Retour à Beg-er-Vil. Nouvelles approches des chasseurs-cueilleurs maritimes de France atlantique (original) (raw)

The Mesolithic site of Beg-er-Vil is a well-preserved level, visible at the top of a cliff of the Quiberon Peninsula (Morbihan). Firstly excavated by O. Kayser during 1980s, the site is the object since 2012 of an extensive excavation, to anticipate its likely destruction by the erosion. A study of the available aerial pictures (from 1932 to our days) reveals the erosive dynamics in progress on this part of the Beg-er-Vil cap, with a backward drop of 6,4 +/- 0,86 m on the north side. The radiocarbon dates indicate a relatively short occupation at the end of the 7th millennium cal BC, without later intrusions. So it represents a unique witness of the maritime hunters-gatherers lifestyles of Atlantic France, during a major climatic event (8200 cal BP). A first reconstruction of the ancient coastal landscapes is proposed, by taking into account the most recent works which place the marine level between 15,5 and 11 m under the actual (high tide between isobaths -7,15 and -14,02 m). The Mesolithic settlement is well protected under the dune on a thickness from 30 to 50 cm. The whole level is constituted by rejections of activities: aggregates of prepared earth testifying of the space layout, fragments of ashes and sedimentary matrix strongly charged with charcoals, resulting from hearth activities, fish bones and more or less burned shells. This organization testifies of a finely stratified site with preserved grounds. The activities were varied there, as also reveal the structures: pits and a big combustion area zone on the base of the shell layer and a vast blocks spreading in the middle of the archaeological level. The great diversity of marine and continental faunal remains attests to a broad spectrum of predation. Long-term occupations throughout the year could be possible considering the times of capture or collecting. The lithic industry is very homogeneous in all excavated areas and from bottom to top layer. It is realised on flint pebbles of very poor quality, harvested enough away from the habitat itself. The symmetrical trapezes are the main arrowheads, while the backed knives are present in the common tools. These two elements characterize the Teviecian ("Beg-er-Vil" type) with very good radiocarbon date at the end of the 7 th millennium cal BC.