Titre : Archaeological layer, archaeological floor and parietal soot films: a micro-chronological approach to understanding occupations in caves 

Auteurs : Ségolène Vandevelde, Jacques É. Brochier, Ludovic Slimak,  

Revue : Archaeology, Society and Environment 

Numéro : Issue 1 

Volume : 1 

Date : 2019/07/16 

DOI : 10.21494/ISTE.OP.2021.0611 

ISSN : 2752-4507 

Résumé : Traces of soot reflecting past human activities are sometimes observed on the ceilings and walls of caves and rock shelters, sometimes also inside speleothems. These deposits, which result from anthropogenic fires, are proving to be a particularly suitable material for very high-resolution micro-chronological studies. Microscopic analysis of carbonate crusts from walls of various ages (Middle and Upper Palaeolithic) shows that they preserve traces of multiple occupations that can be linked to the archaeological units identified during the excavation. The generally high MNOs (Minimum Number of Occupations), which correspond to each archaeological unit, attest to the cumulative nature of the latter. Each level records a different number of occupations from one unit to another and presents particular rhythmicity. The research potential for soot deposits are diverse and suggest the possibility of studying the mobility of past human groups with previously unrivalled temporal resolution. Concerns about the concept of “archaeological floor” and “palimpsest” as applied to spatial studies in caves and under shelters/under rock is also developed. 

Éditeur : ISTE OpenScience