Zusammenfassung
Die mittelpaläolithische Fundstelle Mutzig “Rain” liegt im Elsass (Département Bas-Rhin, F) und wurde 1992 (Sainty, 1992)bei Umbauarbeiten zufällig entdeckt. Seit 2009 wird sie im Rahmen von systematischen Grabungskampagnen erforscht. Die Fundstelle lag ursprünglich unter einem Felsdach aus Buntsandstein, welches aber schon in prähistorischer Zeit teilweise eingestürzt und heute nicht mehr sichtbar ist. Insgesamt sind zurzeit sechs or acht archäologische Schichten bekannt. Der natürliche Felsgrund wurde bisher nicht erreicht und deshalb ist die vertikale Ausdehnung der Fundschichten nicht bekannt. Das reiche Fundmaterial ist sehr gut erhalten und setzt sich vorwiegend aus Steinartefakten, Faunenresten, Mikrofauna und Holzkohlen zusammen. Mehrere gut erhaltene Feuerstellen konnten ebenfalls dokumentiert werden.
Alle Funde können dem Mittelpaläolithikum zugewiesen werden, die absoluten Datierungen (OSL, sowie ESR/U-TH) liegen alle in einem Zeitraum um 90‘000 Jahre vor heute und zeigen eine chronologische Stellung zu Beginn der letzten Eiszeit (Weichsel bzw. Würmkaltzeit).
Auch wenn das Fundmaterial aller Fundschichten grosse Ähnlichkeiten hinsichtlich der Umweltbedingungen aufweist und auch die Steinartefakte viele Gemeinsamkeiten zeigen, sind innerhalb der Schichtabfolge Unterschiede erkennbar. Eine ausgedehnte Flächengrabung und die Resultate der interdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit erlauben uns erste Einblicke in die Besiedelung der Fundstelle zur Zeit der Neandertaler. Neben der Analyse der Steingeräte und der Feuerstellen wird das Fund- und Probenmaterial auch von Spezialisten der Archäozoologie, Mikrofauna, der Geoarchäologie (Mikromorhologie, Sedimentologie und Petrogtraphie), Anthrokologie, Palynologie und der Isotopenanalyse bearbeitet (Koehler et al., 2016a).
History of Discoveries
The site of Mutzig is located in Alsace, due west of Strasbourg. It lies in the heart of the Rhine Valley in what was probably a strategic location during the great animal migrations of the Ice Age (Fig. 1: 1). More precisely, the site is located at the foot of the Bruche Valley. The Bruche is a tributary of the Rhine that rises in the Vosges, with the site situated at the very point where the valley narrows before opening onto the plain. This topographical position could have been exploited by Neanderthals for hunting, particularly since this was originally a marshy area and remained so until drainage works were undertaken in the early 1900s.
A number of early discoveries in the neighboring commune of Greswiller are worth mentioning. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century deposits of animal bones were found during railway construction works (Forrer 1930; Fig. 1: 2). The remains were found at the foot of a rocky spur, facing the site of Mutzig, exactly at the narrow point of the valley mentioned above. In the 1920s a follow-up study of the site carried out by Robert Forrer identified the remains of Pleistocene fauna such as mammoth, rhinoceros and horse. No anthropogenic remains were found, although it is possible that they simply were not identified at the time.
The site of Mutzig itself was discovered in 1992, directly opposite the earlier discoveries. While digging in his garden, a local man uncovered a number of lithic artifacts and large animal bones, including those of Mammoth and rhinoceros.
Following these discoveries, the plots located next to these discoveries, which were earmarked for development, were archaeologically tested by Jean Sainty in 1993 (Sainty 1993; Sainty et al. 1994 and Koehler et al. 2016a; Fig. 2). All of the test trenches yielded evidence for Middle Paleolithic levels. None of the trenches reached the natural bedrock as excavation was generally stopped once anthropogenic material was found. In light of these positive results, the two plots were purchased by the public authority in 2007 and construction plans were abandoned.
Over a period of several years, a program of archaeological testing, surveying and assessment was carried out in this communal area (Sainty et al. 1996). This allowed the extent of the Paleolithic occupation to be delimited within an area of about 5000 m². Current excavations involve an area of 50 m². Excavations began in 2009, with the first season of fieldwork focused on re-opening the trenches dug by Jean Sainty in the 1990s (Detrey et al. 2009). The excavations were then extended progressively from both sides of this trench (Koehler et al. 2013, 2016b).
Location
The site of Mutzig is located at the foot of Felsbourg Cliff. This south-facing cliff features a number of natural steps, which could have been an added attraction for Neanderthal populations.
However, the principal attraction of the cliff is the presence of a number of rockshelters that are still visible today but which are very vulnerable to collapse due to the poor quality of the sandstone blocks from which they are formed (Fig. 3). Neanderthal groups regularly occupied the shelters, moving from one to another when the roof collapsed. Excavation of the shelters has involved moving large blocks of sandstone in order to reach the underlying archaeological levels. It is probably this “sealing” of the levels by stone slabs that ensured their preservation as the overlying material provided protection from erosion.
