Investigating relationships between technological variability and ecology in the Middle Gravettian (ca. 32-28 ky cal. BP) in France.

Abstract

<p>The French Middle Gravettian represents an interesting case study for attempting to identify mechanisms behind the typo-technological variability observed in the archaeological record. Associated with the relatively cold and dry environments of GS.5.2 and 5.1, this phase of the Gravettian is characterized by two lithic typo-technical entities (faciès in French): the Noaillian (defined by the presence of Noailles burins) and the Rayssian (identified by the Raysse method of bladelet production).The two faciès have partially overlapping geographic distributions, with the Rayssian having a more northern and restricted geographic extension than the Noaillian. Their chronological relationship, however, is still unclear, and interpretations of their dual presence at many sites within the region of overlap are not yet consensual. Nonetheless, the absence of the Raysse method south of the Garonne River suggests that this valley may have separated two different cultural trajectories for which the Rayssian represents an adaptation to environmental conditions different from those associated with the Noaillian assemblages south of the Garonne River. The aim of this study is to test this hypothesis quantitatively using ecological niche modeling (ENM) methods. We critically evaluate published data to construct inventories of Noaillian and Rayssian archaeological sites. Using ENM methods, we estimate the ecological niches associated with the Middle Gravettian north (Noaillian + Rayssian) and south (Pyrenees Noaillian) of the Garonne River, and these predicted niches are then quantitatively evaluated and compared. Results demonstrate that, despite a relatively large degree of similarity, the niches differ significantly from one another in both geographic and environmental dimensions and that the niche associated with the northern Middle Gravettian is broader than that of the Pyrenees Noaillian. We propose that this pattern reflects different technological, subsistence and mobility strategies linked to the development of the Raysse method in the North, which was likely more advantageous in such environmental contexts than those employed by Pyrenees populations.</p>

Environmental changes in SW France during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition from the pollen analysis of an eastern North Atlantic deep-sea core

“…Some authors explain the origin of technical or demographic changes during the Mousterian, the Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition or the Neolithic through environmental changes (Richerson et al, 2005;Berger and Guilaine, 2009;Borrell et al, 2015;Defleur et al, 2020). Others postulate that expansions and contractions of eco-cultural niches have been caused by climate and environmental changes (Banks et al, 2008(Banks et al, , 2013Vignoles et al, 2020). Still others advocate that cultural changes are independent of environmental changes (Pétillon et al, 2016).…”

Was fire use a cultural trait of the Gravettian? New micro-archaeological data from Fuente del Salín cave (Val de San Vicente, Cantabria)

“…Despite moving within regions up to 900 km wide, these populations had somewhat restricted social networks until 27 ka cal BP, as evidenced by their limited gene ow and distinct mortuary practices (Posth et al, 2023). The combined high levels of mobility and multi-seasonal sedentism of Gravettian groups throughout Europe are further supported by data from human bones, lithic technology, raw materials, and botanical remains (Aranguren et al, 2015;Bradtmöller et al, 2016;Holt, 2003;Kozłowski, 2015;Marreiros & Bicho, 2013;Moreau, 2009;Moreau et al, 2016;Scheer, 1993;Taller et al, 2019;Trinkaus, 2005;Vignoles et al, 2021). We conclude that intensive burning, intensive reuse of combustion features, and sanitization practices as observed at several Gravettian sites throughout Europe, including Fuente del Salín, likely re ect the settlement pattern of these foragers.…”

Guide francophone pour la modélisation de niches écologiques

“…Concernant l'application de l'ENM aux données archéologiques, l'estimation de M reste un point méthodologique encore peu exploré. Les études récentes se basent sur des hypothèses biogéographiques -par exemple, en excluant les zones recouvertes de glaciers ou en incluant des portions de continent alors émergésmais aussi culturelles, en se référant notamment au principe d'actualisme (i.e., les distances maximales parcourues par des groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs subactuels; Vignoles et al, 2021) ou à la provenance de matériaux présents au sein des sites (silex, parures en coquillages; Vignoles, 2021). Ces estimations de M restent toutefois approximatives.…”

“…Les modèles obtenus s'appuient sur des corrélations entre des occurrences connues pour ledit taxon et des variables environnementales présentées sous forme de cartes à plus ou moins haute résolution. Ils sont utilisés pour une grande diversité d'applications et de problématiques, telles que la découverte de nouvelles espèces ou populations (e.g., Raxworthy et al, 2003;de Siqueira et al, 2009;Peterson et Navarro-Sigüenza, 2009), la planification des politiques de conservation de la biodiversité (e.g., Sohn et al, 2013;Sobral-Souza et al, 2021), les dynamiques spatiales d'espèces invasives (e.g., Zhu et al, 2012;Escobar et al, 2014;Alkishe et al, 2020;Nuñez-Penichet et al, 2021a), les mécanismes de macroévolution des espèces (e.g., Saupe et al, 2019), la paléoécologie et paléo-distribution d'espèces fossiles (e.g., Myers et al, 2015;Gibert, Vignoles et al, 2022), la diffusion de maladies via des vecteurs animaux (e.g., Sweeney et al, 2006;Escobar et al, 2017;Marques et al, 2020Marques et al, , 2021, l'impact du changement climatique sur les espèces animales ou végétales (e.g., Warren et al, 2014;Ashraf et al, 2017), ou encore les relations cultureenvironnement chez les chasseurs-cueilleurs du Paléolithique (e.g., Banks et al, 2006Banks et al, , 2009Banks et al, , 2011Banks et al, , 2021Vignoles et al, 2021). Dans les années 2000, le nombre d'études employant l'ENM a explosé (Lobo et al, 2010).…”