Early European Mode 2 and the stone industry from the Caune de l'Arago's archeostratigraphical levels “P”

Abstract

The stratigraphical complex of the Caune de l'Arago cave site (France, Pyrénées-Orientales) has been systematically excavated for over 40 years. In 1981, foraging in the deposits revealed a 15 m thick Quaternary infill with artefacts present throughout the stratigraphy; all the way down to the basal stalagmitic floor (0.69 Ma). The infill, most of which is correlated to MIS 14, 13 and 12, has yielded numerous distinct occupation floors, exceptionally rich stone implements and animal fossils, while some of the levels have also yielded hominin remains attributed to Homo heidelbergensis. Over the years, intensive interdisciplinary studies have contributed to defining the characteristics of these Middle Pleistocene occupations. Recently, excavations have reached the so-called “P” levels, attributed to a series of occupation floors accumulated during short-term stays by hominin groups during a cold, dry phase of MIS 14. Artefact bearing levels are found intercalated between archeologically sterile sediments, relatively rich in carnivore remains. Among the numerous large Pleistocene mammals identified in the “P” levels, horse, reindeer and bison are most frequent in artefact yielding floors, while argali (brought into the cave by carnivores), bear and panther remains are common in intercalating levels. The study of the “P” levels’ stone assemblage provides new information about raw material selectivity, technological behaviour and typological characteristics for one of the oldest known Western European Mode 2 industries. It is interesting to consider the precise handiwork and care with which raw materials were selected for the confection of the fine quality instruments typical of the “P” levels’ assemblages, whose Acheulian character is underlined by a relative abundance of symmetrical and remarkably well-worked handaxes. The “P” levels industries seem to bear witness to long-acquired technological capacities, inherited perhaps from earlier African or Eurasian populations.