Dans les sociétés humaines, la communication orale entre les individus via le langage est complétée par d’autres systèmes de représentation visuels. Ajoutés ou substitués aux paroles prononcées, la gestuelle, la parure et les arts graphiques peuvent assumer différents rôles dans les interactions sociales. […] À ces fins fondamentales, les sociétés ont créé et combiné de nombreux symboles, employés selon des règles collectives qui permettent la compréhension des systèmes de représentation par les membres du groupe qui les partagent. […] Les systèmes de représentation les plus anciens, connus à travers les parures et les arts paléolithiques, sont difficiles à appréhender, le préhistorien étant démuni de la majeure partie du contexte indispensable à leur compréhension. L’une des problématiques essentielles des recherches sur ces témoins symboliques consiste alors à s’interroger sur leurs rôles dans les sociétés paléolithiques, et par‐delà sur leurs raisons d’être, d’une part, et sur l’organisation des sociétés qui les ont mis en œuvre, d’autre part. […] En dépit de toutes les inconnues auxquelles le préhistorien doit faire face, nous espérons pouvoir préciser le rôle des systèmes de représentation paléolithiques. À l’instar d’un système technique, un système de représentation répond, lui aussi, à certains impératifs (et donc à une certaine logique) pour être opérationnel. Il existe de multiples manières de transmettre un message, mais il n’en demeure pas moins que le contenu du message doit être intelligible par ses destinataires et leur parvenir à travers un contexte de transmission approprié pour que la communication soit réussie. […] Dans la première partie du mémoire, nous développerons plus amplement le contexte d’étude, la problématique et la démarche suivie. […] Les résultats obtenus en appliquant cette méthodologie à l’étude des collections des Pyrénées nord‐occidentales seront exposés dans la deuxième partie. […] À l’appui de ces résultats, nous nous aventurerons plus loin dans l’interprétation, dans la dernière partie. / No English summary available.

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Doctorat en philosophie et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Microlith production is a distinctive and significant stone tool technology. However, inter-regional comparative analyses of microlithic industries are rare, and have tended to homogenise these industries by focussing analytical attention on retouched tool typologies alone. This thesis provides the first demonstration and exploration of variability in two of the earliest microlithic industries in the world - the Howiesons Poort of southern Africa and the Late Palaeolithic of South Asia. Analysis of this variation has implications for the long-standing debates concerning modern human behaviour and dispersals. In order to assess variability in underlying technological processes and manufacturing trajectories, detailed attribute analyses were conducted on lithic assemblages. Metric and qualitative variables were recorded on cores, debitage and tools from three southern African Howiesons Poort sites (Rose Cottage Cave and Umhlatuzana, South Africa, and Ntloana Tsoana, Lesotho) and four South Asian Late Palaeolithic sites (Batadomba-lena and Kitulgala Beli-lena, Sri Lanka, and Patne and Jwalapuram 9, India). Analysis of the results reveals variability within sites, over time, and between sites and regions, demonstrating that microlith production is not a homogenous technology. Underlying technological processes are shown to differ more between regions than do retouched tool forms. It is argued that this pattern is more parsimoniously explained by independent innovation of microlithic technology situated within local lithic traditions, rather than by cultural diffusion. Additionally, the exploration of variability in microlithic assemblages highlights the benefits of using a methodological approach to the modern human behaviour debate which focusses on technological variability rather than the presence of particular tool types. It is this behavioural and technological variability that is key to understanding our species.

