Du Mesnil Research Articles

Reassessment of the ‘Abbevillien’ in the perspective of new discoveries from the Lower Palaeolithic and Quaternary sites of Abbeville (Somme, northern France)

ABSTRACTNorth‐West Europe yields few traces of early human occupation, in particular for the Acheulean. In this context, the Somme Valley in northern France offers a route to Britain during various Pleistocene low sea levels, and has provided numerous evidence of Lower Palaeolithic human occupation through fieldwork initiated during the 19th century. These localities are associated with the original definition in the 1930s by the French prehistorian Abbé Henri Breuil of the ‘Abbevillien’ (Abbevillian facies), based on lithic pieces including crudely made bifaces recovered in particular in some famous key localities of Abbeville, Carpentier, Léon and Moulin Quignon quarries. The history of the term and its definition subsequently gave rise to debates concerning the chronocultural framework of Palaeolithic assemblages among the scientific community of prehistorians over time, from Jacques Boucher de Perthes, Gabriel de Mortillet, Geoffroy d'Ault du Mesnil, Victor Commont, Henri Breuil and François Bordes. New investigations at these three localities, all associated with the High Terrace of the Somme system, pushed back the age of the expansion of the Acheulean both in northern France and in Western Europe to c. 670–650 000 years. They imply that early hominins were able to settle in North‐West Europe during both climatic temperate and cold phases. Our work, including new excavations and associated field observations of the three Abbeville localities involved at the onset of the controversy, allows a re‐examination of the Abbevillian and contributes to the discussion of the history of Prehistoric Science and the Earliest ‘Acheuleans’ in North‐West Europe.

Les terrasses fluviatiles quaternaires de la Somme à Abbeville : 150 ans de recherches mêlant géologie et archéologie, de Boucher de Perthes à aujourd’hui

Paleolithic localities associated with fossil fluvial formations of the Somme River at Abbeville have played a significant role in the recognition of human antiquity. From the end of the 18th century, the work carried out in particular by the “Société d’émulation d’Abbeville” led to the emergence of studies in the Somme valley on both Quaternary Geology and Prehistory. It was within this scholarly society that Jacques Boucher de Perthes initiated his research on the famous localities of Menchecourt, Hospital and Moulin Quignon in 1837. These observations were quickly confirmed by geologists such as Albert Gaudry, Charles-Joseph Buteux or Joseph Prestwich. It was the latter who introduced the Abbeville deposits into the United-Kingdom scientist community and his observations were used as early as 1859 by Charles Lyell to demonstrate the antiquity of the archaeological remains collected from these localities. However, the controversy surrounding by the discovery of the human jaw of Moulin Quignon (1863–1864), which undermined the credibility of this locality for a long time, led to the decrease of the archaeological researches in the Somme valley, and in particular in Abbeville, but it then resumed quite quickly. However, if the work carried out by Geoffroy d’Ault du Mesnil from 1875 to 1898 had the merit to reaffirm the archaeological importance of the Abbeville deposits and to reveal the complexity of their Quaternary records, the geographical and stratigraphic imprecision resulting from these rare publications, coupled with the gradual abandonment of the various gravel pits whose exploitation he followed, cast a significant discredit on these discoveries and on the stratigraphical observations he made there. The researches carried out then by Victor Commont at Carpentier Quarry between 1904 and 1918 were characterized by the excellence of the stratigraphic and iconographic data he produced for each of the studied sites. However the absence of archaeological discoveries in the fluvial deposits he studied lead the prehistorians who succeeded him increasingly doubted of the veracity of Ault's observations, despite the efforts made by Abbé Henri Breuil to reconcile these with Commont's observations. Between the two world wars, Breuil and Léon Aufrère resumed the study of the Abbeville deposits then still accessible, tried to ensure their preservation, through the purchase and protection of the Carpentier and Léon quarries, a decisive intervention in the archaeological rehabilitation of these deposits. These works were at the origin of the chronostratigraphic studies carried out on these major localities of the ancient European prehistory until today. Over the past ten years, some of these localities have been studied again, thus largely confirming the observations made by the elders (Boucher de Perthes, d’Ault du Mesnil, Commont) and validating the major place of Abbeville in the understanding of ancient prehistory settlement of northwestern Europe.

