.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 106k |
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| Titre | Fig. 34. Layer C3: articular restitution of two thoracic vertebrae and two extremities of ibex ribs found in anatomical connection (z=-955 to -960) |
| Crédits | Pictures D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-34.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 758k |
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| Titre | Fig. 35. Micromammals of layers C2 to C5 (minimum number of individuals) |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-35.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 364k |
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| Titre | Fig. 36. Ecological groups in each layer, in %MNI |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-36.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 167k |
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| Titre | Fig. 37. Bird bones with marks resulting from human activity |
| Légende | 1: Cutmarks on a goose carpometacarpus, layer C4. 2: Worked ulna from cf. Eagle, layer C2 |
| Crédits | Pictures V. L. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-37.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 834k |
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| Titre | Fig. 38. Anthropogenic marks on fox remains |
| Légende | 1: left half of a fox mandible with cut marks on the medial border. 2: right half of a fox mandible with cut marks on the lateral border. 3: half mandible of an arctic fox with cut marks on the symphysis. 4: fifth metatarsal of a fox and schematic drawing of the location of the marks (skinning). 5: first phalange of a fox with heating marks on the distal part. 6: shaft fragment of a fox ulna with burn marks on the distal part. Scale bar is 1 cm |
| Crédits | Pictures J.-B. M. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-38.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 496k |
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| Titre | Fig. 39. Layers C3 and C2: skeletal representation of horse and reindeer with test results of Spearman correlation for bone density, sFUI ranks and marrow indices |
| Légende | 1: horse, layer C3. 2: reindeer, layer C3. 3: horse, C2 layer. 4: reindeer, C2 layer |
| Crédits | CAD D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-39.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 354k |
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| Titre | Fig. 40. Layer C3: schematic representation of the butchery activities on the main ungulates |
| Crédits | CAD D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-40.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 860k |
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| Titre | Fig. 41. Layer C3: percussion impact on a horse mandible |
| Crédits | Pictures D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-41.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 1,0M |
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| Titre | Fig. 42. Layer C3: distal end of an ibex humerus with disarticulation cutmarks and percussion impact marks |
| Crédits | Pictures D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-42.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 976k |
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| Titre | Fig. 43. Layer C2: schematic representation of the butchery activities on the main ungulates |
| Crédits | CAD D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-43.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 318k |
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| Titre | Fig. 44. Layer C2: split barrel horse teeth, resulting from the fracturing of the mandibles |
| Crédits | CAD D. K. |
| URL | http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/docannexe/image/588/img-44.jpg |
| Fichier | image/jpeg, 721k |
Pour citer cet article
Référence papier
Jean-Marc Pétillon, Véronique Laroulandie, Myriam Boudadi-Maligne, Patrice Dumontier, Catherine Ferrier, Delphine Kuntz, Mathieu Langlais, Jean-Baptiste Mallye, Vincent Mistrot, Christian Normand, Olivia Rivero Vilá et Marta Sánchez de la Torre, « Magdalenian occupations between 20000 and 15000 cal BP in the Pyrenean foothills: test-pitting the Paleolithic sequence of Laa 2 cave (Arudy, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France) », Gallia Préhistoire, 57 | 2017, 65-70.
Référence électronique
Jean-Marc Pétillon, Véronique Laroulandie, Myriam Boudadi-Maligne, Patrice Dumontier, Catherine Ferrier, Delphine Kuntz, Mathieu Langlais, Jean-Baptiste Mallye, Vincent Mistrot, Christian Normand, Olivia Rivero Vilá et Marta Sánchez de la Torre, « Magdalenian occupations between 20000 and 15000 cal BP in the Pyrenean foothills: test-pitting the Paleolithic sequence of Laa 2 cave (Arudy, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France) », Gallia Préhistoire [En ligne], 57 | 2017, mis en ligne le 15 février 2018, consulté le 06 février 2026. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/galliap/588 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/galliap.588
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