{"id":2706,"date":"2024-04-05T12:27:13","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T10:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/a-middle-paleolithic-pleistocene-stratified-sequence-at-coussey-sionne-in-the-meuse-alluvial-valley-vosges-france\/"},"modified":"2024-08-17T17:08:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-17T15:08:34","slug":"a-middle-paleolithic-pleistocene-stratified-sequence-at-coussey-sionne-in-the-meuse-alluvial-valley-vosges-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/a-middle-paleolithic-pleistocene-stratified-sequence-at-coussey-sionne-in-the-meuse-alluvial-valley-vosges-france\/","title":{"rendered":"A Middle Paleolithic\/Pleistocene Stratified Sequence at Coussey\/Sionne in the Meuse Alluvial Valley (Vosges, France)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nLaurent Delaunay1<\/sup>, Fr\u00e9deric Blaser2,1<\/sup>, Anne Gebhardt3,1<\/sup>, Nicolas Meyer1<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

1<\/sup> INRAP
\n2<\/sup> UMR 7041, Ethnologie Pr\u00e9historique, Maison de l\u2018arch\u00e9ologie et de l’Ethnologie, Nanterre
\n3<\/sup> UMR7362-LIVE\/CNRS, Universit\u00e9 de Strasbourg ; UMR7360-LIEC, Universit\u00e9 de Lorraine\n<\/div>\n

Zusammenfassung<\/h2>\n

Die Fundst\u00e4tte Coussey in Lothringen zeigt mehrere arch\u00e4ologische Schichten aus dem Mittelpal\u00e4olithikum. Es wurde 2014 bei einer arch\u00e4ologischen Sondage entdeckt. Der am Zusammenfluss von Maas und Saonelle gelegene Standort wird vom Kalksteinkorallenfelsvorsprung der Hauts de Meuse dominiert und erstreckt sich \u00fcber die Westschleife des Hauptflussbetts. Der lokale geologische Kontext ist durch rezente Schwemmlandformationen und Wo\u00ebvre-Tone gekennzeichnet. In den umliegenden H\u00fcgeln werden oxfordische Feuersteinvorkommen dokumentiert, die reich an Chalcedonkonkretionen sind.<\/p>\n

Feldbeobachtungen dieser am Fu\u00dfe des Hangs gelegenen Sequenz zeigen mehr als zwei Meter tonige Ablagerungen, die von alluvialen Sedimenten bedeckt sind. Der sp\u00e4tglaziale und holoz\u00e4ne Abbau der umliegenden H\u00e4nge durch Solifluktion erm\u00f6glichte den Erhalt einer 2-m dicken pedosedimentologischen Abfolge, die einen Humushorizont umfasst. Die 82 gesammelten Steinartefakte erlauben keine genauere Datierung als \u201cMittelpal\u00e4olithikum\u201c. Die einzigen erhaltenen Steinartefakte waren auf mehreren arch\u00e4ologischen Ebenen verteilt und hatten unterschiedliche Erhaltungszust\u00e4nde. Sie wurden auf 2 Hektar der 8 erkundeten Hektar identifiziert. Die Menschen des Pal\u00e4olithikums scheinen von der unmittelbaren N\u00e4he der Lagerst\u00e4tten hochwertiger Oxford-Chaille (Chaille von Neuch\u00e2teau) profitiert zu haben. Die Erhaltung der stratifizierten Schichten des Pleistoz\u00e4ns in Coussey ist eine wichtige Entdeckung f\u00fcr Lothringen. Es f\u00fcllt eine L\u00fccke in unserer arch\u00e4ologischen Dokumentation Nordostfrankreichs.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

In 2014, within the framework of an extension to a quarry located between Sionne and Coussey in the western part of Vosges (Fig. 1), a preventive archaeological assessment was carried out in the area known as \u201cLes Plates Terres\u201d (Meyer 2014). Several phases of activity, spanning the period from the Middle Paleolithic to the present, were revealed within the 11 hectares investigated. The lithic industry is associated with a stratified upper Pleistocene pedo-sedimentary sequence, buried under more than a meter of Holocene colluvial deposits.<\/p>\n