Geology meets archaeology: rediscovering the life and work of Geoffroy d’Ault du Mesnil (1842–1921)

The period between the middle of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century saw the birth and consolidation of prehistory and archaeology as scientific disciplines. Discussions of method and theory were posed; the antiquity of humankind was demonstrated; stratigraphic and chrono-typological sequences were settled. This process was initially linked to the natural and geological sciences. In France the names of J. Boucher de Perthes, E. Lartet, A. de Lapparent, E. Piette, E. Cartailhac, G. de Mortillet, L. Capitan and H. Breuil appeared; their role in the development of research frameworks at the national, European and international scales is well known, and they have been the subject of detailed studies in the historiography of geology and/or archaeology. However, the name of one of the most influential characters of the period seems to have been forgotten. This paper attempts to reassess the scientific standing and explore the personal life of Geoffroy d’Ault du Mesnil (1842–1921) through first-hand analysis of a variety of sources. The paper analyses the origins of his interdisciplinary approach to science, how he came to be a leading expert on the Quaternary terraces of the valley of the Somme and his key role in research on, and the preservation of, France's prehistoric heritage. This ultimately permits a renewed understanding of d’Ault du Mesnil's contribution to the scientific development of geology and prehistory, in addition to demonstrating how the wider social, economic and political context of the time shaped his own scientific personality.

Stratagems, Combat, and “Chemical Warfare” in the Siege Mines of Dura-Europos

The Sasanian Persian siege that destroyed Roman-held Dura-Europos, Syria, ca. 256 C.E. left some of the best evidence ever recovered for the nature and practices of ancient warfare. Perhaps the most dramatic of the archaeological deposits, excavated in the early 1930s, were those resulting from the mining duel around Tower 19 on the city’s western wall, during which at least 19 Roman soldiers and one Sasanian became entombed. Recent reanalysis of the excavation archive suggested that the mine evidence still held one unrecognized deadly secret: the Roman soldiers who perished there had not, as Robert du Mesnil du Buisson (the original excavator) believed, died by the sword or by fire but had been deliberately gassed by the Sasanian attackers. This article discusses the implications of this conclusion for our understanding of early Sasanian military capabilities and reviews the question of possible reexcavation in search of the casualties of Tower 19, whose remains were neither studied nor retained.

Imaging

Imaging

Count Robert du Mesnil du Buisson (1895-1986), a french precursor in geophysical survey for archaeology

Geophysical surveys for archaeology are generally considered to have started in 1946 or 1947 with electrical measurements. This assumption neglects several predictions (1934) and experiments (1947) made at very early dates by a French archaeologist (R. du Mesnil du Buisson) who stated several clever and precursory conclusions on different methods. These are still almost unknown probably because they were not published in English until now. The paper gives an account of some interesting aspects of the subject and of historical details about the early times of our discipline. Unsuccessful attempts to establish possible links between R. du Mesnil du Buisson and the most prominent French geophysicists of that time reveals the archaeologist as a particularly independent and perspicacious precursor in this field. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The authenticity of the Arslan Tash Amulets

The pair of amulets which form the subject of this brief contribution were bought in October 1933 by R. du Mesnil du Buisson from a local peasant while visiting the site of Arslan Tash, a town in northern Syria, some 160 km north-east of Aleppo, near the present-day border with Turkey. The site, which is the location of the ancient Assyrian colony Hadattu, had been excavated a few years earlier, and it is not impossible that the objects had in fact been stolen from the excavation. Both amulets are now preserved in the National Museum in Aleppo.The purchase of the amulets was announced by du Mesnil in a meeting of the Société nationale des Antiquitaires de France in 1937 and this was soon followed by the editio princeps of the first amulet. His article, often justly praised as a remarkable achievement, is accompanied by a set of very reasonable photographs, but, owing to the rounded edges of the tablet and the use of light coming from one direction only, a number of signs cannot actually be seen on them. To supplement the photographs, the editor provided handcopies of the inscriptions; these naturally reflect his own readings of the often problematical text, rather than being an accurate facsimile of each individual sign. With few exceptions most of the subsequent students of the amulet have inevitably had to base themselves on du Mesnil's photographs, and this has not always led to readings better than his. It was not until 1970 that a new impulse was given to the study of the first amulet by the publication of an article by F. M. Cross and R. Saley. These authors were able to use two new sets of photographs (each using light coming from opposite directions) provided by the Museum in Aleppo, and presented several new readings based on these photographs. It is much to be regretted that of this double set of photographs only a single one was published in their article, so that most of their readings cannot be checked. This oversight is only partly compensated by the subsequent publication of a few more of Cross and Saley's photographs by W. Röllig. The next major step forward was a short but very informative article by A. Caquot, who was able to use a cast of the amulet in the possession of R. du Mesnil du Buisson which had been made at the time of its discovery. Caquot's new readings confirm most but not all of those proposed by Cross and Saley, and subsequent treatments of the text usually follow either or both of these authorities.

