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Map of the important archaeological sites of Castel-Merle.
Photo: (left) Castanet (2006)
Photo: (right) Peyrony (1935)
Mme Isabelle Castanet, a very knowledgeable archaeologist who provides a wonderful introduction to the gisements in the Vallon des Roches for visitors to this very important privately owned archaeological site and museum.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
The Rowan, a prehistoric Tree in the Castel-Merle area, this example is in front of Abri Reverdit.
Rowan Berry trees are particularly hardy, and were in the area during the last ice age.
Rowans are mostly small deciduous trees 10-20 m tall, though a few are shrubs. The leaves are arranged alternately, and are pinnate, with (7-)11-35 leaflets; a terminal leaflet is always present. The flowers are borne in dense corymbs; each flower is creamy white, and 5-10 mm across with five petals. The fruit is a small pome 4-8 mm diameter, bright orange or red in most species, but pink, yellow or white in some Asian species. The fruit are soft and juicy, which makes them a very good food for birds, particularly waxwings and thrushes, which then distribute the rowan seeds in their droppings. Due to their small size the fruits are often referred to as berries, but a berry is a simple fruit produced from a single ovary, whereas a pome is an accessory fruit.
Rowan is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.
The Rowan is closely related to apples and hawthorns in the rose family.
The best-known species is the European Rowan Sorbus aucuparia, a small tree typically 4-12 m tall growing in a variety of habitats throughout northern Europe and in mountains in southern Europe and southwest Asia. Its berries are a favourite food for many birds and are a traditional wild-collected food in Britain and Scandinavia. It is one of the hardiest European trees, occurring to 71° north in Vardø in Arctic Norway, and has also become widely naturalised in northern North America.
The wood is dense and used for carving and turning and for tool handles and walking sticks.[4] Rowan berries are a traditional source of tannins for mordanting vegetable dyes. [5]
The berries of European Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) can be made into a slightly bitter jelly which in Britain is traditionally eaten as an accompaniment to game, and into jams and other preserves, on their own, or with other fruits. The berries can also be a substitute for coffee beans, and have many uses in alcoholic beverages: to flavour liqueurs and cordials, to produce country wine, and to flavour ale.
Rowan cultivars with superior fruit for human food use are available but not common; mostly the fruits are gathered from wild trees growing on public lands.
Text above: Wikipedia
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
General view of Abri Reverdit.
Note the holes drilled in the limestone high above the shelter, presumably as supports for the roofs of mediaeval houses, a common feature of the abris of the Vézère valley.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Posters of parietal art (cave engravings or sculptures in situ) and art mobilier (portable pieces of art) found at the abris of the area.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Reverdit in the Vallon des Roches
Posters of (left) an unattributed dig in the Castel-Merle area, and (right) M. René Castanet giving a demonstration of flint knapping. He is a highly skilled practitioner of the art.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Reverdit in the Vallon des Roches
Abri Reverdit.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
The drawing to the left shows clearly how the shelters were used. Rings were carefully and patiently chipped out in the limestone about 50 cm apart to accept thongs which held up animal skin walls. These provided shelter from wind and driving rain and snow.
If I were to do it, I would chip a deep and wide hole first, then tunnel into one side of the hole at its base, then chip away the rest of the stone, leaving a knob with a hole in it. It could not have been easy or fast to do, and I would love to see a closeup of any of these ancient "curtain rings".
The drawing to the right shows stages in the making of necklaces, many of which were found in the Castel-Merle complex.
Photo: © By kind permission of Eric Le Brun http://elebrun.canalblog.com/
A typical scene at Vallon des Roches, with a child learning how to knap flint, a man chiselling out a bison on the cliff wall, and a woman stringing beads.
Photo: © By kind permission of Eric Le Brun http://elebrun.canalblog.com/
Chiselling out a bison on the cliff wall
Photo: © By kind permission of Eric Le Brun http://elebrun.canalblog.com/
Lower part of a Bison, Abri Reverdit
I must confess, it is not easy to make out the shape!