\"Location<\/a>
Fig. 1: Location of the site on IGN map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite their fragmented character, the data constitute a first step in raising awareness of the deficiencies of preventive archaeology in the detection of Paleolithic sites in Lorraine. This discovery should be a significant starting point for improving methodological, stratigraphic and archaeological approaches in this key area. Indeed, Lorraine constitutes a natural crossroads between various regions (Fig. 2): via the Rhine corridor, it is linked to the extensive plains of the north and east, as well as to southern regions. It also allows access westwards, to the heart of the Paris Basin, via the nearby Marne River. This central geographical location means that, even as far back as the Paleolithic, the region witnessed significant population movements.<\/p>\n

\"Location<\/a>
Fig. 2: Location of the site and archaeological context.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regional Setting and Previous Research<\/h2>\n

In more recent studies the Lorraine region emerges as a virtual desert in terms of Paleolithic settlement. However, a re-examination of old discoveries and numerous past surface collections can throw valuable light on this issue (Janot 1988; Asselin et al., this volume; Figs. 2, 3).<\/p>\n

In the Darney area, situated 45 km southeast of Coussey, several sites were discovered between 1971 and 1993 within a 10 km area: Dombasle-devant-Darney, J\u00e9sonville, Noncity, Sans-Valois, Provench\u00e8res-les-Darney (collective survey work). The eastern part of the Vosges Department is characterized by a lithic industry based on quartzite and quartz; flint is also present but in small quantities (Jannot 1981; Guillaume 1982).<\/p>\n

Close to Coussey, numerous surface sites have been recorded in recent years, in particular by Serge Beguinot between 2009 and 2014 (Beguinot 2015; Asselin et al., this volume).<\/p>\n

Paleolithic sites with stratigraphical contexts are much rarer with only 6 recorded examples (Guillaume 1988). The closest is the cave site of Jeann\u00fce in Rebeuville, located 10 km from the Coussey site. Other sites are located over 50 kilometers away.<\/p>\n

The oldest occupation sites, Vassincourt and Archettes, occur in alluvial contexts and have been assigned to the Riss glaciation by various authors (Bordes 1955; Maubeuge 1961; Guillaume 1982).<\/p>\n

Others have been attributed to the Eemien period (Vincey, Guillaume 1988) and the early W\u00fcrmian (Guillaume 1982; Th\u00e9venin 1975). They come from different contexts: sinkholes as in the case of Vincey and Chavelot (Guillaume 1982, 1988), loess deposits sealing terraces (Ludres) and a cave (Rebeuville, Guillaume 1988). The age of these discoveries limits their chronological and cultural interpretation.<\/p>\n

This situation prevails in numerous regions but, in places, preventive archaeology has allowed us to rectify this old image of a northern desert subject to extreme weather conditions (Gamble 1986).<\/p>\n

In Lorraine, this contribution remains slight, mainly because there is a limited history of research into the Paleolithic period of the region.<\/p>\n

The excavation of the protohistoric site of Fr\u00e9b\u00e9court \u201cLa Fourche\u201d (Deffressigne 2010), situated 2 km south-southeast of Coussey, is one of only a few sites to have yielded a lithic industry based on raw materials identical to those from the site of \u201cLes Plates Terres.\u201d Unfortunately, this determination was made after field work was completed and there was no opportunity to carry out a new excavation. The material was contained in brown clayey pockets (Chauss\u00e9 2010). The context and aim of the excavation (Iron Age), the absence of an associated stratigraphy and the lack of characteristic lithic artifacts prevented the investigators from linking the remains with a specific, cultural facies from the Middle Paleolithic.<\/p>\n

Previous diagnostic work carried out close by (Jude 2007; Forelle 2013) unearthed very few lithic artifacts on the alluvial plain.<\/p>\n

This context has motivated investigators to pay special attention to the lithic-rich levels here (Meyer 2016) and to establish a specific methodology involving the excavation of deep trenches.<\/p>\n