The Authenticity of the Arslan Tash Amulets

The pair of amulets which form the subject of this brief contribution were bought in October 1933 by R. du Mesnil du Buisson from a local peasant while visiting the site of Arslan Tash, a town in northern Syria, some 160 km north-east of Aleppo, near the present-day border with Turkey. The site, which is the location of the ancient Assyrian colony Hadattu, had been excavated a few years earlier, and it is not impossible that the objects had in fact been stolen from the excavation. Both amulets are now preserved in the National Museum in Aleppo.The purchase of the amulets was announced by du Mesnil in a meeting of the Société nationale des Antiquitaires de France in 1937 and this was soon followed by the editio princeps of the first amulet. His article, often justly praised as a remarkable achievement, is accompanied by a set of very reasonable photographs, but, owing to the rounded edges of the tablet and the use of light coming from one direction only, a number of signs cannot actually be seen on them. To supplement the photographs, the editor provided handcopies of the inscriptions; these naturally reflect his own readings of the often problematical text, rather than being an accurate facsimile of each individual sign. With few exceptions most of the subsequent students of the amulet have inevitably had to base themselves on du Mesnil's photographs, and this has not always led to readings better than his. It was not until 1970 that a new impulse was given to the study of the first amulet by the publication of an article by F. M. Cross and R. Saley. These authors were able to use two new sets of photographs (each using light coming from opposite directions) provided by the Museum in Aleppo, and presented several new readings based on these photographs. It is much to be regretted that of this double set of photographs only a single one was published in their article, so that most of their readings cannot be checked. This oversight is only partly compensated by the subsequent publication of a few more of Cross and Saley's photographs by W. Röllig. The next major step forward was a short but very informative article by A. Caquot, who was able to use a cast of the amulet in the possession of R. du Mesnil du Buisson which had been made at the time of its discovery. Caquot's new readings confirm most but not all of those proposed by Cross and Saley, and subsequent treatments of the text usually follow either or both of these authorities.

On-farm identification of the optimum time for mating in pigs

The most important factor affecting the overall efficiency and profitability of pig production is the accurate timing of insemination in the breeding herd. Low conception rates and litter sizes result from pigs inseminated during the ‘incorrect’ period of oestrus in relation to ovulation. The average time at which ovulation takes place is between 38 and 42 hours after the onset of oestrus (Du Mesnil du Buisson, Mauleon, Locatelli and Mariana, 1970) with highest fertility achieved for matings carried out approximately 12 hours prior to ovulation (Dziuk, 1970). The back pressure test in the presence of a boar is generally used to indicate oestrus but does not indicate the time of onset or the stage of oestrus.

Reports by Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard on the organization of scientific teaching and research

These reports originated in the family of Armand Du Mesnil, who served as Officier Instruction Publique in the Ministry Instruction Publique from 1866, and later (1878) became Councillor of State and Director of Higher Education in France. They passed, together with clerk’s copies, to Du Mesnil’s niece who married Eugene Fromentin, the painter and novelist. Their daughter married Alexander Billotte. The Billottes’ daughter married my wife’s Norwegian uncle, to whose son, Erik Dahl of La Rochelle, I am indebted for photocopies. Louis Pasteur (1822—1895) was elected a Foreign Member of the Society in 1869, and Claude Bernard (1813—1878) in 1864. The reports arose out o f the conference o f scientists and administrators summoned by N apoleon III at the Tuileries on 16 M arch 1868, as a result o f the concern expressed by Pasteur over the condition o f French science at the time. Pasteur, Bernard, Deville and M ilne-Edwards were present as scientists, and Rouher, Vaillant and D uruy (Minister o f Public Instruction) represented the Government. Pasteur’s report, dated nine days after the conference, presumably represents the opinions he presented, and is addressed to the D irecteur de L ’Enseignement Supérieur, a post subsequently held by D u Mesnil; Bernard’s is addressed to Duruy.

