L’oasis de Kharga, est située au cœur du Sahara oriental, l’occupation humaine de cette région est strictement corrélée à un facteur limitant : l’eau, dont la présence ancienne est perceptible à travers des formes géomorphologiques telles que les playas et les sources artésiennes fossiles. Les données étudiées dans le cadre de cette recherche doctorale ont été rassemblées au cours de dix années de recherches dans le cadre de la mission archéologique de Douch (IFAO). La prospection systématique a permis de dresser la carte archéologique de ce territoire et mis en évidence plus de 84 sites composés de 359 ensembles attribués à la Préhistoire récente. Fouilles stratigraphiques, sondages et collectes de surface ont livré un matériel dont l’étude est au cœur de notre recherche. L’analyse est ici guidée par plusieurs axes de réflexion. Établir les jalons d’une périodisation des installations humaines par la caractérisation et l’étude comparative des assemblages archéologiques axée sur les industries lithiques taillées s’avère un préalable nécessaire. Un programme de datation radiocarbone permet d’esquisser les contours d’une chronologie absolue pour cette séquence culturelle. Sur cette base, il devient possible de saisir l’articulation diachronique qui s’opère entre les installations humaines et les différentes formes de paysage reflétant des stratégies d’occupation du territoire adaptatives. Cette approche permet de questionner la singularité de l’oasis dans les scénarios de mobilité et de dynamiques de peuplement à l’échelle macro-régionale dans une période marquée par des phénomènes de transition majeurs tant climatiques que techno-économiques. / Kharga oasis is located in the heart of the eastern Sahara. In this region, human occupation is linked to a limiting factor: water, whom former presence is attested by geomorphological forms as playas and artesian fossil springs. The data studied here were gathered in the course of 10 years of fieldwork during the Douch archaeological mission (IFAO). A systematic survey permitted to draw the archaeological map of this area and revealed 84 sites including 359 clusters attributed to Holocene Prehistory. The archaeological material coming from stratigraphic excavations, tests and collections serve as a basis for our work. The analyse is guided by several lines of thought. Establishing the archaeological sequence thanks to lithic industries and radiocarbon dating is the first step. It is then possible to understand the relationship between landscape, environment and human occupation’s strategies. This approach allows us to question the place of Kharga at a regional scale during times of technologic, economic and climatic change.

L’Azilien pyrénéen tient un rôle princeps dans la construction et la reconnaissance des sociétés de la fin du Paléolithique supérieur. Cette référence s’est peu à peu éloignée des définitions actuelles, enrichies par d’autres découvertes. Les vestiges lithiques sont étudiés dans cette thèse pour interroger la caractérisation régionale par rapport aux autres données chronoculturelles. Pour cela, l’étude est fondée sur les gisements de Rhodes II (Ariège), Troubat (Hautes-Pyrénées), La Tourasse (Haute-Garonne), Le Poeymaü (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), Gouërris (Haute-Garonne) et l’abri Pagès (Lot). Ces analyses permettent d’aborder les questions liées aux évolutions dynamiques, notamment la mise en place de l’Azilien puis sa fin et le développement du Laborien. Elles mettent aussi en avant la particularité des pratiques pyrénéennes par rapport à ce que l’on connaît de l’Azilien plus septentrional. Un point de vue plus général est ensuite entrepris par rapport aux autres cas de figures de l’ouest européen. Le développement de l’Azilien dans les Pyrénées (14 200 à 12 500 cal BP) est différent des données plus septentrionales dans la phase d’azilianisation, avec un Magdalénien tardif (jusqu’à 14 200 cal BP) et l’absence de phase de transition. Par la suite, la phase récente trouve des points communs à l’ensemble des données françaises, pyrénéennes et cantabriques par une simplification technique marquée, mais tout de même agrémentée de caractères régionaux propres aux Pyrénées. Le Laborien, parfois présent, pourrait témoigner d’un retour à une normalisation technique dans les sites attribuables à cette phase. Il confirme la généralisation de ce renouveau dans l’ensemble de l’Ouest européen à partir de 12 300 cal BP. / Since its discovery in the French Pyrenees at the end of 19th century, the Azilien has an important role in construction and reconnaissance of the last Palaeolithic societies. It was characterized by its specific lithic industry (baked points), osseous artefacts (harpoons) and artistic remains (painted pebbles). However, new discoveries shed some new light on the character and dynamics of Azilian. This work deals with lithic industry in order to question its regional character and its relation other chrono-cultural data. Six lithic assemblages were examined in this work: Rhodes II (Ariège), Troubat (Hautes-Pyrénées), La Tourasse (Haute-Garonne), Le Poeymaü (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), Gouërris (Haute-Garonne) and Pagès (Lot). Primary, this study allows questioning the evolution of Azilian culture and its relation to the development of Laborien. Further, we question the character of Pyrenean Azilian, its status and particularity by comparing it with its northern counterparts. Finally, we’re observing the Azilian phenomenon in larger perspective by comparing the French facies with those of Western Europe. The development of Azilian in the Pyrenees differs from the situation observed in the “azilianisation phase” of the northern sites as the Magdalenian persist until 14 200 cal. BP and the transitional phase is actually lacking. However, during the younger phase some common traits are identified on the larger territory (France, Pyrenees, Cantabria) marked in particularly by a technological simplification. Still, the Pyrenean Azilian (between 14 200 and 12 500 cal BP) preserves its regional particularity as seen in its lithic industry characterized by double backed points, little scrapers and use of anvil in percussion. The Laborian, sporadically present in the Pyrenees, might indicate the retour of “technological normalisation” characterized by more regular and straight production. This “technical renewal” will soon characterize the whole Western Europe around 12 300 cal. BP.