However, I can make out what appears to be a small front leg, possibly two at the back and a penis (?), and the lower line of the animal, facing to the right.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original on display at Le Musée National de Préhistoire, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac
L'Abri Reverdit was found to contain Magdalenian material. It is about 15 m wide, up to 5 m deep and 3 m high. In about 1923 it was also found to contain a little horizontal frieze, about halfway up the wall, of very eroded sculptures in bas- and haut-relief. From left to right, a small horse head (very doubtful), a horse about 1 m long, a bison of the same length, the dorsal line of a possible small bison and finally another longer bison. Part of the horse and the two larger bison are the easiest to discern. They are thought to date to the Middle Magdalenian, around 14 000 years ago. A stratigraphic section can also be seen in the shelter, containing a well preserved fireplace.Text above adapted from Bahn (2007)
Sandstone Lamp from Abri Reverdit
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Artist's impression of the Castel-Merle area at the time of its occupation during the last ice age, perhaps 15 000 years ago.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Reverdit in the Vallon des Roches
Map of the Castel-Merle area. It includes rock shelters along the banks of the Vézère and below the cliffs of the side gorge of Vallon des Roches.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Reverdit in the Vallon des Roches
Display board showing the major divisions of cultural artefacts according to age, type and sophistication.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Reverdit in the Vallon des Roches
Abri Reverdit
Habitat de l'époque magdalénienne.
Monument historique. (16 000 - 13 000)BP.
Fresques sculptées en bas-relief.
Blocs graves à cupules. Anneaux.
Une importante industrie lithique.
Premier sondage M. Reverdit, en 1978.
Fouilles M. C. Stanet. Delage. Robin.
Coupe stratigraphique. Foyers.
Faune: cheval, bison, cervidé.
Habitat of the Magdalenian period.
Historic monument. (16 000 - 13 000) BP.
Fresques carved in low relief.
Blocks carved with cupules. Rings.
An important lithic industry.
First survey M. Reverdit in 1978.
Excavations M. C. Stanet. Delage. Robin.
Stratigraphical cross-section. Fireplaces.
Fauna: horse, bison, deer.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Reverdit in the Vallon des Roches
Abri Roc d'Acier
Habitat de 50 m de long et 6 m de large,
avant l'effondrement de la voûte.
Epoque périgordienne et solutréenne.
(28 000 - 18 000) BP.
Premier sondage M. Reverdit en 1878.
Fouilles M. Castanet et F. Delage.
Importante industrie lithique.
Faune: bison, aurochs.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Abri Roc d'Acier
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Abri Roc d'Acier
Les sondages effectués sur cette zone révélent la présence d'une stratigraphie identique aux habitats paléolithiques voisins sur 200 m. d'occupation continue.
Surveys carried out in this area reveal the presence of a stratigraphy similar to neighboring Palaeolithic habitats continuously occupied for 200 thousand (???) years. (This seems somewhat optimistic to me. The abbreviation used is m. which usually stands for mille, or a thousand, on the sign. I think it must be an abbreviation for century, which would make it 20 000 years).
Note the ubiquitous use of bamboo for guard rails and so on. Bamboo has taken over large parts of the Vézère valley, and is starting to be used as what Australians call "bush timber". That is, rough uses where milled timber is not necessary.
I understand that this is certainly a former shelter, but the large rocks collapsed on it have made excavations too expensive for the present. No doubt when funds become available it will be excavated.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Abri Roc d'Acier.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
L'Abri Labattut
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Fouilles à L'Abri Labattut (Marcel Castanet 1921)
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: Display, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
L'Abri Labattut
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
L'Abri Labattut
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
L'Abri Labattut
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
L'Abri Labattut had a display featuring an engraving and painting of a horse found in the abri.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at l'Abri Labattut.
The display had deteriorated somewhat with time and weather, but was a useful indicator of what had been found there.
The engraving of a horse is now in the American Museum of Natural History.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at l'Abri Labattut.
Another version of the horse engraving.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
M. René Castanet in L'Abri Labattut, making a large tool of silex.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
L'Abri Labuttut had paintings and engravings of a large deer, mammoth, bison, and a hand in negative. This copy of a drawing of a deer in manganese dioxide (a black pigment) is by Abbé Glory.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
The negative image of a hand appears to have been done by the classic method of blowing a suspension of an oxide held in the mouth over a hand placed on the rock, a technique and subject so much favoured in the rock paintings of Australian aborigines.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
L'Abri du Four is a natural cave used during the Middle Ages from the 9th to the 15th Centuries, and at one time was a refuge from the invading Norsemen. As with many other shelters or abris, it bears the scars of rafters put in to support roofs of houses which leant against the limestone cliff. Often there is also a thin channel cut in the limestone to accept a leaden sheet which stops seepage down the back wall of the house from rain beating on the cliff wall above.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Abri du Four
Habitat du IXème au XVème ème siècle.