Effect of growth hormone on growth in immature hypophysectomized pigs.

Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, U.S.A. (Received 29 August 1975) A previous investigation on growth in the immature pig indicated that hypophysectomy leads to a markedly reduced growth rate, but not complete cessation of growth (Ford & Anderson, 1967). Results are presented on the effect of exogenous growth hormone (GH) on growth and development in immature hypophysectomized pigs. Immature male Yorkshire pigs were hypophysectomized by a supraorbital approach (du Mesnil du Buisson, Léglise & Chodkiewicz, 1964). The animals were anaesthetized with sodium thiopentone (0·3–0·8 g; Abbott Laboratories) and surgical anaesthesia was maintained with oxygen (200–500 ml/min) and halothane (1–4%; Ayerst Laboratories). Sham-operations included all surgical procedures except removal of the hypophysis. After surgery the pigs were isolated in individual pens in a postoperative room maintained at 24–25 °C. Porcine growth hormone (PGH) or rat growth hormone (RGH) was injected intramuscularly at 1·0 mg/day during a

Remarks on Two East Aramaic Inscriptions

The Dura-Europos Bilingual Inscription In 1938 R. du Mesnil du Buisson published a bilingual (Aramaic-Greek) votive inscription found at Dura-Europos.' The Aramaic version is written in the Hatran script-type2 and dialect. At that time very few Hatran inscriptions were known; the bulk have been published since 1951.3 It is therefore natural that the editio princeps is not free of error. Nevertheless, scholars who have studied this DuraEuropos inscription since 1951 have not improved its readings and some have misinterpreted it. The transliteration and translation of Du Mesnil du Buisson follows:

Fertilizing life of golden hamster spermatozoa in the female tract.

Summary. Hamster spermatozoa recovered from the epididymis or the uterus were deposited into the uterine horns at various times before ovulation. It was found that the fertilizing life of hamster spermatozoa in the female tract is about 13 hr. The fertilizing life of the spermatozoa of the commoner laboratory animals in the female tract varies according to the species involved. In farm animals, the fertilizing life of spermatozoa in the female tract of the pig (du Mesnil du Buisson & Dauzier, 1955; Pitkjanen, 1960), sheep (Green, 1947; Dauzier & Wintenberger, 1952) and cattle (Laing, 1945; Vandeplassche & Paredis, 1948; Tarosz, 1961) is about 24 to 48 hr. The following experiments were performed to ascertain the fertilizing life of golden hamster spermatozoa in the female tract. Mature golden hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, were kept in an animal room under conditions of constant temperature (22° C) and artificial lighting (19.00 to 07.00 hours darkness). Some females were kept under reversed light and dark conditions (03.00 to 15.00 hours darkness) for the recovery of uterine spermatozoa. All females were examined daily for the presence of a postoestrous discharge and then caged according to the day of their oestrous cycle. Only animals exhibiting a regular, 4-day oestrous cycle were used in this experiment. A suspension of epididymal spermatozoa was prepared by mincing one cauda epididymidis with scissors in 4 ml Hanks' solution. For the preparation of suspensions of ejaculated spermatozoa, females kept under normal or reversed light conditions were killed 10 to 15 min after mating with two males, and the mass of spermatozoa expressed from the uterus were placed in 2 ml Hanks' solution. The females to be inseminated were anaesthetized with ether at appropriate times and the uteri were exposed through a mid-ventral incision. About 0-2 ml of the sperm suspension was injected into the lumen of each uterine horn by means of a 23-gauge needle attached to a tuberculin syringe. Groups of females were inseminated at appropriate times before or after the onset of oestrus, which was ascertained by their lordosis in the presence of active males. The time of ovulation was assumed to be about 8 hr after the onset of lordosis (Harvey, Yanagimachi & Chang, 1961).

