Stratigraphy

It was decided not to continue with Bordes’stratigraphic designations, but rather to redefine the stratigraphy based on our own analysis. Ideally it will ultimately be possible to correlate our sequence with his. In this early stage of excavation our naming system for the stratigraphy is to have a initial roman numeral indicating the area of the site (I for the upper Western coupe, II for the lower bench squares), followed by arabic numerals for major couches and letters for archaeological levels. Thus, the upper Western coupe so far contains I-1A, I-1B, I-2, I-2A, I-2B, I-2C, and I-3, while the lower coupe has only been excavated in II-1.

Level I-1A
Level I-1A is just under a thin surface layer and is characterized by a dark brown sediment with few large stones (in contrast to Level I-1B). The sediments are somewhat coarse and fairly loosely compacted. There were 2 lithic artifacts and 5 faunal remains recovered from this level, plus twenty-three screened samples.

Level I-1B
Level I-1B is a reddish level that spans all of the squares in the upper west section. It is characterized by numerous flat eboulis and in places (Square H in particular) it has pockets with high concentrations of cultural material. The full extent of this level is unclear at present. A better understanding will require the removal of the remaining sections of cement wall in front of squares H and G. This level contained 223 lithic artifacts and 128 faunal remains, plus 120 screened samples. Of the lithic artifacts so far analyzed, there are 125 flakes, 32 flake fragments, 14 retouched tools (primarily notches and denticulates), 4 tool fragments, 22 cores, and some debris. The basic technology is non-descript.

Level I-2
Level I-2 is a light yellow in color and appears just under Level 1B. At the time of excavation it was perceived as having relatively little cultural material though in fact subsequent analysis shows it to have a high density of material. This difference in perception is likely due to the absence in this level of the dense pockets of material that characterized Level I-1B. Level I-2 is seen as a transition from Level 1B to Level 2C.

Level I-2 contained almost the same breakdown of finds as I-1B : 290 lithic artifacts and 143 faunal remains, though the density of material was much higher for the amount of excavated sediment (only 53 7-liter screen samples). Of the analyzed lithic material, notches and denticulates were again predominant. One charcoal sample and 6 teeth suitable for ESR dating were recovered.

Level I-2A
Level I-2A did not contain any lithic or faunal material.

Level I-2B
Level I-2B consists of highly concretionated sediments with large blocks of eboulis. The sediments look very similar to Level I-2 above it, but they are very concretionated. Depositionally, Level I-2B is probably the same unit as Level I-2 but it includes some of the roof fall which has resulted in a post-depositional alteration of the sediments.

Level I-2B was only partially excavated in the squares that were thus far opened, with 28 lithic artifacts and 12 faunal remains. One charcoal sample and one tooth ESR sample were recovered.

Level I-2C (found only in square H11)
Like Level I-2, Level I-2C sediments are also light yellow in color, but this level differs from Level I-2 above it in that it has a high density of cultural material and a high density of small pebbles (1-2cm). Level I-2C appears to go under Level I-2B and appears to connect with Bordes’ F Layer in squares E, D, and C as represented in the west section.

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