Vestiges d'aménagement de constructions en bois intégrées à la paroi rocheuse.
Evier, foyer, four.
Boulins, larmiers.
Abri du Four
Habitat from the 9th to the 15th century
Traces of supports for wooden buildings built into the cliff face.
Sink, fireplace, furnace.
Holes for structural timbers, driplines cut into the rock for roofs.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Abri La Souquette
Note the line of vegetation above the entrance to the abri. This could be the remnants of a channel dug out of the limestone during the middle ages to accept lead sheet to seal a roof from seepage down the cliff.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Abri La Souquette
Epoques
Aurignacienne (34 000 - 28 000 BP)
Solutréenne (21 000 - 18 000 BP).
Magdalénienne (16 000 - 13 000 BP).
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Engraving of a bison from l'Abri La Souquette. I can make out the lower part of the body, a front and back leg, and part of the dorsal surface.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Abri La Souquette.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Abri La Souquette.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Abri La Souquette.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Saïga Antelope, showing only the head, facing to the right, found at La Souquette
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Facsimile (?), Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Drawing: Guthrie (2005)
Parures
Eléments de parures constitués de perles en ivoire de mammouth, en stéatite, ainsi que des couillages marins et dents d'animaux percés.
Dans cet abri fut d'écouverte en 1920 un atelier de fabrication de perles unique au monde. Cet atelier a permis à M. Castanet de comprendre le processus de fabrication des perles 'panier'.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Souquette
Necklaces
Elements of necklaces made from beads of mammoth ivory and soapstone, as well as marine shells and drilled animal teeth.
In this shelter was discovered in 1920 the workshop production of unique beads. This workshop allowed Mr. Castanet to understand the process of making 'basket beads'.
See the photos from M. René Castanet's museum for the process.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display at Abri Souquette
Abri du Guetteur
Cantonnement du IXème siècle et de la Guerre de cent ans.
Post de guet creusé dans le roc en surélévation.
Vestiges de fixations de structures de bois et cordages.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Abri du Guetteur (Abri of the Guard)
A cantonment, a temporary or semi-permanent military quarters of the 9th century and the Hundred Years War.
A watchman's post was carved into the rock higher up.
There are traces of the construction of wooden structures and cables.
A rough table and chairs has been placed there, useful for students and supervisors in the area, as well as walkers along the river bank.
The cliff continues for some distance beside the Vézère, with occasional holes in its face where roof rafters had been placed for houses from the Middle Ages.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
This is a very interesting part of the cliff. There is a spring under the overhang which has been protected by stonework, and provides large amounts of crystal clear drinkable water.
This would have been a very valuable resource, both in prehistoric times, and during the Middle Ages when the spring was first probably protected by a stone cover.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
The first photo shows the spring in the distance, then a shot of the spring, and this photo shows the clarity and abundance of the water. Note what looks like a later addition of a thin layer of mortar or concrete.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
It is a very pleasant walk along the riverbank, and continues for a considerable distance.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
The well beaten path shows that many other people enjoy the walk regularly.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Known locally as "le Fort des Anglais", this may be a dovecote, or a pigeon house, or pigeonnier. There are holes in the rock to accommodate floor joists, with much larger rectangular holes above for the pigeons. These larger holes would presumably have had wooden or metal grilles as doors.
It also appears that the original cavity has been enlarged and squared off to accommodate a larger, rectangular structure.
Pigeons were an important source of food in Mediaeval times, and were kept for their eggs, flesh, and dung.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
A former bridge across the Vézère now in disrepair, with canoeists on the opposite bank. The Vézère is well serviced in terms of kayak and canoe rental.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
This was a sad sight. The sign was at an abandoned "prehistoric" park, one that was no doubt started with high hopes - but there was little of interest in the area that was not available elsewhere in the Les Eyzies region. It was closed when I was there in 2008, and the sign says the opening was to be in June 2005.
I turned around and retraced my steps.
When I went to the website in May 2009, there was supposed to have been an opening of the park in March 2009, but it was obvious little had been done to the website, since all pages bore the date © 2005.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
The walk back was just as enjoyable.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
This abri looked to me as though it might repay excavation. It would have been a prime site for a shelter, high and wide, offering good views across the river towards the movement of game on the broad grassy opposite bank during the ice age when the trees would have been much smaller or non-existent.