The influence of male proximity and dietary restriction on the oestrous cycle of the rat.

It is known that association with the male can have a marked stimulatory influence on the reproductive behaviour of the female in a number of species. A shortening of oestrous cycles and synchronization of oestrus in grouped mice, for example, is brought about by the presence of a male (Whitten, 1958). Allied phenomena have been reported for the sheep (Schinckel, 1954; Radford & Watson, 1957), pig (Signoret & du Mesnil du Buisson, 1961), goat (Shelton, 1960) and rat (Hughes, 1964). Cooper & Haynes (1967) demonstrated that the introduction of different males each day for 15 hr into the cages of female rats showing lengthened cycles due to dietary restriction resulted in a significant shortening of the oestrous cycle. A number of rats did not mate at the first oestrus and the subsequent cycle was again of shorter duration than those before introduction of the male. This indicated that the female continued to respond to the male. It was recently shown that physical contact with the male

The "Closed Temple" Panel in the Synagogue of Dura-Europos

The Closed Temple was interpreted by Goodenough as a cult-less sanctuary of Mystic Judaism in contrast to the Tabernacle of the Aaronic Priesthood symbolic of a normative, legalistic Judaism. With this thesis in mind, Goodenough tried to explain away the sevenwall enclosure of the closed temple with pagan deities in its portal decoration. The present author supports and reinforces Du Mesnil du Buisson's interpretation of the closed temple as a solar temple and a pun on the name of the city Beth Shemesh by pointing to a biblical incident characterizing Beth Shemesh as a sinful city failing in reverence to the Ark. Goodenough defended his thesis with number symbolism derived from Philo's computations which are shown to be based on a faulty translation of biblical data in the Septuagint. The figure standing with a scroll before the Ark is interpreted here as Nathan, the prophet, chronicler of the reign of David, the king who had brought the Ark to Jerusalem.

Effect of photoperiod on ovarian function in the vole, Microtus agrestis.

It has been shown that photoperiod affects the reproductive development of the vole, Microtus agrestis, the ovaries and uteri weighing more in laboratory-simulated summer than in laboratory-simulated winter (Clarke & Kennedy, 1967). Photoperiod has a similar effect on ovarian function in M. arvalis (Lecyk, 1962; Thibault, Courot, Martinet, Mauléon, du Mesnil du Buisson, Ortavant, Pelletier & Signoret, 1966). In order to define more accurately the influence of light on the sexual development of M. agrestis, the effect of six different photoperiods on the onset of puberty and on ovarian activity in virgin voles after 8 weeks of treatment was investigated. The experimental animals were the progeny of a breeding colony kept in the Department of Agricultural Science at Oxford. Females, 18 days old, were placed in light-proof cupboards (see Clarke & Kennedy, 1967) and subjected

Growth in immature hypophysectomized pigs.

Investigations on growth in immature pigs following hypophysectomy are inconclusive. Robinson (1937) has reported that immature pigs do not maintain skeletal growth after hypophysectomy. Results are presented on growth and development of immature hypophysectomized pigs. Hydrochlorothiazide (25–50 mg.) and cortisone acetate (25–50 mg.) were given intramuscularly before anaesthesia. Crossbred pigs, in halothane and oxygen anaesthesia, were hypophysectomized as described by du Mesnil du Buisson, Léglise & Chodkiewicz (1964). Six female pigs were hypophysectomized at 66–125 days of age. Five male pigs were hypophysectomized at 84–89 days of age, and four were killed about 100 days later. An intact litter-mate control animal was maintained for each hypophysectomized pig. All pigs were weighed twice weekly. Examination of the sella turcica of each hypophysectomized male pig at the time of killing showed no residual pituitary tissue. Five of the six female pigs were completely hypophysectomized when examined at the time of death. One

The effect of reducing the number of embryos during early stages of gestation on the maintenance of pregnancy in the pig.