Hypothesis of Roof Collapse
Several hypotheses can be advanced regarding the various phases of roof collapse in the shelter (Fig. 4). The earliest occupations were revealed during test trenching. At the time of writing it has not yet been ascertained whether these occupations took place under a shelter with a larger roof which subsequently collapsed or if they occurred on one of the natural steps, that is to say, at the foot of the cliff.
Greater certainty surrounds a number of later occupations that took place under a shelter with a relatively large roof that has subsequently collapsed. The final occupation phases occurred under a much reduced overhang. We can observe a final collapse of the overhang that left the shelter unusable and sealed the archaeological layers. We then see deposition of colluvial sediments originating from the upper part of the cliff.
An Important Well-Preserved Middle Paleolithic Sequence
Several archaeological layers, all dating to the Middle Paleolithic, can be clearly identified. We can identify four upper layers, which are in fact modified layers, resulting from gravitational forces and probably originating from the destruction of a shelter located at a higher level (Fig. 5). These levels are therefore colluvial in nature. They can be attributed to the Middle Paleolithic but they are of limited interest here since we cannot date them precisely and are greatly disturbed. As a result, we will not consider them further.
In contrast, six archaeological levels can be identified in situ under the rockshelter. These levels themselves probably represent the effacement and superimposition of several repeated occupations.
Finally, archaeological testing has revealed the presence of at least two or three earlier levels which were located either within a larger overhang or at the foot of the cliff. It should be pointed out that our excavations have not yet reached the natural bedrock, making it therefore possible that even earlier layers will be discovered in the future.
These levels belong to the Middle Paleolithic, and a series of OSL and ESR-Uranium-Thorium dates have been obtained for the entire sequence (Tables 1 and 2). All of the dates obtained are centered on 90,000 years BP, thus placing the levels at the beginning of the Wechselian Glaciation. Studies of the faunal, microfaunal and charcoal remains confirm this attribution, which indicates a rapid build-up of material, as all occupations of the site took place within a maximum time period of 10,000–15,000 years.
In addition, the state of preservation on the site is very good with significant quantities of remains having survived. These have allowed us to undertake detailed paleoenvironmental analyses (Koehler et al. 2016a; Audiard, Bocherens, Richard, Sévêque, Stoetzel in Koehler et al. 2016b; Stoetzel and Montuire 2016; Stoetzel et al. 2016; Sévêque 2017).
We can therefore say that, overall, and especially in Layers 5 and 7, the environment was characterized by cold, steppe-like conditions in which mammoth, reindeer and horse thrived. The record also indicates the presence of woodland refuges. Estimated mean annual temperatures varied between 3°C and 6°C (against around 9.7°C for the Strasbourg region today), reflecting a cool, dry climate but not a fully glacial one.
The combination of paleoenvironmental data allows us to identify small differences between layers. Thus, two phases of thawing can be discerned: one at the top of the sequence and the other at its base (Layers 9 and 10). It remains to be seen if these thaws can be correlated either to the Early Glacial interstadials or to the Eemian interglacial. This would allow us to anchor the chronology of the various occupations.
Results
The main results from the principal excavated layers will be outlined blow, starting at the most recent levels and working back to the oldest. More detailed data regarding the faunal remains and lithics are presented elsewhere (Sévêque and Diemer, this volume).
Layer 5
Layer five is the youngest of the in situ layers and is the one that has been most extensively excavated (Fig. 6). The occupations, protected by a reduced overhang, occurred beneath the shelter itself and also on the talus slope. The climate at the time was characterized by a period of thaw as revealed by geomorphological and anthropological studies. However, the study of the microfauna suggests a more severe climate (annual temperatures of 3.7 to 4.7 °C; Stoetzel in Koehler et al. 2016b). The occupations are sparse and the remains are fairly scant, suggesting that we are dealing with short-term occupations, perhaps influenced by the restricted size of the shelter (Fig. 6: 2).
A number of joints of meat, comprised principally of horse, reindeer and mammoth, were brought onto the site by the Neanderthals (Fig. 6: 3 and 4). These joints were specifically chosen for their nutritional value, with no single species predominating.
A possible hearth has been identified at the edge of the excavated area. It is composed only of wood charcoal, which, as we will see, differs from evidence in underlying levels. This might indicate a period of thaw during which forest cover would have been more significant in the area.
The lithic industry also differs slightly from what we find in the underlying levels in that the debitage is mainly discoidal and the dominant raw material is phtanite (Fig. 6: 1).
Therefore, all of the evidence seems to be pointing to short-term occupations, the purpose of which remains a mystery (possible stop-over sites).
Layer 7A
The occupations within Layer 7A took place in a shelter with a larger overhang than that described above (Fig. 7). They occurred in winter, in a period when the climate was more severe and when the boreal forest had given way to arid continental steppes.
