Documents found
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171.More information
At the end of 1991, in the framework of the archeological program covering the middle Oise valley, a survey of three structures, most probably SOM as confirmed by the discovery of a small ceramic element and of cremated human bones, revealed their sepulchral character. However the bone fragment layout suggests a different operating mode. Of oblong shape, these structures can be related to mass burials, and differ from their megalithic equivalents by an architecture based on wood instead of stone. A final feature : they were all three destroyed throughout by intense fire. Such examples are rare in the Paris basin. Similar fire-destroyed burials are found across the Rhine.
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172.More information
Over a number of decades archaeology has been acquiring an extensive descriptive and analytical set of tools allowing burial practices to be reconstructed, which, albeit not fully adequate and complete, are nevertheless increasingly accurate. However, the interpretation of these data is tricky in that they are subject not only to heuristic processes whose validity can be ascertained, but also to intellectual options with which an attempt is being made to bring the interpretation into line. In this paper I have chosen to examine the point of view of the « mourners » : wasn't their objective essentially to form a satisfying vision of an unavoidable biological fact — death — a phenomenon with which they were regularly confronted and in which they were only too well aware that they were destined to be the next actors? In the framework of the Neolithic of the Northwest a variety of attitudes can be proposed : some gave precedence to the relationship with the dead, while for others a more holistic treatment of death appears to prevail. Just so many types of behavior which necessarily tie into the societies' strategy for ensuring their own cohesion and survival.
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175.More information
After a survey of the geographical environment, this article presents some of the research conducted in Ethiopia during the last decades, mainly in Prehistoric and Aksumite archaeology.
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176.More information
S UMMAR It would seen, at first glance, that the tumulus originally covering « la Table des Marchands » has only recently disappeared. The fact that there is no mention of it before the 19th century leads one to think that it remained concealed under the mound until then. In reality, observations made during excavations in 1811 show that the denudation of the flalslone and top part of the supports goes back several centuries. The reason why 18th century scholars and, in particular the President of Robien said nothing about this monument is that there were other more remarquable dolmens around Locmariaquer, later demolished (building stones which came from the breaking up of megalithic monuments were sold). The prolonged action of atmospheric agencies has done more than partially efface the signs engraved on one of the internal walls of the dolmen. In 1937 the main support of the table began to crack. It was decided to restore the protective tulumus. It was a mistake to do this only partially and leave the top of the covering flalslone uncovered which, from the outside (the supports being hidden) no longer appears to belong to the dolmen. And this gives a strange impression which can only be remedied by : 1° the restoration of the tumulus so as to completely cover the dolmen ; 2° an information campaign to enlighten the public on the necessity for restoration, the reasons for which often seems to escape them. They only see in restoration the disappearance of one of the beauties of the Armorican country side.
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177.More information
ABSTRACT On various occasions several groups of ornaments which may be attributed to the late or final Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods have been inventoried in the Agen region. Most were previously unpublished, but it was especially the originality of several pieces which motivated the authors of this short synthesis.
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178.More information
ABSTRACT The La Dévèze-Sud Dolmen, situated on the Gramat causse, has a single chamber. A firts excavation carried out in 1963-1964 yielded the remains of at least 16 individuals with funerary goods which enabled the monument to be dated to the Chalco- lithic/Early Bronze Age. A new series of excavations (1992, 1993, 1994) focused on the large barrow surrounding the chamber. An original method for the systematic removal of layers and the plotting of the blocks making up the tumulus, involving parameters related to the situation, position, orientation, dimensions and typology of the blocks, was developed and improved during our work. We were thus able to consolidate by statistics the conclusions obtained by observation of the archeological facts.
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179.More information
Abstract Present progress noted over the last three or four years regarding non-megalithic Neolithic funerary archaeology leads us to propose a global survey of recent investigations and contributions about funeral practices o/ the early Neolithic in France. In this perspective we want to present — synthetically — a picture of burial and funeral traditions of the two principal currents at the beginning of the French Neolithic, i.e. Cardia/ and Bandkeramik.
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180.More information
ABSTRACT In 1966, the marine erosion of Quaternary deposits on the North Cotentin coast revealed a small Neolithic valley settlement. Excavation between 1967-1969 of a few square metres revealed a pit and a fossil soil layer rich in material. Re-examination of the hitherto unpublished small finds within the assemblage established the presence of a vase support decorated in Er Lannic style, associated with transverse arrowheads and a backed knife, as well as sherds with repoussé buttons and shallow groove decorations recalling the Breton Castellic tradition and some Channel Islands material (e.g. Grosnez Hougue, Jersey). This site could be attributed to the beginning of Middle Neolithic II, contemporary with the first megalithic monuments of Western France.