Grégory Abrams | Centre de recherches de la grotte Scladina (original) (raw)
Papers by Grégory Abrams
Quaternary International, 2012
The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during ... more The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) is not accurately known. This situation is mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the context of the archaeological data, much of which comes from old excavations. Any major progress in the understanding of the MUPT can only be achieved with the study of long sedimentary sequences providing a semi-continuous record and situating archaeological remains in a reliable palaeoenvironmental and chronological framework. Strict attention must also be paid to stratigraphic control and site formation processes.
Evidence of Neanderthals using bear remains as retouchers is rare. In the sedimentary unit 5 of S... more Evidence of Neanderthals using bear remains as retouchers is rare. In the sedimentary unit 5 of Scladina Cave (Belgium; Weichselian Early Glacial, MIS 5d to 5b), twenty-six bone retouchers have been discovered. Among these, six have been made from cave bear bones (four from a femur and two from two tibiae). The presence of lithic splinters, still embedded in grooves, can be convincingly associated with their function as knapping tools. Particularly interesting are six bone fragments, including four fragments used as retouchers and two unused splinters, which have been refitted together to reconstitute an almost complete cave bear femur diaphysis. These specimens present modifications in the form of cut marks, scraping marks, impact notches and typical fractures of percussions on green (fresh) bone, sometimes overlapping each other, that allow for a complete understanding of the operational sequence in the production of bone retouchers at this site. The identification of a sophisticated operational sequence, where each action succeeds another in the production of a bone tool, is a major argument in favor of predetermination that guided the Neanderthal actions, and is similar to that described for stone tool chaîne opératoire.
Chronique de l'Archéologie Wallonne, 2013
Quaternary International
The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during ... more The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) is not accurately known. This situation is mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the context of the archaeological data, much of which comes from old excavations. Any major progress in the understanding of the MUPT can only be achieved with the study of long sedimentary sequences providing a semi-continuous record and situating archaeological remains in a reliable palaeoenvironmental and chronological framework. Strict attention must also be paid to stratigraphic control and site formation processes.Interdisciplinary studies undertaken over the last ten years in Belgium contribute to research on the MUPT. Belgium plays an important role due to its specific geological context that includes many caves, a well-developed loess cover which acts as a reference sequence for the Upper Pleistocene and the presence of tephras. This enables detailed reconstruction of climatic change and more accurate chronological control in cave sequences; initial results from new fieldwork on long sequences are presented here (Walou and Scladina Caves as well as the open-air site of Maisières-Canal). Combined with results of recent analyses on old material (mainly from the Spy and Trou de l’Abîme collections), they enable establishment of a reliable and more accurate chronostratigraphic framework for the archaeological assemblages and provide new data on the humans responsible for them. Thus, around 45,000 BP, a Mousterian industry was made by Neandertals in Trou de l’Abîme. Around 40,000–38,000 BP, Belgium was still occupied by Neandertals associated with a typical Middle Palaeolithic as shown in Walou. The Spy Neandertals have recently been directly dated by 14C to 36,000 BP, but the techniques of the early excavations prevent clear identification of the associated industry; still, the 14C results are more coherent with the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) chronology than the Mousterian, both of which are identified at Spy. The earliest convincing age for the Belgian Aurignacian is about 32,000–33,000 BP (Maisières-Canal and Spy).
Andennaise rchéologie ASBL rchéologie ASBL rchéologie Archéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologi... more Andennaise rchéologie ASBL rchéologie ASBL rchéologie Archéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie Andennaise rchéologie Andennaise rchéologie ASBL rchéologie ASBL rchéologie CENTRE ARCHEOLOGIQUE
Chronique de l'Archéologie wallonne, 2012
Notae Praehistoricae, 2010
L'ensemble sédimentaire 1A de la grotte Scladina (Andenne, Namur), daté par radiocarbone entre 40... more L'ensemble sédimentaire 1A de la grotte Scladina (Andenne, Namur), daté par radiocarbone entre 40 et 37 000 B.P, recèle les vestiges d'une occupation par les Néandertaliens contenant environ 3500 artefacts lithiques ainsi que plusieurs milliers de restes fauniques. L'altération du matériel osseux n'autorise pas l'observation de traces anthropiques nettes. De ce lot, émergent cependant près de deux cents fragments osseux qui portent les stigmates d'une exposition prolongée au feu. Bien qu'aucune structure évidente (foyer) n'ait été observée, les résultats de cette étude proposent de les interpréter comme les conséquences d'un acte anthropique.
Notae Praehistoricae, 2012
Le Paléolithique moyen de Belgique. Mélanges Marguerite Ulrix-Closset, 2011
Chronique de l'Archéologie wallonne, 2011
Notae Praehistoricae, 2009
Les zones les plus reculées du chantier de fouilles de la grotte Scladina dévoilent une stratigra... more Les zones les plus reculées du chantier de fouilles de la grotte Scladina dévoilent une stratigraphie complexe, composée de dizaines de couches de faible épaisseur et dont la géométrie n'est ni régulière, ni horizontale. Pour parvenir à isoler chacun des niveaux et assurer l'appartenance des vestiges à leur unité stratigraphique respective, les archéologues ont eu recours à la fouille verticale. L'observation des coupes et l'analyse de la distribution du matériel archéologique indiquent l'existence de plusieurs remaniements qui dispersent l'assemblage lithique de l'ensemble sédimentaire 1A dans au moins sept couches.