\"Location<\/a>
Fig. 3: a:<\/strong> Location of the site of \u201cles Plates Terres\u201d (Coussey \/Sionne, Vosges) on the geological map (after Maubeuge 1974). j2b-c<\/sub>: Middle\/upper Bathonian compact limestone; j3a<\/sub>: callovian and flaggy Bathonian limestone; j3b<\/sub>: calcareous marl with ferrougeneous oolite; J3c-4a<\/sub>: Wo\u00ebvre grey-blueish clay; J4b<\/sub>: Oxfordian clayey marl with chert (calcedonic nodules): J5-6<\/sub>: Oxfordian coral limestone; E: soliflucted calcareous debris; FZ: rounded calcareous pebbles and gravel with clay from recent alluvial deposits; LP: clayey\/loamy deposits from local calcareous alteration: F: fault; Ce rivers; R: road; T: trackway; A: cities; b:<\/strong> location of the site of Coussey and the other sites mentioned in the text superimposed on the geological map of the Grand-Est area (simplified from Lexa-Chomard and Pautrot (2006) and Sell et al.( 1998). SL: Sillon lorrain, A, cities, Se: studied sites, F. country border, LAL: Alsace\/Lorraine border, TDL: Terraces and loess deposits, PAR: Rhine Alluvial Plain, CB: bajocian steps, J. Jurassic, Tsm: Upper (Keuper) and Middle (muschelkalk) Trias, Ti: lower Trias (Buntsandstein), P: Permian (Gr\u00e8s) Saint-Di\u00e9-des-Vosges basin, Vc: Crystalline Vosges basement, Vm: Middle Vosges basement, Fs, Main structural faults, Ce: river. 1; Vincey, 2, Chavelot, 3: Darney, 4: Dombasle-les-Darney, 5: J\u00e9sonville, 6: Ludres, 7: Nonville, 8: Provench\u00e8re-les-Darney, 9: Rebeuville, 10 Sans Valois, 11: Vincey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Methodology<\/h2>\n

At Coussey, the research was constrained by the process of rescue archaeology: 15 deep trenches, each 25-m long, were dug in areas free of Late Holocene occupation (Fig. 4, top). Five of these followed a downward transect, stretching from the road to the river. The technique of digging discontinuous, 25-m long trenches, separated by 10-m long gaps, and a lack of time meant that no continuous deep transect was excavated; in an alluvial context, this approach made it difficult to correlate the different profiles.<\/p>\n

When possible, trenching systematically stopped on the top of the gravel layer (Fig. 4a). All of the lithic material was retrieved from the clayey formations. Trench 63\/11 (Fig. 4b) was investigated by the removal of fine layers, 5 cm in thickness, and a test pit (Fig. 4c), measuring 1 m2, was excavated in order to evaluate the density of lithics and to understand the local taphonomical processes.<\/p>\n

The two most representative reference profiles, \u201cGeol5\u201d and \u201cCarr\u00e9 test\u201d (Fig. 4, 5), were subjected to soil micromorphology analysis. Thin sections, measuring 9 x 6 cm, were created by the Thomas Beckmann Laboratory (Germany) and described following the international terminology (Bullock 1985). Even if the clayey composition of the sediment may render OSL dating too unreliable for this site, three 30-cm long tube samples were taken for OSL dating. One tube was sent for dating to the Silesian University of Technology (Poland), providing an age around 46.3(39) ka. We are now currently awaiting a further extension of the gravel pit in order to have an opportunity to continue our investigations.<\/p>\n

\"Location<\/a>
Fig. 4: Location of the trenches (top), lithic concentration (c) and views of field investigation (a, b).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Geomorphological Context<\/h2>\n

The site of Coussey is located in northeastern France, 5 km northwest of Neufch\u00e2teau, at the confluence between the S\u00e2onelle and the Meuse rivers, close to the western limit of the Vosges Department (Fig. 3). The investigated zone extends along the river bank and is dominated by the south-facing coral limestone cliff of the Meuse Uplands which dates to the Rauracien period (J5-6<\/sub>). On the surrounding slopes, probable Late Glacial erosion dells are still clearly visible in the landscape.<\/p>\n

