EARLY AURIGNACIAN GRAPHIC ARTS IN THE VÉZÈRE VALLEY:

In Search of an Identity?

Raphaëlle BOURRILLON, Randall WHITE

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Abstract

Since 2007, programmed excavations directed by R. White in the Aurignacian sites of Blanchard and Castanet have resulted in renewed studies of graphic art representations and have led to a new approach to some of the earliest parietal art from a cultural, chronological and environmental perspective. The analysis of the formal and technical artistic characteristics within each archaeological context as part of all the known representations on limestone blocks in rock shelter habitation sites in the northern Aquitaine reveals a form of cultural territory.

Although certain graphic, as well as socio-economic choices, seem to be used partly as identity markers, convergences with other European regions can also be observed. These graphic representations thus seem to express both the need to mark out territory and at the same time, a sense of belonging to a wider cultural entity. This dichotomy undoubtedly contributes to the broad stylistic diversity present at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic. In this paper, we seek to define the reasons for such diversity of behavior and graphic arts within the Aurignacian culture.

To cite this article

Bourrillon R., White R., 2015 – Early Aurignacian Graphic Arts in the Vézère Valley: In Search of an Identity?, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 118-137.

THE AURIGNACIAN SITE OF THE ABRI DE LA SOUQUETTE
(COMMUNE DE SERGEAC, DORDOGNE)

A History of Archaeology

John F. O’HARA, Randall WHITE, Zenobie S. GARRETT,
Tom HIGHAM, Alain ROUSSOT

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Abstract

The Abri de la Souquette is little known today when compared with the neighboring sites of Abri Castanet and Abri Blanchard. A long history of investigation at the Abri de la Souquette has led not to a wider understanding of a site with significant Aurignacian deposits, but rather to scholarly obscurity as a site devoid of further research potential. In this paper, we attempt to lift some of this obscurity by chronicling the history of research at this site, and provide new radiocarbon dates demonstrating contemporaneity with the Castanet Aurignacian.

To cite this article

O’Hara J.F., White R., Garrett Z.S., Higham T., Roussot A., 2015 – The Aurignacian Site of the Abri de la Souquette (commune de Sergeac, Dordogne): A History of Archaeology, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 98-117.

THE LITHIC INDUSTRIES FROM BLANCHARD
AND CASTANET ROCK SHELTERS (DORDOGNE, FRANCE):

Data from the 2005-2012 Excavations

Laurent CHIOTTI, Catherine CRETIN, André MORALA

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Abstract

Renewed excavations directed by R. White in two Aurignacian rock shelters in the Vallon des Roches (Sergeac, Dordogne, France), Castanet (2005-2012) and Blanchard (2011-2012), have yielded reliable new series, and have improved our knowledge and reflections of the Aurignacian from these two reference sites.

Castanet Rock shelter was excavated over a surface of several square meters and yielded a single level, lying directly on the rocky substratum. Blanchard Rock shelter had been practically emptied by early excavations, but nonetheless contained two relatively rich archaeological vestigial deposits, without stratigraphic overlap. Excavations in these two contiguous rock shelters, at the foot of the same cliff, yielded sufficient collections for a reliable typo-technological analysis and an updated cultural attribution.

Consequently, one of the series from Blanchard and the series from Castanet can be attributed to an Early Aurignacian, whereas the second series from Blanchard corresponds to a Recent Aurignacian. This provides us with a number of new observations concerning technical behaviors, raw material procurement and chronocultural informations that were not possible to affirm on the older collections.

To cite this article

Chiotti L., Cretin C., Morala A., 2015 – The Lithic Industries from Blanchard and Castanet Rock Shelters (Dordogne, France): Data from the 2005-2012 Excavations, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 76-97.

THE CHRONOCULTURAL SEQUENCE OF BELGIAN COMPLEXES
IN THE EUROPEAN AURIGNACIAN CONTEXT

Damien FLAS

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Abstract

The study of Aurignacian collections from the Meuse Basin, associated with recent fieldwork data, has led to a new overview of the Aurignacian in this region. This work discredits some of the hypotheses advanced for the earliest Aurignacian occupations in north-western Europe and proposes a hypothetical chronocultural sequence based on the most reliable data for this period. The Meuse Basin presents an important concentration of Aurignacian occupations, some of them very rich and this zone is therefore conducive to large scale comparisons, in particular with regions with a better defined chronostratigraphic framework. The existence of technical and artistic similarities between these different European regions also highlights the strong links binding the Aurignacian complex, and is probably an important element for understanding the transition from the Middle Paleolithic to the Upper Paleolithic in Europe.

To cite this article

Flas D., 2015 – The Chronocultural Sequence of Belgian Complexes in the European Aurignacian Context, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 56-75.

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AURIGNACIAN OSSEOUS
TECHNOLOGY IN WESTERN EUROPE:

a Review of Current Knowledge

Élise TARTAR

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Abstract

The exploitation of osseous materials is one of the main innovations associated with the advent of the Upper Paleolithic in Europe. The concept of the Aurignacian, as defined by Abbé Breuil, was used for a long time as a strong argument in favor of a cognitive revolution: its “sudden” appearance was linked to the rapid and systematic diffusion of the Aurignacian culture and the widespread distribution of split-based points in Europe, and upheld the idea of a clear biological and conceptual rupture with the Middle Paleolithic. Since then, several factors have contributed to undermining this model. Renewed studies of Aurignacian osseous technology in Western Europe contribute to the ongoing redefinition of the mechanisms behind the construction of the Upper Paleolithic in Europe.