Chronique de l'Archéologie wallonne, 2008
Notae Praehistoricae, 2006
Quaternary International, 2012
The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during ... more The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) is not accurately known. This situation is mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the context of the archaeological data, much of which comes from old excavations. Any major progress in the understanding of the MUPT can only be achieved with the study of long sedimentary sequences providing a semi-continuous record and situating archaeological remains in a reliable palaeoenvironmental and chronological framework. Strict attention must also be paid to stratigraphic control and site formation processes.
Evidence of Neanderthals using bear remains as retouchers is rare. In the sedimentary unit 5 of S... more Evidence of Neanderthals using bear remains as retouchers is rare. In the sedimentary unit 5 of Scladina Cave (Belgium; Weichselian Early Glacial, MIS 5d to 5b), twenty-six bone retouchers have been discovered. Among these, six have been made from cave bear bones (four from a femur and two from two tibiae). The presence of lithic splinters, still embedded in grooves, can be convincingly associated with their function as knapping tools. Particularly interesting are six bone fragments, including four fragments used as retouchers and two unused splinters, which have been refitted together to reconstitute an almost complete cave bear femur diaphysis. These specimens present modifications in the form of cut marks, scraping marks, impact notches and typical fractures of percussions on green (fresh) bone, sometimes overlapping each other, that allow for a complete understanding of the operational sequence in the production of bone retouchers at this site. The identification of a sophisticated operational sequence, where each action succeeds another in the production of a bone tool, is a major argument in favor of predetermination that guided the Neanderthal actions, and is similar to that described for stone tool chaîne opératoire.
Chronique de l'Archéologie Wallonne, 2013
Quaternary International
The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during ... more The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) is not accurately known. This situation is mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the context of the archaeological data, much of which comes from old excavations. Any major progress in the understanding of the MUPT can only be achieved with the study of long sedimentary sequences providing a semi-continuous record and situating archaeological remains in a reliable palaeoenvironmental and chronological framework. Strict attention must also be paid to stratigraphic control and site formation processes.Interdisciplinary studies undertaken over the last ten years in Belgium contribute to research on the MUPT. Belgium plays an important role due to its specific geological context that includes many caves, a well-developed loess cover which acts as a reference sequence for the Upper Pleistocene and the presence of tephras. This enables detailed reconstruction of climatic change and more accurate chronological control in cave sequences; initial results from new fieldwork on long sequences are presented here (Walou and Scladina Caves as well as the open-air site of Maisières-Canal). Combined with results of recent analyses on old material (mainly from the Spy and Trou de l’Abîme collections), they enable establishment of a reliable and more accurate chronostratigraphic framework for the archaeological assemblages and provide new data on the humans responsible for them. Thus, around 45,000 BP, a Mousterian industry was made by Neandertals in Trou de l’Abîme. Around 40,000–38,000 BP, Belgium was still occupied by Neandertals associated with a typical Middle Palaeolithic as shown in Walou. The Spy Neandertals have recently been directly dated by 14C to 36,000 BP, but the techniques of the early excavations prevent clear identification of the associated industry; still, the 14C results are more coherent with the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) chronology than the Mousterian, both of which are identified at Spy. The earliest convincing age for the Belgian Aurignacian is about 32,000–33,000 BP (Maisières-Canal and Spy).
Andennaise rchéologie ASBL rchéologie ASBL rchéologie Archéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologi... more Andennaise rchéologie ASBL rchéologie ASBL rchéologie Archéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie rchéologie Andennaise rchéologie Andennaise rchéologie ASBL rchéologie ASBL rchéologie CENTRE ARCHEOLOGIQUE
Chronique de l'Archéologie wallonne, 2012
Notae Praehistoricae, 2010
L'ensemble sédimentaire 1A de la grotte Scladina (Andenne, Namur), daté par radiocarbone entre 40... more L'ensemble sédimentaire 1A de la grotte Scladina (Andenne, Namur), daté par radiocarbone entre 40 et 37 000 B.P, recèle les vestiges d'une occupation par les Néandertaliens contenant environ 3500 artefacts lithiques ainsi que plusieurs milliers de restes fauniques. L'altération du matériel osseux n'autorise pas l'observation de traces anthropiques nettes. De ce lot, émergent cependant près de deux cents fragments osseux qui portent les stigmates d'une exposition prolongée au feu. Bien qu'aucune structure évidente (foyer) n'ait été observée, les résultats de cette étude proposent de les interpréter comme les conséquences d'un acte anthropique.
Notae Praehistoricae, 2012
Le Paléolithique moyen de Belgique. Mélanges Marguerite Ulrix-Closset, 2011
Chronique de l'Archéologie wallonne, 2011
Notae Praehistoricae, 2009
Les zones les plus reculées du chantier de fouilles de la grotte Scladina dévoilent une stratigra... more Les zones les plus reculées du chantier de fouilles de la grotte Scladina dévoilent une stratigraphie complexe, composée de dizaines de couches de faible épaisseur et dont la géométrie n'est ni régulière, ni horizontale. Pour parvenir à isoler chacun des niveaux et assurer l'appartenance des vestiges à leur unité stratigraphique respective, les archéologues ont eu recours à la fouille verticale. L'observation des coupes et l'analyse de la distribution du matériel archéologique indiquent l'existence de plusieurs remaniements qui dispersent l'assemblage lithique de l'ensemble sédimentaire 1A dans au moins sept couches.
Chronique de l'Archéologie wallonne, 2008
Notae Praehistoricae, 2006