The local geological context is characterized by recent alluvial formations (calcareous pebbles in a clayey matrix, Fz) and the Wo\u00ebvre clays (J3c-4a<\/sub>) belonging to the Callovian\/Oxfordian transition (Maubeuge 1974). Oxfordian (J4b<\/sub>) chert deposits are rich in chalcedonic concretions. Commonly occurring in the surrounding hills, these nodules may have been used for Middle Paleolithic tool production. This geomorphological context would therefore have benefited Paleolithic human communities. Soliflucted calcareous debris (E) occurs locally in certain small dry valleys which are perpendicular to the principal valleys.<\/p>\n

Observations in the deep trenches reveal late quaternary (Holocene) loamy\/clayey slope deposits covering the Middle Paleolithic artifacts. Probably because they are both weathered, these reworked formations are difficult to distinguish from the Wo\u00ebvre layers, and they were, therefore, not mapped by Maubeuge (1974). Near the slope bottom (Geol5) these deposits are over 2\u00a0m in depth, and they become steadily thinner (Carr\u00e9 test<\/span>) before disappearing towards the center of the channel (Figs.\u00a04,\u00a05).<\/p>\n

\"Main<\/a>
Fig. 5: Main profiles from the transect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pedo-Sedimentary Sequence at Coussey<\/h2>\n

Main features observed and their interpretation<\/h3>\n

Five profiles were described along the transect through the main river bed (Fig. 5). On the better developed one (Geol5), blocks of undisturbed sediment were sampled for soil micromorphology analysis and for OSL dating. The main characteristic features observed in the field and under the microscope are grouped, from bottom to top, in Table A1 and illustrated in Figure\u00a06.<\/p>\n

All of the sequences show a compact soil microstructure, with cracks that are not very well connected. Mineral compounds are pseudo-angular quarzitic sands and silts with small gravels of chalcedony and decalcified chert. The groundmass is very clayey, reflecting the local Oxfordian marl, with a loamier influence toward the top.<\/p>\n

The base of the profile starts on top of a layer of gravel bound in a clayey sandy matrix (U8): this pattern can be observed at the base of most of the sequences.<\/p>\n

On the top of this first layer we find a compact yellowish-grey loamy clay (U7), measuring about 5 cm in thickness, which includes reworked, weathered and broken lithic artifacts. This homogeneous layer is observed along all of the transects over an area of 1.9 hectares. At the bottom, this unit U7 (L1bottom<\/sub>) has a compact microstructure with a well birefringent reticulated groundmass. Pedofeatures include some yellowish limpid clay coatings characteristic of the BT horizon of a luvic sol formation. Locally strongly-bleached groundmass is the result of significant post-depositional weathering of the sediment.<\/p>\n

An oxidized yellowish-brown loamy clay (U6a<\/strong>, L1top<\/sub>, L2) is characterized by the presence of small, blunt, yellowish calcareous pebbles. Chert fragments are weathered. Unbroken, disturbed and weathered Paleolithic chert tools occur within this layer. In this unit, the yellowish limpid clay coatings are slightly disrupted. Ferruginous impregnations are darker, and rounded iron concretions occur more often. The yellowish, slightly disrupted, clay coatings indicate the formation of a BT horizon before post-pedogenetic movement in the sediment. Overlying this last unit is a slightly darker and loamier unit (U6b<\/strong>, L3, L4bottom<\/sub>) featuring stratified intercalations, and mass-flow silt deposits along with mineral compounds. Iron features (rolled concretions and impregnations) are still abundant. This reveals strong mass movements with a water-saturated and rapid sediment dynamic, as occurs in slope deposits. These levels extend over 2.8 hectares. Towards the flood plain, Layers 6a and 6b become blurred and difficult to follow in the transects (Carr\u00e9 test<\/span>, Geol4, Fig. 4, Fig. 5).<\/p>\n

The next dark brownish-black loamy clay U5a<\/strong> (L4top<\/sub> to L7) layer contains in situ unweathered lithic artifacts. This layer displayed small polygons, or a \u2018giraffe skin\u2019-like surface, during surface scraping. It is characterized by the first occurrence of dusty coatings. The presence of abundant small organic fragments (more or less ferruginized) and phytholiths indicates abundant vegetation, rich in herbaceous plants (steppic soil?). U5a is covered by a greyish loamy clay, denoted U5b<\/strong> (L8, L9bottom<\/sub>). In this U5b layer, many notable iron features are observed: impregnations, galleries, coatings, but also rolled nodules and iron\/humified organic fragments. Well-developed on the edge of the river bed, the dark Layer 5 disappears towards the center of the alluvial plain.<\/p>\n