Le site de Riparo Bombrini (Ligurie, Italie) offre un cadre unique pour comparer l’organisation spatiale des occupations de Néandertal et d’Homo sapiens dans un seul et même site archéologique. La disparition des Néandertaliens est l’un des plus grands débats de la préhistoire puisque la période de leur déclin correspond à l’arrivée d’Homo sapiens en Europe. Il est donc supposé que des différences fondamentales distinguent les deux espèces, et la capacité de structurer l’espace au sein des sites qu’elles occupaient en zones d’activité distinctes est souvent invoquée comme un trait clé de l’humain. Cependant, ce comportement n’a jamais été évalué pour les deux groupes dans un même site, ce qui rend les comparaisons directes impossibles. Ce projet vise ainsi à évaluer objectivement le degré d’organisation spatiale dans les niveaux protoaurignaciens (A1-A2, associés à Homo sapiens) ainsi que les derniers niveaux moustériens (MS1-MS2, associés aux Néandertaliens) à Riparo Bombrini afin d’établir si ces prétendues différences fondamentales entre les deux espèces existent. La combinaison de SIG et de méthodes quantitatives permet d’étudier la distribution spatiale des artéfacts et des caractéristiques à ces niveaux, démontrant que les Néandertaliens ont en effet organisé leurs espaces de vie comme Homo sapiens. Les résultats des analyses indiquent qu’il existe une logique derrière la manière dont les artéfacts sont distribués dans l’espace sous-tendant des capacités cognitives similaires des humains anatomiquement modernes et des Néandertaliens. Cela fournit de nouvelles données au débat en cours sur la « modernité comportementale », suggérant qu’elle ne se limite pas à notre seule espèce. / The site of Riparo Bombrini (Liguria, Italy) offers a unique setting to compare the spatial organization of Neandertal and Homo sapiens occupations in a single archaeological site. The disappearance of the Neandertals is one of the greatest debates in prehistory since the period of their decline corresponds to the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe. It is thus often assumed that fundamental differences distinguish the two populations, and the ability to structure space within the sites they occupied into distinct activity areas is often invoked as a key distinctive trait of our species. However, this behavior has never been assessed for both groups at a single site, making direct comparisons impossible so far. This project thus aims to objectively evaluate the degree of spatial organization in the earliest Protoaurignacian levels (A1-A2, associated with Homo sapiens) as well as the latest Mousterian levels (MS1-MS2, associated with Neandertals) at Riparo Bombrini in order to establish whether these alleged fundamental differences between the two species do exist. Combining GIS and quantitative methods allow the study of the spatial distribution of artefacts and features in these levels, showing that Neandertals indeed organized their living spaces like Homo sapiens. The results of the analyses indicates that there is a logic behind the distribution of artefacts and the use of the space suggesting similar cognitive capacities for both anatomically modern humans and Neandertals. This contributes new data to the ongoing debates over ‘behavioral modernity,’ suggesting it is not limited to our species alone.

Dans les gisements paléolithiques, les résidus anthracologiques étudiables sont parfois très abondants ou, au contraire, quasiment absents, sans relation évidente avec l’intensité des activités liées au feu. Ce constat pose la question de l’impact des processus post-dépositionnels, dont l’action est particulièrement importante dans les sites anciens. Lorsque la fraction grossière est rare, les charbons méso ou microscopiques sont souvent bien représentés, mettant en lumière un intense processus de fragmentation. Agent majeur de la formation des assemblages, la fragmentation conditionne le niveau de conservation du dépôt, mais aussi éventuellement la représentation quantitative des taxons. Dans une perspective méthodologique et au moyen d’une série d’expérimentation in vivo et in vitro (tests de compression, cycles gel-dégel, piétinement, retrait-gonflement du sédiment, etc.), les propriétés physico-mécaniques des charbons de bois et les modalités de fragmentation de différents taxons d’Europe tempérée sont caractérisées. Un ensemble de processus post-dépositionnels qui participent de la formation de nombreux dépôts du Pléistocène sont simulés de manière à mesurer leur impact sur le matériel anthracologique. Nos résultats montrent que les charbons de bois sont particulièrement sensibles aux processus météoriques et aux phénomènes périglaciaires ainsi qu’au piétinement. Le niveau de fragmentation des charbons laisse envisager l’ampleur des dommages causés sur la longue durée. Les propriétés physico-mécaniques et le comportement à la fragmentation des charbons de bois varient selon les essences. Ces différences s’expriment au niveau générique, spécifique et plus ponctuellement intra-spécifique, mais elles ne semblent pas de nature à induire des distorsions quantitatives majeures de la représentation initiale des taxons au sein des assemblages. Enfin, lorsque des différences entre taxons sont mises en évidence, elles s’expriment principalement au sein de la fraction fine (charbons compris entre 1 et 2 mm), laquelle est rarement étudiée en termes quantitatif. / Anthracological residues are often either very abundant or almost entirely absent in Palaeolithic sites, with no obvious relationship between their quantity and in the intensity of fire-related activities that may have occurred. This raises the question of the impact of post-depositional processes on anthracological residues, which is especially significant at ancient sites. When the coarse fraction is rare, meso and microscopic charcoal are often well represented, highlighting an intense process of fragmentation. As a major agent of the assemblages’ formation, fragmentation affects the level of conservation of the deposit, but also possibly the quantitative representation of taxa. From a methodological perspective and through a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments, the physico-mechanical properties of charcoal and the modalities of fragmentation of Europe temperate taxa are characterized. A set of post-depositional processes (freeze-thaw cycles, trampling, sediment shrinking and swelling, etc.), involved in the formation of many Pleistocene deposits, are simulated in order to measure their impact on anthracological residues. The results of this research show that charcoal is particularly sensitive to meteoric and periglacial processes as well as trampling. The level of fragmentation of charcoal makes it possible to consider the scale of damage caused over a long term exposure of the remains. The physico-mechanical properties and the fragmentation behavior of charcoal vary depending on the species. These differences are visible on a generic, specific and intra-specific level, though they do not seem to induce major distortions of the initial quantitative representation of taxa within assemblages. Finally, when differences between taxa are identified, they are mainly recovered in the fine fraction (charcoal between 1 and 2 mm), which is rarely studied in quantitative terms.