Indeed, this is the abri which had the spring with a plentiful supply of good drinking water, which had been covered by a roof of stone, and a pool dug out as part of the construction. It was certainly occupied at one time.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
This is the cross section of Abri Castanet I of Aurignacian I and II age, according to Peyrony (1935)
It would seem from the diagram that the overhanging roof which provided protection for the inhabitants during the Aurignacian I and II has collapsed on the sediments below.
While this could have been a natural occurrence due to normal processes of weathering and erosion, the possibility exists that it could have been because of an ash fall from a volcano settling on top of the rock overhang, which subsequently provided the impetus for the collapse when the ash became wet (and thus heavy) from following rain. (M. René Castanet, Pers. Comm.)
For the period between 15 and 7 ka (Older Dryas to Atlantic), numerous volcanoes were active in the Chaîne des Puys and neighbouring areas. Strombolian phases built numerous cones and poured out long lava flows which disorganized the drainage pattern.
Trachytic and trachyandesitic maar eruptions occured (Kilian, Nugère, Pariou, Pavin). Plinian eruptions were followed by trachytic plugs and dome erection (Puy-de-Dôme, Sarcouy, Chopine...). Tephra columns and plumes reached 20 km into the atmosphere and spread over wide areas aided by wind (GOER DE HERVE et al, 1991). Some volcanoes have been directly TL dated :
- Puy de Côme, 15900 ± 1500 and11600 ± 830 (GUERIN, 1983).
- Puy de Lassolas, 15700 ± 1700 (GUERIN, 1983).
- Puy de Tartaret, 13700 ± 1600 (PILLEYRE et al., 1992).
- Puy de Gorce, 13200 ± 1300 (GUERIN, 1983).
- Puy de Barme, 11900 ± 1200 (GUERIN, 1983).
- Puy de la Nugère lava flow, 10900 ± 1200 (GUERIN, 1983).
- Puy de Dôme, 10800 ± 1100, 9300 ± 1100 (FAIN et al. , 1986, 1991).
- Puy de Pariou lava flow, 8180 ± 810 (GUERIN, 1983).
- Puy de la Vache, 8100 ± 800 (HUXTABLE et al., 1978), 9150 ± 550 et 8820 ± 870 (GUERIN, 1983), 9130 ± 720 (MONTRET et al., 1992).
- Puy de Montchal,7560 ± 770 BP (GUERIN, 1983).
Abri Castanet I dig, excavated by M. Marcel Castanet during 1908/1909 and 1911/1912/1913.
In the excavation, red ochre was abundant, there were many cupules dug into stones, there were many ringed stones (see comment below), engravings of phallic and vulval designs. There were remains of paintings on stones fallen from the roof, and there was a major industry in flint, bone, and reindeer antler, as well as workshops for the preparation of the equivalents of the basket beads so evident at Abri Blanchard.
Photo, and text translated from: Castanet (2006)
Pierres à Anneaux
Dans toute l'etendue de la couche, il a été rencontré des pierres, parfois très volumineuses, présentant généralement, dans un angle, ou sur un bord, un anneau creusé profondément, avec un trou parfois assez grand. Deux des plus gros ont un aspect bizarre: l'un d'eux, trop pesant, a été laissé sur place, l'autre a été déposé au Musée des Eyzies. Ce dernier a été l'objet d'un travail de raclage dans toute sa partie supérieure, comme pour lui donner une forme plus régulière. L'anneau a été fait latéralement, mais de telle façon que l'aspect général de cette pièce est celui d'un animal à corps massif retournant la tête, les deux trous de l'anneau formant les yeux. Il est possible que le hasard seul ait guidé l'ouvrier: cependant les raclages remarqués dans le haut, sur le champ et sur les deux faces, sont de nature à faire prendre en considération l'hypothèse d'une grossière oeuvre d'art.
Pierres à anneaux
The large stone in the right hand photo has two holes bored in it.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Pierres à anneaux - I believe these were used to hold down the hide tents of the original inhabitants. There were corresponding holes in the roofs of the abris. I have been unable so far to get photos of the roof holes, however. I would be grateful for any information or photographs.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Gravures
Une pierre calcaire profondément gravée, dont plusieurs fragments ont été rencontrés épars dans la couche, a été en partie reconstituée. Elle présente quatre images plus ou moins bien conservées d'organes sexuels féninins. Dans l'angle d'un bloc, plus volumineux, on en remarque un autre.
