Environment during the Middle to Late Palaeolithic transition in southern France: The archaeological sequence of Tournal Cave (Bize-Minervois, France)

Biostratigraphy and Palaeoecology of European Equus

“…This could be attributed to adaptive pedomorphism or dwarfism (Gould, 1976;Guthrie, 1984;Forsten, 1988Forsten, , 1996 to maintain population densities in an increasingly fragmented or constraining environment by increasing the rate of population growth (e.g., through the shortening of the gestation period) for the survival of the species Forsten, 1993). This could be an adaptive response to rapid changes in climate during this period (Magniez and Boulbes, 2014). Size reduction among late Pleistocene horses also provides a useful biochronological marker (Magniez and Boulbes, 2014).…”

“…This could be an adaptive response to rapid changes in climate during this period (Magniez and Boulbes, 2014). Size reduction among late Pleistocene horses also provides a useful biochronological marker (Magniez and Boulbes, 2014). Even if there are exceptions: the horse of Portel-Ouest cave (levels F) is larger than those of the contemporary sites of MIS 3, perhaps resulting from a regional particularism.…”

“…Following the distribution of the currently recognized species, the robustness of the diaphysis of the metapodials correlates well with moisture levels (Eisenmann, 1984). For example, the metacarpal from the Mousterian layers of Tournal B-D and Abri du Maras (level 4.1) (E. f. germanicus, South of France, MIS 3) have a relatively robust diaphysis, which reflects the high humidity recorded in these levels (Echchat, 2008;Magniez and Boulbes, 2014;Daujeard et al, 2019) (Figure 8A). On the other hand, the metacarpal of the horse from Coulet des Roches (South France, MIS 2) is slender in relation to the hard substrate frequented as demonstrated by other proxies (Crégut-Bonnoure et al, 2018) (Figure 8B).…”

Palaeolithic collection from Bize cave (France) in archeological depository of Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology (Moscow State University)

“…Îí ñîäåðaeèò àðõåîëîãè÷åñêèå êóëüòóðíûå ñëîè B, C, D1 è D2 ñ áîëüøîé êîëëåêöèåé êîñòåé êðóïíûõ aeèâîòíûõ è îðóäèé, íóêëåóñîâ è äåáèòàaeà èç êâàðöèòà, îòíîñÿùèõñÿ, êàê è ìàòåðèàëû êóëüòóðíîãî ñëîÿ A, ê çóá÷àòîìó âàðèàíòó ìóñòüå [de Lumley, Isetti, 1965;Tavoso, 1987b].  êóëüòóðíûõ ñëîÿõ B, D1 è D2 áûëè îáíàðóaeåíû ïàëåîàíòðîïîëîãè÷åñêèå íàõîäêè -ôàëàíãè Homo neanderthalensis [Magniez, Boulbes, 2014].…”

“…Îáíàðóaeåíû óêðàøåíèÿ èç ðàêóøåê è çóáîâ ñ îòâåðñòèÿìè. Ãîðèçîíò îòíîñèòñÿ ê òèïè÷íîìó îðèíüÿêó [Magniez and Boulbes, 2014].…”