Early Aurignacian osseous production was by no means limited to split-based points, and involved a wide variety of activities. The production of the different materials was already well structured and centered around three main spheres: reindeer antlers were mainly used for arms, bone for the fabrication of domestic equipment and ivory was mostly reserved for ornaments.

Although osseous technology was identified in some “transitional” groups, it spread and was durably integrated into techno-economical systems during the Aurignacian. It developed gradually in Europe and based on currently available knowledge, appears to have emerged in the Protoaurignacian societies of Western Europe. The emergence of this new technical domain seems to result from the transfer of wood working techniques to osseous materials, undoubtedly partly linked to a sudden shift in environmental conditions in Europe around 40000 BP. The evolution of osseous production during the course of the first phases of the Aurignacian provides evidence of profound techno-economic changes, which, backed up by data from lithic studies, reveals powerful sociological changes during the transition between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic.

To cite this article

Tartar É., 2015 – Origin and Development of Aurignacian Osseous Technology in Western Europe: a Review of Current Knowledge, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 34-55.

THE AURIGNACIAN VIEWED FROM AFRICA

Christian A. TRYON

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Abstract

The Aurignacian technocomplex in Eurasia, dated to ~43-28 ka, has no direct archaeological taxonomic equivalent in Africa during the same time interval, which may reflect differences in inter-group communication or differences in archaeological definitions currently in use. Extinct hominin taxa are present in both Eurasia and Africa during this interval, but the African archaeological record has played little role in discussions of the demographic expansion of Homo sapiens, unlike the Aurignacian. Sites in Eurasia and Africa by 42 ka show the earliest examples of personal ornaments that result from extensive modification of raw materials, a greater investment of time that may reflect increased their use in increasingly diverse and complex social networks.

To cite this article

Tryon C.A., 2015 – The Aurignacian Viewed from Africa, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 19-33.

AT THE CROSSROADS

François BON

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Abstract

This paper contributes to the discussion of one of the central questions raised by the Aurignacian: can we really identify the mechanisms of a biological and behavioral coevolution in this key transitional culture between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, associating anatomically modern humans with a range of accomplishments also readily described as “modern”? And if so, how did these different parameters influence each other? The analysis proposed here suggests that, above all, the reconfiguration of social relations was a decisive driving force behind evolution, directly influencing biological diversity through increased contact and intermingling between groups and populations.

To cite this article

Bon F., 2015 – At the crossroads, in White, in White R., Bourrillon R. (eds.) with the collaboration of Bon F., Aurignacian Genius: Art, Technology and Society of the First Modern Humans in Europe, Proceedings of the International Symposium, April 08-10 2013, New York University, P@lethnology, 7, 8-18.

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CONTENTS

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Randall WHITE, Raphaëlle BOURRILLON, François BON

INTRODUCTION

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François BON

AT THE CROSSROADS

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Christian A. TRYON

THE AURIGNACIAN VIEWED FROM AFRICA

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Élise TARTAR

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AURIGNACIAN OSSEOUS TECHNOLOGY
IN WESTERN EUROPE:
a Review of Current Knowledge

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Damien FLAS

THE CHRONOCULTURAL SEQUENCE OF BELGIAN COMPLEXES
IN THE EUROPEAN AURIGNACIAN CONTEXT

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Laurent CHIOTTI, Catherine CRETIN, André MORALA

THE LITHIC INDUSTRIES FROM
BLANCHARD AND CASTANET ROCK SHELTERS (DORDOGNE, FRANCE):
Data from the 2005-2012 Excavations

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John F. O’HARA, Randall WHITE, Zenobie S. GARRETT, Tom HIGHAM, Alain ROUSSOT

THE AURIGNACIAN SITE OF THE ABRI DE LA SOUQUETTE
(COMMUNE DE SERGEAC, DORDOGNE)
A History of Archaeology

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Raphaëlle BOURRILLON, Randall WHITE

EARLY AURIGNACIAN GRAPHIC ARTS IN THE VÉZÈRE VALLEY:
In Search of an Identity?

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Randall WHITE, Christian NORMAND

EARLY AND ARCHAIC AURIGNACIAN PERSONAL ORNAMENTS FROM ISTURITZ CAVE:
Technological and Regional Perspectives

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Harald FLOSS, Christian T. HOYER, Claire E. HECKEL, Élise TARTAR

THE AURIGNACIAN IN SOUTHERN BURGUNDY

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Esteban ÁLVAREZ-FERNÁNDEZ

MARINE RESOURCE EXPLOITATION DURING
THE MIDDLE AND EARLY UPPER PALEOLITHIC IN EUROPE:
Overview of the Available Evidence

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Georges SAUVET

IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME. DATING METHODS FOR PREHISTORIC ART:
the Example of Aurignacian Sites

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Stephane PETROGNANI

EARLY UPPER PALEOLITHIC PARIETAL ART:
Shared Characteristics and Different Symbolic Traditions

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Diego GARATE, Olivia RIVERO, Joseba RIOS-GARAIZAR

EVALUATING AURIGNACIAN ART IN IBERIA…
If it Really Exists

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Marc AZÉMA

ANIMATION AND GRAPHIC NARRATION IN THE AURIGNACIAN

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Carole FRITZ, Gilles TOSELLO

FROM GESTURE TO MYTH:
Artists’ techniques on the walls of Chauvet Cave

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Harald FLOSS

THE OLDEST PORTABLE ART:
the Aurignacian Ivory Figurines from the Swabian Jura (Southwest Germany)

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Sibylle WOLF, Nicholas J. CONARD

PERSONAL ORNAMENTS OF THE SWABIAN AURIGNACIAN

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