The yellowish clayey loam U4<\/strong> (L9top<\/sub> to L11bottom<\/sub>) becomes thicker and includes several gravel layers toward the channel center. It corresponds to the basal limit of the grey cracks. Limpid clay coatings are observed, sometimes alternating with dusty ones. Like U5b, unit U4 contains significant iron features (impregnation, coatings) and rolled nodules. Dusty clay and silty coatings are frequently observed when the top soil (in the upper part of the sequence) is exposed by ploughing.<\/p>\n

The last layers, U3<\/strong> to U1<\/strong>, are a clayey loam unit characterized by an abundance of rounded millimetric red tile fragments and dusty clay coatings; the sediment also contains fine charcoal and finely fragmented ferruginized organic matter. The presence of millimetric rounded red tile fragments indicates long-term ploughing of this upper sequence in the Historic Period. In the \u201cCarr\u00e9 test<\/span>\u201d profile, the top of the upper dark grey unit (U3b, Fig. 5) is associated with reworked protohistoric artifacts revealing a marked erosion\/colluviation phase. The deep grey cracks in the upper soil sequence (U3b) might be related to a period of significant desiccation of the soil.<\/p>\n

\"Main<\/a>
Fig. 6: Main soil micromorphological features occurring in the different units.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"table<\/a>
Table 1: Pedo-sedimentary and soil micromorphological description.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Main phases in the evolution of the sequence and relative chronology of the formation of the units<\/h3>\n

From bottom to top, within this pedo-sedimentary sequence of units (U), we can identify at least nine phases (Fig. 7) of active erosion\/sedimentation (S) or stabilization with pedogenesis and soil formation (P):<\/p>\n

Phase S1<\/strong> (U7): slope and alluvial sedimentation, deposition of pebbles, sand and Woevre clay. The alluvial dynamics of this phase led to the reworking and breaking of stone implements in the channel.<\/p>\n

Phase P2<\/strong> (U7): cessation of sedimentary processes, re-centering of the course of the channel, and luvisol (Baize and Jabiol 1992) development on the edge of the channel, with Bt illuviation formation.<\/p>\n

Phase S3<\/strong> (U6a, U6b, U5a): phase of active sedimentary slope erosion with significant surface water abrading the ancient settlements on the slopes and reworking the BT, which accumulated as U6b. Implements carried by the water are trapped at the base of this sequence. It sealed the eroded previous soil surface (P2) which developed on the edges of the river channel.<\/p>\n

Phase P4<\/strong> (U5a, U6b, U6a): development of a humic steppic horizon with in situ<\/span> implements.<\/p>\n

Phase S5<\/strong> (U5b, U4, U3a): a new phase of slope erosion, which first abladed the top of the organic horizon (U5a) from the upper parts of the slope and re-deposited it downslope as U5b.<\/p>\n

Phase P6<\/strong> (U3a, U4): new stabilization phase, with luvisol formation (Baize and Jabiol 1992) characterized by BT limpid clay coatings.<\/p>\n

Phase S7<\/strong> (U3b, U2, U1): a new erosional phase producing an inverted colluvial deposition profile. Occurrence of reworked protohistoric artifacts in the U3b. Charcoal, red tile and organic fragments in the U3a top\/b horizon indicate long-term cultivation.<\/p>\n

Phase P8<\/strong> (U3b, U3a): formation of an organic horizon, with deep grey cracks in the upper soil sequence (U3b); these cracks may be related to a phase of soil desiccation.<\/p>\n

Phase P9<\/strong> (U1, U2): formation of a modern agricultural horizon.<\/p>\n

\"Schematic<\/a>
Fig. 7: Schematic evolution phases in the sequence from Coussey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Discussion<\/h3>\n