Ces dessins, dont les contours sont formés d'un double sillon, se sont rencontrés plus nombreux à l'abri Blanchard des Roches, tout à côté, mais traités plus simplement. On les observés dans beaucoup de gisements de même époque du Périgord: La Ferrassie, l'abri du Poisson*, l'abri Cellier au Ruth, etc.
* Dans cet habitat, les gravures ont été trouvées dans les déblais des anciens fouilleurs qui ne s'étaient pas aperçus de leur présence. Il est probable qu'il en a été de même dans d'autres gisements fouilles aussi peu méthodiquement.
Peyrony (1935)
Ursus arctos: cut marks on the first phalanx
During recent work for the new museum project at
the Musée National de Préhistoire in les Eyzies, Stéphane
Madeleine discovered a bear phalanx with cut marks in
the Castanet Aurignacian I collection.
Butchery marks linked to the skinning process are
rather frequent on the first phalanges. These are found
at Castanet, as well as other sites.
Perforated bear molar from Abri Castanet.
The perforation indicates that it was used as jewellery.
Photo: http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/anthro/programs/csho/whiteimages.html
|
| |
| Bovinae (Aurochs, Bison) | 16 |
| Canis lupus (wolf) | 52 |
| Capra ibex (Ibex) | 1 |
| Cervus elaphus (Red Deer) | 7 |
| Crocuta spelaea (Cave Hyena) | 1 |
| Equus sp. (Horse) | 32 |
| Rangifer tarandus (Reindeer, Caribou) | 336 |
| Rupicapra rupicapra (Chamois) | 2 |
| Ursus sp (bear) | 4 |
| Vulpes/Alopex (arctic fox) | 15 |
|
| ||
| 1 | Lepus timidus | Mountain Hare |
| 1 | Eliomys quercinus | Garden Dormouse |
| 1 | Lemmus lemmus | Norway Lemming |
| 1 | Evotomys glareolus | Bank Vole |
| 6 | Arvicola amphibius | European Water Vole |
| 2 | Apodemus sylvaticus | Wood Mouse |
| 1 | Erinaceus europeus | Hedgehog |
| 1 | Pica pica | European Magpie |
| 2 | Garrulus glandarius | Eurasian Jay |
| 3 | Pyrrhocorax alpinus | Rock Chough |
| 1 | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | Red-billed Chough |
| 1 | Anthus spinoletta | Water Pipit |
| 1 | Turdus merula | White-collared Blackbird |
| 1 | Falco naumanni | Lesser Kestrel |
| 1 | Anas platyrhynchus | Mallard Duck |
| 1 | Limosa aegocephala | Black-tailed Godwit |
| 2 | Squatarola squatarola | Black-Bellied Plover |
| 1 | Charadrius morinellus | Eurasian Dotterel |
| 5 | Perdix perdix | Grey Partridge |
Abri Castanet. On the right are the recent excavations of Castanet II. Peyrony's 1911-1912 excavations (Castanet I) are in the overgrown area at the left.
Photo: http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/anthro/programs/csho/whiteimages.html
Abri Castanet II has been the subject of an ongoing French-American excavation under the direction of Randall White that has uncovered hundreds of stone tools, bone and antler weapons and ivory beads.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Dr. Randall White is Professor of Anthropology at the Center for the Study of Human Origins (CSHO) in the Department of Anthropology at New York University.
Photo: http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/anthro/programs/csho/white.html
|
| ||
| Lab no. | Stratigraphic layer | Date cal. bp |
| GifA 99165 | Stratigraphic Zone 114 | 31 430±390 |
| GifA 99179 | Stratigraphic Zone 122 | 32 310±520 |
| GifA 99180 | Stratigraphic Zone 122 | 32 950±520 |
| GifA 99166 | Stratigraphic Zone 131 | 34 320±520 |
The Abri Reverdit/Abri Castanet area is serviced by a paved road, and this hut has been erected near the turning circle in order to provide weather protection for those engaged in the French-American excavation of Abri Castanet II, so that sorting and extraction of artefacts can continue without interruption because of inclement weather.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
During the digging season, the hut is a very useful area, set up with tables and equipment for examining finds and sieving the earth removed from the digs, as well as providing an area for rest and meals for the students and supervisors.
