Dix mille ans de peuplement humain sur le versant nord des Pyrénées (21000-11000 cal BP) entre unification et régionalisation culturelles

Abstract

Les dix derniers millénaires d'occupation humaine paléolithique ont laissé d'abondants témoignages le long du versant nord-pyrénéen. Si les fluctuations climatiques et leurs conséquences environnementales ont pu conditionner l'exploitation de certains territoires en altitude, le piémont semble en revanche avoir constitué un vaste espace favorable à l'implantation humaine entre des reliefs et vallées progressivement libérées des glaces, l'ouverture de la plaine aquitaine, les littoraux atlantiques et méditerranéens. À partir de travaux récemment aboutis ou en cours, et d'ensembles de sites clés révisés, nous proposons une synthèse sur les principales évolutions des équipements lithiques et osseux et sur des comportements originaux (économie littorale, consommation des petits gibiers) entre 21000 et 11000 cal BP. Les différents segments chronoculturels sont représentés de façon très inégale. Au-delà de ce constat, nous évoquerons les raisons possibles de cette situation contrastée (conservation des sites, état de la recherche ou réalité de peuplement). Il s'agira finalement de mieux comprendre ses variations internes et ses interactions avec le Bassin aquitain et le nord de la Péninsule ibérique mais également avec les rivages atlantiques et méditerranéens.

From the start of the Magdalenian to the end of the Laborian, ten millennia of human occupation have provided abundant evidence along the north Pyrenean slope. Climatic fluctuations (from GS-2b to GS-1), glacial history and their environmental consequences may have influenced the exploitation of certain altitude territories. In contrast, the foothills seem to have constituted a favourable area between reliefs and valleys gradually freed from ice, the opening Aquitaine plain, the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Based on recently completed or ongoing work, and revised key sites or sets of sites, we propose here a synthesis to review the main changes in lithic and osseous equipment and original behaviours (coastal economy, use of small game) between 21000 and 11000 cal BP. However, the different moments of this evolution are represented in a very uneven way. Beyond that, we will discuss the possible reasons of the statement (conservation of the sites, state of research or settlement data). Among the privileged sectors, the Arudy basin is the scene of recent field operations and revaluations of collections. Other sites, such as Belvis, Gouërris, Troubat or Rhodes II, have benefited from PhD research (lithic and bone industries, archaeofauna, chronology, etc.). Data on the early Magdalenian period remain limited. With the exception of certain sites assigned to this period from dates C14 onwards, only the altitude site of Montlleó makes it possible to testify to an increase in altitude as early as post-Late Glacial Maximum period. The Early Middle Magdalenian, mainly documented by ancient excavations, which are difficult to re-evaluate from an archaeostratigraphic point of view, remains poorly understood in the Pyrenees. Nevertheless the presence of certain objects establish links with Aquitaine and the Cantabrian Sea. The Recent Middle and Upper Magdalenian are particularly well documented periods in the Pyrenees. These occupations illustrate, in particular, a development of occupations in the context of often decorated cave bottoms and the anthropization of valleys freed from ice with hunting camp to ibex. The Azilian region has significant regional economic variations with a decline of craftsmanship in the bone industry and a technical simplification of lithic production. The Laborian is documented by the revaluation of old series provides evidence of Aquitaine region influences but in stratigraphically complicated contexts. Beyond the question of the unity of the Pyrenean chain between Magdalenian and Laborien, it will finally be a question of better understanding its interactions with the Aquitaine basin and the north of the Iberian Peninsula but also to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.