Chronostratigraphic and archaeological interpretations of this first long Middle Paleolithic sequence found in Lorraine are difficult because of the fragmented nature of the data and the lack of dates. Nevertheless, we can propose an initial chronological outline for the main phases (Fig. 7).<\/p>\n

During the first stable P2 phase, a soil developed on the edge of the main channel. A few weathered Paleolithic artifacts were found in this level which extends over 2.8 hectares. No in situ<\/span> lithic concentrations were found, but this level contains spots displaying better preservation, meriting careful monitoring during future rescue operations. This P2 phase, featuring slight limpid illuviation, can be correlated to the Rocourt soil formation from the Eemian Isotope Stage 5e (MIS 5.5; Antoine et al. 2016), following the Saalian glacial formation accumulation (S1).<\/p>\n

The erosional phase S3 may have reworked the Bettencourt interglacial grey forest soil (isotope stage 5d \/ MIS 5.4; Antoine et al. 2016) which is only represented in this sequence by a disturbed BT. In this level (between -1.70m and -1.95m), spatial observations revealed locally in situ<\/span> and locally slightly disturbed lithic implements. Because of the discontinuous nature of the test trenches, it was difficult to follow the layers from the edge to the center of the channel. Nevertheless, the disappearance of Layers 6 and 5 from Geol1 to Geol4 (Fig. 5) strongly suggests the formation of erosion gullies (Fig. 5).<\/p>\n

The second stable period associated with steppic soil formation P4 (U5a), which features unweathered in situ<\/span> implements and which is dated to the beginning of the Weichselian, can be attributed to Isotope Stage 5a (MIS 5.1; Antoine et al. 2016).<\/p>\n

A portion of the lithic industry is well preserved and displays technical homogeneity. Some rare elements evoke the existence of disco\u00efd lithic production, which is more often recorded in the Eemian and in the Middle Pleniglacial (Locht et al. 2015). However, more extensive excavation of these levels will be required to confirm this disco\u00efd production and to date it more precisely.<\/p>\n

A Holocene stabilization follows the marked erosion\/deposition phase S5. This last could be associated with the Weichselian Lower Pleniglacial erosion phase (MIS4; Antoine et al. 2016) and Late Glacial slope movement. The early Holocene luvisol P6, characterized by its typical BT, starts to develop in the Late Glacial\/Early Holocene period.<\/p>\n

The last sedimentary phase (S7) probably corresponds to a significant phase of Late Iron Age erosion resulting from the Iron Age Cold Epoch, which is well attested in Lorraine (Gebhardt et al. 2014).<\/p>\n

The deep grey cracks in the upper soil sequence (P8) might be related to the Roman soil desiccation phase, recently described in Eastern France (Gebhardt et al. 2014, 2016; 2018).<\/p>\n

The Lithic Industry<\/h2>\n

Nineteen trenches yielded 82 lithic artifacts attributed to the Middle Paleolithic.<\/p>\n

\"Lithic<\/a>
Table 2: Lithic artifacts, distribution by trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some concentrations were identified (Table 2), one of which was the subject of more extensive excavation. The stratigraphic and altimetric positions of the objects, as well as their state of preservation, reflect different phases of occupation (Fig. 8). Most of the un-weathered materials came from upper layer (U5a) which correspond to a Glacial humiferous soil reported to MIS 3. Weathered artifacts are generally buried deeper, in Layer 7 or 6, but the distinction was not made in the field. They could, therefore, represent one or two levels and belong to a period spanning from the Early Weichselian (MIS 5c) to the Saalian.<\/p>\n

\"Altimetric<\/a>
Fig. 8: Altimetric and surface conservation of the artifacts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lithic assemblage displays two states of preservation (Table 3). A first group of 40 artifacts is not altered by post-depositional processes. The heart of the material is black in color and often veined with chestnut. The exterior of the blocks is composed of a fine, smooth, neocortical surface.<\/p>\n

The second group consists of 42 artifacts which are uniformly brown in color. All of the edges are blunted to the point that it is difficult to identify flake scars. Some of these artifacts are undoubtedly knapped and retouched, but the origin of others is less clear and they may in fact be natural fragments. Edges often possess alternating retouch, abrupt to semi-abrupt, which evokes the cryo-retouch described elsewhere (Bordes 1963). However, some of these may have been worked beforehand.<\/p>\n

