Sahul, the combined landmass of Australia and New Guinea, provides a record of behavioural modernity extending over at least the last 50,000 years. Colonised solely by anatomically and behaviourally modern humans, this continent provides an alternative record in the investigation of behavioural modernity to the extensively studied Middle Stone Age African and Upper Palaeolithic Eurasian archaeological records. In the past, the archaeological record of behavioural modernity in Sahul has been described as simple, sparse and essentially different to those records of Africa and Eurasia. These differences have been attributed to either low population densities during the Pleistocene or the loss of behavioural ‘traits’ on the journey from Africa to Sahul. While a number of studies have been undertaken, no single researcher has attempted to investigate the role of taphonomy and sampling on the representation of behavioural modernity in the archaeological record, despite Sahul being characterised by extreme environments, highly variable climates, and archaeologically, usually only small excavations. This study compiles the most complete record of chronology, evidence for behavioural modernity and excavation details for 223 Pleistocene sites yet attempted. It is also the most extensive dataset assembled for the examination of the issue of behavioural modernity on a single landmass. Site spatial and temporal distribution, site characteristics, excavations, absolute dating, preservation and sample size are examined to determine how the behavioural complexity of a modern human population is characterised on this isolated southern continent and the impact of taphonomy and archaeological sampling on that representation. Results demonstrate that preservation and sampling play a significant role in structuring the spatial and temporal representation of behavioural modernity in the archaeological record of Pleistocene Sahul. Contrary to previous findings, the evidence for behavioural modernity in Sahul is found to resemble the archaeological records of the African Middle Stone Age and Eurasian Upper Palaeolithic in terms of behaviour and artefact diversity. In terms of global narratives, these results also indicate that current understandings of behavioural modernity are incomplete and may misrepresent levels of behavioural complexity in early periods in some regions.

A new focus in Palaeolithic archaeology is to look at the possibility of the individual as a unit of analysis in the prehistoric record. This involves looking at the Palaeolithic actor as more than just an invisible entity that had a minor role in the production of long term patterns. The Palaeolithic individual was a ‘lived life’, with all aspects of agency, identity, and decision-making abilities. One area that is potentially illuminating for the examination of the individual is personal adornment, as this can lead to an understanding of the body and identity and the role of material culture in social life and self-making. A catalogue of Upper Palaeolithic sites in Europe and Siberia with evidence of items of personal adornment was recorded. From this information, patterns and sites that potentially show the individual are discussed through the categories of body, identity, and material culture.

A new focus in Palaeolithic archaeology is to look at the possibility of the individual as a unit of analysis in the prehistoric record. This involves looking at the Palaeolithic actor as more than just an invisible entity that had a minor role in the production of long term patterns. The Palaeolithic individual was a ‘lived life’, with all aspects of agency, identity, and decision-making abilities. One area that is potentially illuminating for the examination of the individual is personal adornment, as this can lead to an understanding of the body and identity and the role of material culture in social life and self-making. A catalogue of Upper Palaeolithic sites in Europe and Siberia with evidence of items of personal adornment was recorded. From this information, patterns and sites that potentially show the individual are discussed through the categories of body, identity, and material culture.

L’utilisation de l’ocre, interprétée comme la preuve d’une cognition complexe et dans certains cas d’un comportement symbolique, est l’un des traits culturels les plus controversés en contexte paléolithique. Les analyses systématiques de ses différentes phases de traitement sont rares, particulièrement en Afrique de l’Est, malgré l’importance de cette région pour l’étude de l’origine de l’homme moderne. Le but de cette thèse est de reconstruire la chaîne opératoire du traitement de l’ocre à la grotte du Porc-Épic (Dire Dawa, Éthiopie), site clef de la Corne de l’Afrique, afin de déterminer sa fonction et son rôle au sein de populations MSA. Nos résultats montrent que cette collection d’ocre est la plus abondante connue jusqu’à présent dans un site paléolithique, avec 40 kg d’ocre (n = 4213 pièces), 21 outils de traitement et deux galets ocrés trouvés dans des niveaux de ca. 40 ka cal BP. L’analyse de la distribution spatiale a permis de déterminer que la séquence n’a pas été perturbée significativement. Nous avons identifié des zones d’accumulation d’ocre interprétées comme des aires consacrées au traitement de ce matériel. L’analyse technologique a permis d’identifier une grande variété de traces d’utilisation. A travers une analyse par μ-Raman, MEB-EDS et DRX nous avons démontré que les meules et broyeurs ont été utilisés pour traiter différentes types d’ocre. La variété de matières premières et des techniques de traitement indiquent une production de poudres de différentes couleurs et textures, adaptées à des fonctions diverses. Une continuité dans le traitement de l’ocre a été mise en évidence le long de la séquence et interprétée comme le reflet d’une adaptation culturelle transmise au cours du temps. Des analyses rugosimétriques ont montré que l’ocre était traitée pour produire des quantités réduites de poudre. Cela, ainsi que la présence d’un galet possiblement utilisé comme tampon, semblent indiquer une utilisation de l’ocre pour des activités symboliques. Une analyse ethnoarchéologique de l’ocre chez les Hamar (Éthiopie) nous a permis d’évaluer la complexité du traitement de ce matériel et de souligner sa fonction à la fois utilitaire et symbolique. / Ochre is one of the most controversial features found at Palaeolithic sites. It is often interpreted as proof of behavioural complexity and, in some cases, as a marker of symbolically mediated behaviour. Detailed reconstructions of ochre processing techniques are rare, particularly in East Africa, despite the fact that it is one of the most significant areas for the study of the emergence of Homo sapiens. The aim of this thesis is to conduct a detailed reconstruction of the ochre chaîne opératoire at Porc-Epic Cave (Dire Dawa, Ethiopia), key site for the East African Middle Stone Age (MSA). Our approach permits the function of ochre and its significance for late MSA groups to be explored. Our results show that this site has yielded the largest known MSA ochre collection, comprising 40 kg of ochre (n = 4213 pieces), 21 ochre processing tools and two ochre stained artefacts from levels dated to ca. 40 ka cal BP. The analysis of the spatial distribution suggests that no major post-depositional reworking occurred at the site and allowed us to identify ochre accumulations, interpreted as areas devoted to ochre processing. Different types of modification marks were identified. SEM-EDS, μ-Raman and XRD analyses conducted on ochre residues from the processing tools suggest that these tools were used to process different types of ochre.The variety of raw materials and processing techniques indicates that ochre powder of different coarseness and shades was used for a variety of functions. Our results identify patterns of continuity in ochre acquisition, treatment and use, interpreted as the expression of a cohesive cultural adaptation, consistently transmitted through time. Rugosimetric analyses show that ochre was probably processed to produce small amounts of ochre powder. Additionally, a pebble possibly used as a stamp was identified. This seems to suggest a use of ochre for symbolic activities. An ethnoarchaeological analysis of ochre use among the Hamar, Ethiopia, allowed us to evaluate the complexity of the ochre chaîne opératoire and to highlight its use in both functional and symbolic activities.