The remains are much more numerous than in Layer 5 and are particularly dense in the western part of the excavated area. A possible hearth has been identified.
The lithic industry differs from that of the preceding layer. Flint is now dominant and the Levallois technique is the principal reduction technique employed (Fig. 7: 2). In addition, studies of the micro-facies reveal a diversity of raw materials which might indicate longer periods of occupation. Finally, numerous edge-sharpening flint flakes have been found which are made of raw materials that do not occur among the tools recovered from the same layer. This suggests that tools were produced or re-sharpened in situ, and then carried away from the excavated area.
Numerous faunal remains, often poorly preserved, have been recorded in this level. Mammoth remains are numerically dominant, with all parts of the skeleton represented (Fig. 7: 1, 3). In contrast, species such as horse and reindeer are less numerous and were brought to the site in the form of joints of meat. While difficult to envisage, it appears that the Neanderthals came to the site in wintertime, bringing with them a number of joints of meat, and staying long enough to hunt and bring back to camp one or more complete mammoths. We cannot but ask ourselves how and why the transportation of mammoth carcasses took place. It must have involved a significant, organized, communal effort.
It is also interesting that most of the skull remains were concentrated in the western part of the excavation and appear to overlie lithic material (Fig. 8). Perhaps we are looking at a specific waste disposal or dump area.
Layer 7C1
The occupations identified in the underlying layer, Layer 7C1, are somewhat different. These occurred during the summer, within the same rock overhang and probably under the same climatic conditions (Fig. 9). The microfauna suggest a possible period of thaw but this remains to be verified (Stoetzel in Koehler et al. 2016).
The lithic industry is once again dominated by the Levallois technique, but here the principal raw materials are coarse-grained magmatic rocks (Diemer in Koehler et al. 2016b; Diemer this volume; Fig. 9: 1).
Numerous large faunal remains have been recorded but they consist almost entirely of reindeer (Fig. 9: 3). Similar to the pattern observed in the overlying level, here again it would seem that meat from the less common species (such as horse and bison) was brought on site in the form of joints while the predominant species was brought in the form of entire carcasses (Sévêque in Koehler et al. 2016b and Sévêque 2017).
In terms of spatial distribution, specific concentrations of bone can be identified and are associated with quite a large hearth area (Fig. 10). This area of burning is almost entirely composed of burnt bone, which underlines the fact that bone was used as fuel. Paleoenvironmental analyses, particularly of the microfauna, do not indicate a total absence of forest cover in the area but suggest that plant-based fuel was scarce, which would have forced the Neanderthals to use sources other than wood.
In either case, the Mutzig site seems to have served as a rear basecamp for a summer reindeer slaughtering site. The carcasses were brought back to the base-camp where they were quickly processed.
Layer 7C2
Layer 7C2 is quite similar to that above it except that the climate appears to have been a little more severe (Fig. 11). The evidence points to the development of open environments, particularly cold continental steppes, but with occasional woodland refuges. Occupations were short-term and repeated, occurring throughout the year.
The lithic industry closely resembles that of the overlying level, i.e., mainly Levallois reduction technique using coarse-grained magmatic rocks (Fig. 11: 1).
However, the faunal remains consist almost exclusively of reindeer (Fig. 11: 4). At least seven individuals have been identified in a 20 m² area and they are essentially composed of females and their young. Once again, whole carcasses were brought on to the site and rapidly processed in situ. As of yet, we have not identified a hearth area in this level.
In terms of spatial distribution, occasional concentrations of bone can be observed, though they are not very obvious (Fig. 11: 2 and 3; Fig. 12: 1). However, this layer appears to continue downslope from the shelter. Here we found a jumble of reindeer bones that might suggest a disposal area (Fig. 12: 2).
For this level we appear to be dealing with very short occupations associated with specialized hunting of reindeer and the preliminary processing of their carcasses.
Layers 9 and 10
Finally, the deepest levels, which were exposed during testing at the foot of the shelter, appear to be very rich in finds and attest to a milder, more humid climate compared to the overlying layers. The microfauna indicate the significant presence of forest, particularly temperate forest, and mean annual temperatures that were estimated to have been above 6°C (Fig. 13). The return of more temperate species is also observed in charcoal remains. The large fauna include species that also require a more wooded environment, notably beaver. However, steppe species, such as reindeer and mammoth, are also present.
It would be useful to determine whether this milder episode corresponds to the onset of the Eemian interglacial or if it reflects an interstadial at the beginning of the Ice Age. Likewise, it would be interesting to link these levels to those within the shelter, as we have been able to do for the upper level.
Conclusion
The Mutzig site clearly witnessed numerous repeated occupations during the early Weichselian. These occupations differ in terms of their function and operation but, regardless of the layer, the food acquisition strategies appear to have been highly organized, involving selective and/or specialized hunting. The processing of the meat appears to have been efficient, as illustrated by the lack of evidence for scavenging by carnivores within the bone assemblage.
The occupations appear to have been structured and may have formed part of an equally organized cycle of nomadism.
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