These two groups are clearly separated, except in trench 63\/11, where they coexist within the same stratigraphic and altimetric level. The artifacts are not altered in the cuttings \u201cGeol3\u201d, 58\/11, 64\/02 and \u201cGeol8,\u201d while they are patinated in \u201cGeol2.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lithic<\/a>
Table 3: Lithic artifacts, state of preservation by trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Raw material<\/h3>\n

Apart from a single flint flake, all of the artifacts are made of good quality chert; tests indicate that it is a particularly homogeneous material without flaws. As regards percussion marks, impact points are not pronounced, and, in spite of the use of a hard hammer, small lips are sometimes present between the butt and the lower face, misleadingly suggesting the use of a soft hammer.<\/p>\n

Typo-technological observation<\/h3>\n

The un-weathered group<\/h4>\n

The un-weathered group (Tables 4, 5, 6) includes 40 artifacts originating from nine trenches, five of which yielded more than one piece. This very restricted sample limits the reliability of the study. The composition of the industry (Table 5) cannot be considered as representative, and the rare diagnostic elements need to be treated with caution. Products measure on average 42 mm in length.<\/p>\n

\"Un-weathered<\/a>
Table 4: Un-weathered group, lithic artifacts, distribution by trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Un-weathered<\/a>
Table 5: Un-weathered group, lithic artifacts, main typo-technological categories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Un-weathered<\/a>
Table 6: Un-weathered group, lithic artifacts, butts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only core present (Fig. 9a) comes from Trench 3, which is the trench that yielded the most artifacts. It testifies to a rather long production sequence organized around at least two surfaces. The first surface exhibits a small number of visible removals. It served as a striking platform for the peripheral exploitation of the second surface, particularly secant removals which indicate discoid production. The clear objective was to obtain pseudo-Levallois points devoid of cortex. Such objects were not found in Trench 3 where products are relatively long, resulting from the initial phases of the production and unipolar methods.<\/p>\n

Three pseudo-Levallois points (Fig. 9b, 9c and 9d) were, however, found in other trenches: they are consistent with the discoid core described above. A crested blade (Fig. 9e) was found in Trench 64\/02. This type of product generally results from laminar production, but they can also be produced at the intersection of two knapping surfaces in discoid production. The striking platforms are little prepared, as shown by the high proportion of smooth and cortical butts. One object possesses a faceted butt indicating a more elaborate preparation process: it concerns a Levallois point with the same morphological and technological axe (Fig. 9f).<\/p>\n

Only three blanks were retouched, two from Trench 63\/11 and one from Trench 8. Only one relates to a \u201cclassic\u201d type of tool: a scraper (Fig. 9g). Another possesses partial retouch while the third is a distal fragment. In addition, two blanks, a Levallois point and one other pseudo-Levallois point, display a splintered edge, which may reflect use or natural processes.<\/p>\n

\"Un-weathered<\/a>
Fig. 9: Un-weathered artifacts. a: core; b, c, d: pseudo Levallois points; e: crested blade; f: Levallois point; g: scraper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The weathered group<\/h3>\n

As was the case for the un-weathered group, the weakness of the sample again limits our diagnosis of the weathered series.<\/p>\n

Cores are more abundant, with four recorded specimens showing various types of approach. One is similar to Levallois production, another is of Clactonian conception, the third shows simple unipolar exploitation (Fig. 10a) while the last cannot be characterized.<\/p>\n

Among the flakes recovered, only three could be linked to Levallois production (Fig. 10b and 10c); one example, described above, possesses a faceted butt. Numerous blanks have edges that have been modified by removals, but a significant proportion (19%) seem to be of natural origin; only two are of anthropic origin: a denticulate and one with partial retouch.<\/p>\n

\"Weathered<\/a>
Fig. 10: Weathered artifacts. a: unipolar core. b, c: preferential flakes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lithic results and regional comparison<\/h3>\n

The size of the sample, the absence of stratigraphic connections between the trenches, and the unequal quality of the regional data are important factors that limit comparisons.<\/p>\n