The thesis presents the results of processing the excavation of the acropolis of Levý Hradec (district of Praha-západ). The excavation took place between 1940-1954 under the leadership of Ivan Borkovský (ARÚ ČSAV in Prague). The hillfort is known as the Early Medieval center, however it was notably settled during the prehistory as well. Unfortunately, these findings have not been processed yet. The main aim of this thesis was the identification of prehistoric cultures on the basis of pottery collection, assignment of the extent of settlement in particular cultures and effort to date the prehistoric phases of fortification on the basis of original documentation and the pottery findings. Moreover, there was the attempt to identificate the excavated objects in documentation and cross connect the pottery with documentation.

The presented thesis deals with prehistoric and early medieval settlement in the Český Dub region. The main aim is to describe finds belonging to different archaeological periods and cultures from the Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages (until the 12th century), which mostly come from the surface collection. The attention was mainly focused on the collections deposited in Podještědské muzeum in Český Dub. More information was obtained from the published literature and some new data, about the settlement, was acquired from the authorʼs surface survey. Based on the available information, a catalogue, which contains all the archaeological sites and finds dated until the 12th century, was compiled. The work is accompanied by maps of finds, belonging to certain archaeological periods and by a picture catalogue of chipped and polished stone industry. Keywords: North Bohemia - Podještědí - Český Dub Region - settlement - prehistory - Early Middle Ages

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1 Abstract Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of gradual formation of today's synanthropic vegetation. Synanthropic plants represent a heterogeneous group of species with various qualities and strategies, as well as with various immigration histories. In general, the synanthropic flora is rich in aliens, so it is important to know, when exactly these species immigrated to our territory (to know their residence time). Besides the determination of the residence time of alien plants, also the dynamics of formation of urban flora and vegetation was studied. Special attention was paid to the Medieval Period, when the urbanisation process started. The emergence of urban agglomeration may have been the cause of the emergence of new habitats, followed by formation of new plant associations - the predecessors of the today's ones. In general, towns represent a special case of anthropogenic environment with many various synanthropic habitats, causing their species richness. Questions 1. When exactly the synanthropic flora of medieval towns emerged? Was the transition from the Prehistory to the Medieval Period rather gradual or sudden? 2. What particular species took place in the medieval change of synanthropic vegetation? Where did these species come from? Was...

The Yorkshire Dales National Park contains some of the UK’s most extensive and well-preserved prehistoric landscapes. Of particular interest are a number of coaxial field systems, which cover hundreds of hectares and exhibit significant time-depth, yet remain little studied and poorly understood in relation to comparable resources elsewhere in Britain and north western Europe. This research aims to address this situation, bringing together existing disparate source materials for the first time, alongside supplementary field observation, to develop a detailed record of the coaxial landscapes. Using a Geographic Information System to manage, interpret and interrogate the combined datasets, analysis focuses on form and character, and explores prehistoric use of the iconic landscape. The study seeks to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the landscapes’ place in space and time, setting them against the backdrop of systems elsewhere, and attempts to place them within the context of later prehistoric society. The research, conducted in association with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, also informs the management and public understanding of the archaeological resource of the Dales via the Historic Environment Record. / Arts and Humanities Research Council Collaborative Doctoral Award.

This essay is about the Mesolithic of Motala Canal and the depositions that have been found there, including a large number of animal bones. I would argue the most important discovery at this site was the human skulls, which will be the main topic of this essay. I will be working with ritual theory, and I will be working with past research on the Mesolithic, graves, and rituals. In this essay, I discuss whether this site has anything to do with rituals, and if so, are these mortuary rituals? The conclusion is that the site I have analysed was a ritualistic space. Some form of rituals that involved the craniums happened here for around 150 years during the late Mesolithic. What is not clear is if this was for mortuary purposes or other kind of purposes.

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