Photo: http://beauvert.over-blog.com/article-21688485.html
At the time I was there, within the turning circle, there was a mini-excavation being undertaken, with a surprising amount of interesting material, mostly debitage.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
There is an ongoing programme of trenches and full scale excavations going
on in the area, this trench is beside the road, in the area of Abri Blanchard I.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Abri Blanchard I has been thoroughly investigated, but it looked as
though someone had been through recently, and cleared away
the vegetation at the base of the cliff.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
These six photographs of Abri Blanchard I are presented here in order from Abri Castanet I to the end of the Vallon des Roches.
Engraving of a bear on a rockface from Abri Blanchard.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Stages in the making of "basket-shaped" beads, probably from Abri Blanchard, and discovered by M. Marcel Castanet.
So-called basket-shaped beads were first recognized by
Marcel Castanet (see photograph below) at Abri Blanchard in 1909 (Didon 1911;
1912; Delluc & Delluc 1981). This discovery prompted
Castanet, a farmer at Sergeac in the Dordogne, to
wet-sieve all of the sediments from Blanchard (more
than 200 such beads), as well as the proximate sites
of Castanet (Peyrony 1935) and La Souquette (White
1989a). Also recovered from the sieves were hundreds
of unfinished beads and production debris, allowing
the reconstruction of a complex and ingenious chaîne
opératoire for bead production. Experiments suggest that from one to three hours of labor per bead are required using this process.
Text: White (2007)
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Abri Blanchard
Necklace
Late Mousterian, ca. 35 000 BP
137 stone, bone and ivory beads and pendants
Largest pendant 4.8 cm
Abri Blanchard, Sergeac (Dordogne), France
Logan Museum of Anthropology Purchase
LMA 4.7.253
This piece was assembled from the many beads recovered from the site and purchased from Louis Didon in 1924. There is no specific evidence that these artifacts were assembled as a necklace, but as they are all pierced it is clear they were intended for some similar purpose. Once dated much later, recent excavations in an adjacent abri have revealed a bead workshop dating to the Late Mousterian.
(right) A detail of several of the pendant pieces in the "necklace" reveals the variety of color and materials employed. The largest piece, of ivory, is decorated with a highly organized series of tiny punctuations.
Photo and text: http://www.beloit.edu/logan/exhibitions/virtual_exhibitions/before_history/europe/abri_blanchard.php
Abri Blanchard
Engraved Bones, Late Mousterian, ca. 35 000 BP, Logan Museum of Anthropology Purchase
(left) Bone, 6.0 cm LMA 4.5.373
(centre) Bone, 4.0 cm LMA 4.5.374
(right) Bone, 4.1 cm LMA 4.5.372
Photo and text: http://www.beloit.edu/logan/exhibitions/virtual_exhibitions/before_history/europe/abri_blanchard.php
Engravings at Abri Blanchard from the old Aurignacian, 34 000 BP.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Engravings at Abri Blanchard from the old Aurignacian, 34 000 BP.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
This is the end of the ridge and valley of Vallon des Roches. The top of the ridge would have formed an ideal lookout post when watching for approaching game.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
This is the view from the top of the ridge.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
So far as I can tell, and as can be seen here, taken just around the corner of the ridge, the other sites of Abri des Merveilles and Abri Blanchard II on the other side of the ridge, facing the Vézère, are not accessible because of the growth of vegetation since they were last excavated.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Abri des Merveilles as it is today.
It was originally inhabited by Neandertals, with cordiform (heart shaped) mousterian axes found there. (Mellars, 1996)
Photo: Castanet (2006)
The 1925 trench into the talus at l'Abri des Merveilles. George Grant MacCurdy is visible in the distance as is the wall of the abri.
Photo and text: Straus (2001)
Abri des Merveilles - Excavations by G.G. MacCurdy 1927
This photograph is particularly notable for the child taking part in the excavations - M. René Castanet (R. Castanet pers. comm. 2008) was about five years old at the time of this photograph - truly he has had a lifetime of experience in the study of the Palaeolithic, and is a national treasure.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Tools of rock crystal and Spanish topaz dug from the rock shelter of
Les Merveilles (Dordogne) by students of the American School of Prehistoric
Research, Mousterian Epoch.
