Comparaison paléocognitive des niveaux moustérien et magdalénien de la grotte Tournal (Bize, Aude)

Abstract

We analyse the functional processing chain of large mammals acquired at the mousterian and magdalenian levels of the Tournal cave (Bize, Aude). Palethnologic results are analysed through a method from experimental psychology of goal oriented activities. The elements are the objects used by prehistoric man and their properties. Objects and properties are linked by binary relationships. These relationships are processed by software, SIMBOL, developed at the IPH, based on an algorithm initially published by the Laboratoire de psychologie expérimentale of Paris-8. SIMBOL returns the cognitive graph of the task representation for the mousterian and the magdalenian layer, allowing a rigorous comparison of the cognitive activities on both periods. The main result is that the logical structure is preserved when passing from one level to the other. This could be interpreted as a due to the noticeable cognitive similarity of the men from the different periods, along with the fact that cognitive complexity seems to be the same on both graphs. Cognitive fluidity improves from mousterian to magdalenian suggesting that cognitive mechanisms such as sense sliding and analogies could be easier at the magdalenian level. Could we interpret this result as a due to a greater creativity at the magdalenian level than at the mousterian one? Further investigations are needed to state this, as well as enhanced data volume, potentially allowed by this entirely new method.