La séquence néolithique de la grotte du Gardon (Ain)

Abstract

The Gardon cave, located in the south of the Jura, has been excavated over more than fifteen years. The aim of such a long excavation was to draw up a new point of reference both on a chronological and cultural level for the Upper Rhone Basin. Its stratigraphy, which shows occupation layers and flood levels due to karstic movements, made it possible to confirm the palaeoenvironnemental variations established in the Jura by Michel Magny on the basis of lake level fluctuations. During the Early Neolithic era, between 5300 and 4800 ВС, the cave was occupied on several occasions, either by cattle breeders close to the southern groups (Late Cardial or Limbourg), or by local hunters who continued to use flint knapping techniques from the local Mesolithic tradition, even if they certainly knew some of the Neolithic techniques. The Middle Neolithic era is the best-represented period on the site, with ten levels of semi-permanent occupation (dwelling or sheepfolds), defining four cultural phases in the Saint-Uze and the NMB (Néolithique Moyen Bourguignon-Burgundian Middle Neolithic). At the beginning of the Final Neolithic era, circa 3500 to 3000 ВС, a collective cremation burial (reminiscent of the SOM-Early Clairvaux), occupied the cave entrance and, finally, the Neolithic stratigraphy is completed by two layers corresponding to the Chalain and Bellbeaker groups. This paper thus draws up a first assessment of the Neolithic elements found during the excavation of the Gardon cave, while waiting for the final publication on the site. (Translation: Muriel Perchet)