Photo and text: McCurdy (1931)
Complete tools of rock crystal dating back to the Mousterian epoch are exceedingly rare. We appreciate all the more the good fortune which has come to our American School of Prehistoric Research in the finding of seven perfect rock crystal tools not only in a single rock shelter but also at one level in that rock shelter (the lower of two Mousterian levels). This shelter is known as Les Merveilles and is at Castel-Merle near Sergeac (Dordogne).
Of the seven tools of rock crystal from Les Merveilles No. 1, found in 1924, is transparent and tinged with just enough yellow to give it the appearance of a topaz. It is a combination scraper and point. The ventral face is marked by a bulb of percussion and an uneven resin-like surface of fracture. The outer or dorsal face is everywhere reduced by means of chipping except for a small area at the level of the greatest diameter. Half of a scraper of the same quality of rock crystal was found in 1924 in the cultivated field just below and adjoining our leased site.
During the season of 1926 there was found a scraper of purest rock crystal without a tinge of color (No. 2). The portion opposite the edge is perfectly adapted to fit the curve of the forefinger and the dorsal face along the edge has been retouched more than once. The present edge shows the effect of wear; a short bit of it was carried away by a chip accidentally removed in Mousterian times.
Number 3, found in 1928, is amethystine in color. Two of the adjacent hexagonal faces of the original crystal are retained on the part opposite the edge and form a fitting handhold. The edge is retouched along the dorsal face only. During the same season Number 4 was found. It had been struck from an exquisite crystal yellowish in tone, but somewhat paler than the parent core of No. 1. The specimen is completely bounded by a series of delicate retouches confined to the dorsal face only.
Numbers 5, 6 and 7 were all found in 1929. Number 5 resembles Number 4 in shape and size and Number 1 in color. Its dorsal face has been completely retouched except for a small area near the base. Here, as in Number 1, the untouched facet represent a bit of surface of fracture made at some preceding time rather than a bit of one of the hexagonal faces of the original crystal.
In so far as quality of crystal is concerned, Number 6 is the poorest of the lot. It is colorless but not flawless. That the crystal mass from which it was struck had been reduced to a pebble by water action is shown in the unworked part opposite the edge and reserved as the handhold.
The last and largest of the series of rock crystal tools (No. 7) was likewise struck from a crystal that had been reduced to a pebble; it was not the same pebble as in the preceding case but a much larger one formed from a crystal of great purity-absolutely clear and flawless. On the unretouched end there is a fine bulb of percussion. The dorsal face is completely retouched except at the base and the retained bit of the pebble surface on the lower half of the side opposite the long retouched margin.
The retention of a portion of the pebble surface on two of these rock crystal tools and of a slightly waterworn surface of fracture on two others (1 and 5) may serve as a clue to the location of the original source of rock crystal supply. The nearest source is the region of eruptive rock lying near to and beyond the headwaters of the Vézère in the direction of the Limousin and Puy-de-Dôme. They were carried from this region to Sergeac either by Neandertal man or by the Vézère river. The fact that at least two of the rock crystal tools were struck from pebbles points to their transport by the river. Neandertal man had only to pick up the pebbles in the river bed at the foot of his Abri des Merveilles. They were carried to the rock shelter before the chipping was done just as was the supply of quartzite pebbles for hammerstones. Chips of rock crystal were found in situ in the lower Mousterian level. We know that tools of flint were shaped on the spot because we were able to fit one tool to its parent core which when found was only some 15 cm. removed from the tool itself.
The area is famous for its walnuts. My campsite was beside a walnut orchard. I found that the less civilised the camping area, the better was the camping, with soft ground and (usually) well maintained bathroom facilities. I camped every night of my month long archaeology field trip in the south of France. The weather was generally very kind to me!
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
The entry to M. René Castanet's Museum at Castel-Merle.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Poster on the door of the museum showing M. Castanet's father sieving excavated materials, looking for artefacts.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
My thanks to Carolyn Hailstones for this charming photo of the Castanet family, including M. René Castanet, Mme Castanet and Isabelle Castanet, their grandaughter, at their garden/museum in Castel Merle.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
M. Castanet uses a wide range of tools for knapping flints, depending on the size, type and quality of the material, as well as the size and type of tool he is making, and the particular size and type of flake he wishes to detach.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Some of M. René Castanet's store of stones for knapping. Note the red & black obsidian.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
M. René Castanet in his museum. He is a very erudite man, and has been mayor of Sergeac for many years.
As well, he is a strong man, and highly skilled in flint knapping, which requires dexterity, skill, strength, and a great understanding of flint. When I was there, he spent two hours showing me the exhibits,
and permitted me to take many photographs.
