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The lower Levels 8-9 were originally categorized as Denticulate Mousterian, with a strong Levallois component, and Levels 5-7 as Typical Mousterian. Our own analysis, although based on limited samples, shows that all of them contain a high proportion of Levallois technology, including so-called Asinipodian elements as defined at Pech de l'Azé IV, such as small Levallois cores and truncated-faceted pieces. The retouched tools include both scrapers and notches/denticulates. These industries are in association with a large number of combustion features, or hearths, especially in Levels 7 and 9. Three TL samples from Level 9 produced an average date of 81,200 ± 3900 Ka. |
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Levels 2-4 contain an industry extremely rich in both
lithic and faunal remains. Technologi-cally and typologically it corresponds
to a Quina Mousterian, i.e., an industry that contains a high
percentage of scrapers made on thick non-Levallois flakes. Technologically,
these levels exhibit a very low percentage of Levallois (ranging from
1.4-3.9 %) and very few cores. Typologically, there is a high proportion
of scrapers (50-75 % of the retouched pieces), with the more reduced
types (es-pecially transverse forms) well represented. Only a sample
of the fauna has thus far been analyzed (by J.-C. Castel). The dominant
taxon (84%) is reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) with some horse (Equus sp.).
Longbone shaft fragments are the most common element (86%). Two herbivore
teeth from Level 4 yielded an average ESR (Blackwell 2005) date of 79,300 ± 2700
Ka. The very top of the sequence, Level 1, is an organic level that overlays everything from the mouth of the cave out onto the terrace. It was heavily bioturbated in historic times, which resulted in significant mixing of archaeological materials spanning the Paleolithic to the Medieval periods. |
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