The early farmers of France

Abstract

In the sixth millennium the more open soils of France were peopled by Tardenoisian hunters and gatherers. In the north there were groups along the coasts, particularly in Picardy and Brittany, and inland on the sandy soils of the Plain of Flanders and the Ile de France and on the granitic soils of the Armorican massif. Such groups continued to exist alongside farming groups until well into the third millennium.

Origins of the Bell Beaker cultures

“…Why such assumptions have survived is interesting, because many of the associated phenomena in west European prehistory which were formerly seen as fairly homogeneous groupings now appear differently, especially with C14 dating. The old models for megalithic sequences and the spread of tomb types from Spain to Scandinavia (Daniel, 1958; are now uncertain, particularly with the Breton megalithic dates (Bender and Phillips, 1972;Giot, 1971). So too with the 'western Neolithic' ceramic complex of Schuchhardt (1935), which linked all the West European plain wares together into a loose continuum, representing the earliest Neolithic in the area.…”

“…So too with the 'western Neolithic' ceramic complex of Schuchhardt (1935), which linked all the West European plain wares together into a loose continuum, representing the earliest Neolithic in the area. That has suffered with the recognition at Arene Candide of an Impressed Ware level (25-28) below Bocca Quadrata pottery, and with the realization that the Chassey culture has two distinct assemblages, one in the north and the other in the south of France (Bender and Phillips, 1972).…”

The Megalithic Tomb of Pedra Branca, Portugal. Preliminary Report

“…In view of the radiocarbon date of 2340 ± 85 be (Almagro 1959) obtained for the transition from the first to the second period of Los Millares in which Beaker wares begin to appear, and of that of 2200 ± 120 be for the corresponding level of Almizaraque, the date of 2800 be attributed, at Lapa do Fumo, Sesimbra, to a level of importation in which Beaker ware appears at the top, cannot correspond with the latter culture, which must be intrusive at a later moment in time. One also hesitates to accept, at the present state of our knowledge, very high dates (2500 be) for Beakers in gallery graves of Brittany (Bender, Phillips 1972).…”