He was kind enough to speak slowly and distinctly, so that
I was able to understand his explanations, even though my knowledge of French is limited. I was very grateful for his kindness and generosity of spirit.
He is a true gentleman.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
M. Castanet has written a very useful and interesting book about the local area of Sergeac,
"Les Perles de Sergeac en Périgord Noir" which he was kind enough to sign for me.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Castanet (2006)
Display at the museum.
Mousterian points.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Display at the museum.
Mousterian points and raclettes (scrapers).
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Poster of a bas-relief of a bison from L'Abri Reverdit, which M. Castanet is indicating with his pointer.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Poster of an engraving of a horse from Abri Labattut.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Engraving of a vulva from Abri Blanchard.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Photo of an engraving of an animal from Abri Blanchard (possibly an ibex -Don)
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Another version of this engraving of an ibex.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Photo of a painting of a horse on the wall of l'Abri Labattut.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
This is a very useful summary of the main art discoveries in the Castel-Merle complex.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Engraved block, cupules and vulva.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Engraved block, vulvas.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Engraved block, vulvas.
Dated Aurignacian
L'Abri Blanchard
Photo: http://adamcope.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Saïga Antelope, showing only the head, facing to the right, found at La Souquette
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Facsimile (?), Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Drawing: Guthrie (2005)
Cupules.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Cupules.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Two cupules with a channel cut to the edge of the block, left and lower right.
These remind me of the portable lamps carved in stone, burning oil or fat, using a wick, which have been discovered in similar deposits.
I am unsure what the carved depression in the upper rock on the right hand photo is for.
Photo: (left) Don Hitchcock 2008
Photo: (right) Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklaces.
I have included the flash photo despite the glare on the glass, because finer detail can be seen on the other parts of the necklace.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklaces. Note that the necklace on the left is essentially the same as the necklace in the photo above, with the same shells and teeth.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklaces.
I have included the flash photo despite the glare on the glass, because finer detail can be seen on the other parts of the necklace.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklace and a pierced tooth closeup. Careful examination of the tooth reveals that the original almost circular hole has been extended by wear from the thong used to hold the necklace together. This type of wear is well recognised, and is called "keyholing".
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklaces.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklace of animal teeth.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Necklaces.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Perles et pendoloques en ivoire, steatite, coquillages marins et dents perforées. Collections Castanet, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
This is the famous lunar calendar from Abri Blanchard, carved from reindeer antler.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Probably a facsimile, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Another photograph of the lunar calendar.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
Explanation of the lunar calendar.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Display, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
I find this photograph of M. Marcel Castanet (father of M. René Castanet) sieving deposits very evocative. It is very well composed and executed. His work was ground-breaking in the understanding of "basket shaped" beads.
Photo: Castanet (2006)
The five main production stages for the
manufacture of Aurignacian basket-shaped beads. Those
pictured are from Abri Blanchard, the type-site for such
objects.
Stages in the making of beads.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
This is a very interesting phallus carved from a bison horn from Abri Blanchard. The carving is about 36 000 years old and is 250 millimeters long. It must be one of the largest such phallus shapes ever found. The carving shows clearly the cleft at the end of the phallus, seen especially in the photo on the right.
Note also the carved bone in the foreground.
Photo: (left) Don Hitchcock 2008
Photo: (right) Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: Facsimile (?), Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Phallus carved in stone from Abri Castanet, showing testicles as well. I have outlined the carving in the version on the right.
The flat stone in front is there just to prop up the carved stone, as far as I can tell.
Photo: Carolyn Hailstones 2009
Source: original, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Reindeer antler is a very useful raw material for a wide variety of tools, since it freely available, easily carved, yet tough in use.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
M. Castanet has displays of prehistoric tools from many parts of Europe and Africa. I was particularly interested in the Mousterian tools from Vienna, Austria, in the photograph on the right. To me, the material looks very similar to some types of Australian common opal.
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2008
Source: Originals, Musée de la préhistoire à Sergeac
Tools of the Upper Paleolithic found at Castel-Merle
Photo: Castanet (2006)
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