As regards raw materials, quartz and quartzite predominate in most of the sites in Lorraine. The use of chert as a principal raw material is attested in older contexts such as Vassincourt. At Rebeuville, which is more or less contemporary with the occupation site at Coussey, chert was also favored for flake production. Close examination of Paleolithic artifacts collected at Coussey (B\u00e9guinot 2013) and Fr\u00e9b\u00e9court (Allard 2013) also indicates the preferential use of chert.<\/p>\n

At Coussey, a core and a small number of artifacts such as pseudo-Levallois points and a crested blade are consistent with discoid production. A single artifact is typologically Levallois, but it could derive from another method. Within the wider region, the sites of Vincey and Chavelot, which are believed to be contemporary, yielded lithic evidence. At these sites, each located about 50 km from Coussey, the majority of the tools are of quartz and quartzite, and a tiny proportion, 2 to 5%, are of chert and flint. At Vincey (Guillaume 1988), the presence of Levallois and pseudo-Levallois flakes is noted, but these cannot be connected to a precise method of production.<\/p>\n

At Chavelot (Boudias 2005), the cores were classified as Levallois (n=25), discoid (n=14) and indefinite (n=25), but there is a lack of reduction sequence products that would reflect discoid production. At this site, discoid production is interpreted as the outcome of Levallois production.<\/p>\n

No comparable element was revealed on close examination of the material from Coussey (B\u00e9guinot 2013) and Fr\u00e9b\u00e9court (Allard 2013); at Coussey, long flake production is recorded, and at Fr\u00e9b\u00e9court, there is evidence for Levallois production where butts are regularly faceted.<\/p>\n

On a larger scale, discoid products, though rarely dominant, are present in northern France at the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation (Locht 2015), as for example at Mutzig (Koehler et al. 2016).<\/p>\n

They seem to occur more exclusively during more recent phases of the Middle Pleniglacial, as at Beauvais (Locht 2004) and Ormesson (Bodu 2013), or during the Eemian, as at Caours (Antoine 2006).<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The discovery of the Paleolithic site of Coussey is very important as it fills a lacuna in a key geographical context at the eastern extremity of the Paris Basin, at the crossroads between the Rhine Region and Northern Europe. Its place in the regional Paleolithic context, however, remains difficult to ascertain because of the incomplete character of the data. OSL data indicate an age of 46.3 ka, which needs to be confirmed by further investigations. Above all else, this discovery raises questions about current research strategies. The Paleolithic wasteland of Lorraine, as it is presented in most recent studies, seems to correspond, in fact, to methodological shortcomings in the identification of human occupation within a rescue context. These deficiencies can be rectified by an increased awareness, among all of the actors involved, of the need to coordinate the various rescue interventions. In this context, diagnosis is the first stage at which action can be taken. The excavation of multiple deep trenches allows us to identify the sedimentary potential by period and, quite often, reveals Paleolithic occupations. It is then possible to consider the Paleolithic occupation, its presence or the reasons for its absence; these reasons can be anthropological (desertification) or natural (erosion). The dating of the sedimentary contexts and the human occupations provides a reliable geomorphological and archaeological framework which permits us to develop predictive approaches.<\/p>\n

This first stage of the diagnosis must lead to excavations in order to refine our reading of the chronology, technology and the spatial organization of the groups. It will then be possible to estimate the place of the Lorraine region at the crossroad between several cultural zones in the Paleolithic.<\/p>\n

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\nDie Fundst\u00e4tte Coussey in Lothringen zeigt mehrere arch\u00e4ologische Schichten aus dem Mittelpal\u00e4olithikum. Es wurde 2014 bei einer arch\u00e4ologischen Sondage entdeckt. Der am Zusammenfluss von Maas und Saonelle gelegene Standort wird vom Kalksteinkorallenfelsvorsprung der Hauts de Meuse dominiert und erstreckt sich \u00fcber die Westschleife des Hauptflussbetts.\n<\/div>\n
Weiterlesen\u2026<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[303,305,398],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-englisch","category-open-access-artikel","category-rhine-during-middle-paleolithic-de","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2706"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3263,"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2706\/revisions\/3263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernsverlag.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}