The Halte de Chasse in the Prehistory
of Eastern Canada:
Variability, Representativeness and Significance
Adrian L. BURKE
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Abstract
Archaeologists working in Eastern Canada regularly excavate small sites that appear to be the product of short term occupations by hunter-gatherers. Ethnographic and ethnohistoric data on hunter-gatherer groups that occupied these northern latitudes indicate that there are many types of short term sites and that they should contain evidence of a variety of activities and related features and artefacts. This article explores the variability, representativeness and significance of these small, short term, hunting related sites by presenting a few archaeological cases from Quebec.
To cite this article
Burke A. L., 2011 – The Halte de Chasse in the Prehistory of Eastern Canada: Variability, Representativeness and Significance, in Bon F., Costamagno S., Valdeyron N. (eds.), Hunting Camps in Prehistory. Current Archaeological Approaches, Proceedings of the International Symposium, May 13-15 2009, University Toulouse II – Le Mirail, P@lethnology, 3, 9-19.
From Season to Season:
a Revision of the Functional Status of Sauveterrian Sites
in the North Eastern Sector of the Italian Peninsula
and Implications for the Mobility of Human Groups
Federica FONTANA
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Abstract
In this paper, I reconsider the “classic” occupation model for the north eastern sector of the Italian peninsula during the Sauveterrian based on a re-evaluation of the functional status of the known sites. The analysis is based on research conducted with the goal of defining the notion of a hunting camp in order to revise the archaeological data available in this territory. As a result, two categories of organised occupations could be defined: 1) the numerous sites of the alpine sector located in varying topographical and altimetric situations (in valley bottoms, and in the mid and high mountain zones) and often characterised by restricted occupation areas, the frequency of the habitation structures and economic activities with a strong hunting bias, and 2) the rare sites on the plains, which cover larger occupation areas and for which we have almost no economic data. This context suggests, at the least, a nomadic system within the alpine territory involving small groups based in different valleys and who moved to higher ground during the summer in connection with hunting activities. It is also possible that these groups belonged to communities with varying compositions that moved within a larger territory extending towards the Adriatic, with the installation of aggregation camps on the plain in the winter.
To cite this article
Fontana F., 2011 – From Season to Season: a Revision of the Functional Status of Sauveterrian Sites in the North Eastern Sector of the Italian Peninsula and Implications for the Mobility of Human Groups, in Bon F., Costamagno S., Valdeyron N. (eds.), Hunting Camps in Prehistory. Current Archaeological Approaches, Proceedings of the International Symposium, May 13-15 2009, University Toulouse II – Le Mirail, P@lethnology, 3, 291-308.
What are these barbs for?
Preliminary Study on the Function
of the Upper Magdalenian Barbed Weapon Tips
Jean-Marc PÉTILLON
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Abstract
Based on previous works by M. Julien (1982) and G.C. Weniger (1995), this paper presents some preliminary hypotheses on the possible functions of the osseous barbed points from the Upper Magdalenian (ca. 13 500-12 000 cal BC). Taking as a starting point the statement that their appearance and development coincide with an increased interest in small animal hunting (fish, birds, lagomorphs), we attempted to correlate the relative abundance of barbed points with the representation of small game, but the data from our test area (Northern Pyrenees) did not provide conclusive results. A survey of the barbed points of Northern American hunter-gatherers known by ethnography shows a clear functional trend: “simple” barbed points are mostly used for fowling, for hunting big and small land game, and for war; while “true” harpoons are mostly used for fishing and hunting sea mammals and aquatic mammals. However, when based on a rigorous operational definition of harpoons, the morphology of the Magdalenian barbed points appears not to allow their positive classification as harpoon heads. Thus, their function remains largely undetermined. We therefore suggest several possible directions for future research on this topic.
To cite this article
Pétillon J.-M., 2009 – What are these Barbs for? Preliminary Study on the Function of the Upper Magdalenian Barbed Weapon Tips, in Pétillon J.-M., Dias-Meirinho M.-H., Cattelain P., Honegger M., Normand C., Valdeyron N., Projectile Weapon Elements from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Neolithic, Proceedings of session C83, XVth UISPP World Congress, Lisbon, September 4-9, 2006, P@lethnology, 1, 66-97.
Archéologie et Sciences humaines