The number of embryos has been experimentally reduced during early stages of gestation in the pig by means of partial hysterectomy (du Mesnil du Buisson & Rombauts, 1963). Pregnancy is maintained in animals in which only one embryo remains so long as all the uterus is removed except that portion occupied by the embryo. By contrast, if the embryos are confined to one of the uterine horns, the unilateral pregnancy so established is not maintained unless the non-pregnant horn is removed before the 14th day of the oestrous cycle (du Mesnil du Buisson, 1961). The absence of embryos in one horn leads to regression of corpora lutea and thus complete failure of pregnancy at an early stage. These observations suggest that the presence of embryos in a large part of both uterine horns is necessary to establish and maintain pregnancy. The normal number of ovulations in the pig is between twelve and eighteen. Fertilization rate is generally high (Hancock, 1957) and although some embryonic loss may occur during the first few weeks of gestation, there is usually a large number of embryos distributed within the uterus by the 14th day of the cycle. Ovulation rate from the two ovaries may be uneven, but embryonic migration within the uterus occurs (Corner, 1921; Dziuk, Polge & Rowson, 1964) and establishes an even number of blastocysts in both uterine horns. Thus by the 13th to 18th day of pregnancy, blastocysts have elongated and occupy almost the entire length of the uterus (Perry & Rowlands, 1962). It would be of interest to know how many embryos are necessary in order to establish and maintain pregnancy in normal intact animals. During the course of experiments in which eggs were being collected from pigs soon after mating in order to examine early stages of embryonic develop¬ ment, there was a number of animals in which complete recovery of the eggs was not achieved. Thus a variable number of fertilized or unfertilized eggs was left behind in the Fallopian tubes. The effect on subsequent establishment of pregnancy or return to oestrus was recorded. The experimental animals were twenty-nine cross-bred Large White gilts.

THE PERSISTENCE OF SPERMATOZOA AT THE UTEROTUBAL JUNCTION OF THE SOW

Summary. In artificially inseminated, as in mated sows, the semen disappears rapidly from the uterus, and high concentrations of spermatozoa persist only in a reservoir at the uterotubal junction. In sows inseminated 24 hr after oestrus was first detected, the reservoir persisted relatively unchanged for 24 hr, and then disappeared over the next 48 hr. A similar number of spermatozoa persisted at each of the two uterotubal junctions of the same sow, and within 18 hr of insemination a direct relationship was established between the number of spermatozoa at the uterotubal junction and the number in the isthmus of the corresponding Fallopian tube. The importance of these findings in relation to artificial insemination of swine is discussed. During coitus in the pig a large volume of semen is introduced into the uterus (Rodolfo, 1934; Burger, 1952), but within 2 hr most of this disappears from the uterine horns and high concentrations of spermatozoa persist only in the region of the uterotubal junction. From here, spermatozoa continually pass up the Fallopian tube to reach the site of fertilization (Du Mesnil du Boisson & Dauzier, 1955), and it has been shown that following artificial insemination, semen behaves in the same way (Rigby, 1964). Thirty-three sows were used in the present experiment and the time of onset of oestrus was taken as the time at which they would first stand and permit the boar to mount. Each sow was inseminated 24 hr after the onset of oestrus with 250 ml of semen containing 4-4 IO10 spermatozoa. The sows were killed at intervals after insemination and clamps were placed in various positions on the reproductive tract, which was removed within 10 min of slaughter. The clamps were applied so as to isolate each uterotubal junction, to divide each uterine horn into three approximately equal parts and to divide the Fallopian tubes into two parts. The uterotubal portion consisted of the anterior 1 cm of the uterine horn and the posterior 1 cm of the Fallopian tube. The isthmus con¬ sisted of the lower 5 cm of the remainder of the Fallopian tube. Each region was

The Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome

OF the various heritable disorders of connective tissue the Ehlers–Danlos syndrome is the oldest, having been first described by Job van Meekeren1 in 1682. In spite of the interest generated by the observations of Kopp,2 du Mesnil,3 Williams,4 Unna,5 Tschernogobow,6 Ehlers7 and finally Danlos,8 who underscored the various characteristics of this condition as it is known today, the world literature contained documented reports of less than 100 cases by 1956, when McKusick9 compiled his monograph. His total experience with the Ehlers–Danlos syndrome at that time included 8 kinships, subsequently increased to 11 kinships by 1960, when the second edition of . . .