The Aurignacian is a contentious time period in paleoanthropology. The myriad social changes which accompany the Upper Paleolithic transition have often become associated with the physical tools which Aurignacian people left behind. One result of this is the current tendency of professionals to use blade technology as an indicator of "modernity," rather than examining how changes accompanying the Upper Paleolithic transition made blades a useful adaptation. Of particular importance is the fact that the adoption of blades coincides with a long distance shift in the system used to procure and transport the lithic raw materials. This suggests that before we can use blades to answer anthropological questions about the Aurignacian, we need to establish the relationship between blade production and the acquisition of exotic raw materials. This dissertation combines an analysis of the lithic collection from the French archaeological site of Abri Cellier with the experimental fracture of lithic raw material samples in order to examine the impact of raw material quality on Aurignacian blade production. The analysis of the assemblage from Abri Cellier demonstrates that Aurignacian blades manufactured on exotic materials were of higher quality than those produced locally. The experimental fracture of raw material samples reveals that the differences in the quality of the exotic and local materials do not sufficiently account for the differences in the quality of the blades produced on them. This implies that the differential transport of high quality final products accounts for the increased quality of exotic blades at Abri Cellier. This research examines a number of new ways to evaluate quality in the archaeological record. More importantly, however, it firmly demonstrates that the acquisition of long distance raw materials was not a prerequisite for blade production in the Perigord. This work will conclude by arguing that blades played a role in increasing the maintainability of a hafted toolkit geared towards meeting the requirements of an increasingly mobile and collaborative Aurignacian population.

In this dissertation, I examine the representation of projectile points in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA) of Tanzania, and the way in which such tools were used over time and space. This study reviews the different strategies used to produce points during the MSA and LSA. It also examines the mechanisms involved in raw material procurement, hafting technology, and the use of these tools as projectile weapons and how they evolved over time. It is clear that there were different kinds of multi-weapon systems in use in Tanzania during the MSA, LSA and the transition between them. The points examined are from three archaeological sites: Mumba, Nasera and Magubike. They reveal that triangular blanks were preferred for the production of points. Most of them were modified on their proximal ends to provide a suitable binding portion for hafting and aerodynamic movement. Results from the Tip Cross Section Area (TCSA) and weight values suggest that spear and arrow projectiles coexisted in these sites during the MSA and MSA/LSA transition. Both local and exotic rocks were used for the production of points. In previous studies, the appearance of exotic rocks in the archaeological assemblages was correlated with trade and exchange. But here the use of exotics seems to be influenced by functional values such as durability, sharpness and brittleness. Sharp and durable rocks such as chert and quartzite were needed for spears because of their high compression strength. This makes them better able to withstand unintentional breakage after being stressed by the force of impact. Points made of brittle rocks, such as quartz and obsidian, were mainly used for light duty projectiles such as throwing spears (darts) and arrows, because they penetrate the body of an animal better and sometimes break more easily. The presence of points made of exotic or local rocks shows that functional variables were important for projectile technologies. The overall morphological and technological patterns revealed in this study suggest that foragers who made and used points had elaborate technological skills, abstract thinking and developed behavioural capability similar to those of other modern foragers.

The archaeological and technical questions about ancient stone tools lead to various research activities such as chemical and petrographical analysis. Considering research areas and publications it can be suggested that mineralogical studies of stone samples of ancient stone tools have disclosed useful information concerning identification of the stone. Within this context, aim of this study is to determine the chemical, mineralogical and petrographical identities of the stone samples of Karain Cave (Antalya). Most paleolithic caves show one specific time interval layer but Karain Cave shows lower-upper and middle layers which give information about the migration ways between Near East and Europe. Stone tools excavated from Karain Cave are not only first human remainings in Anatolia but also first artworks of Anatolian people.Most of the stone tools excavated from Karain Cave are cherts. These cherts were analysed for archeological aspects but mineralogical, petrographical, and chemical contents have not been analysed yet. During the excavations at the Karain Cave in Antalya many stone pieces in different sizes and colors had been found. In this study ten samples were examined. The methods used consists of thin section, X- ray powder diffraction , scanning - electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis , differential thermal analyses and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine material characteristics of the samples. Petrographically the nine of the samples are chert with some including radiolarian fossils. Microcrystalline &aacute / - quartz is the major mineral in the chert. Only one sample is composed calcite and is identified as micritic limestone. Chemical analysis reflect the typical composition of chert with the average values of / 40.9% Si and 1 sample is limestone, which is composed of 35.7% Ca . Minor elements are Fe, Al, K, and Ti in the samples. Thermal analysis is also supported the thin section studies.Further research is suggested for provenance analysis of stone tools from the Karain Cave.

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