Elusive Mesolithic Occupations
in the Pont-Glas Rock Shelter:
an Analysis of the Spatial Segmentation of Production Sequences
in Relation to the Mobility of Prehistoric Groups in Brittany
Grégor MARCHAND, Michel LE GOFFIC, Nancy MARCOUX
DownloadAbstract
The Pont-Glas rock shelter (Plounéour-Ménez, Finistère), composed of granitic blocks, was entirely excavated in 2007 and 2008. Its stratigraphic sequence is 50 cm thick and shows clear disturbances in the upper levels. Composed of 998 elements, its lithic assemblage includes an early component (8th millennium BC) and a late component (6th millennium BC). Several factors differentiate this assemblage from others in Brittany, including diverse raw materials, the absence of the first phases of debitage, the importation of cores, abundant weapon elements and a high rate of destruction of these objects. These elements are characteristic of short occupations and debitage activities responding to immediate needs, mostly devoted to the repairing of hunting or war weapons. An anthracological analysis shows that the nearby vegetal environment was composed mainly of acidophilus oak groves with holly, which is typical of the western Armorican massif. This logistical station attests to the presence of human groups specialized in the use of weapons and engaged in actions with the intention to kill. The need to camp and to repair their weapons indicates that they circulated well beyond their usual procurement zone.