Une nouvelle archéo-séquence pour le Magdalénien en Corrèze. Focus sur le Magdalénien moyen ancien de la grotte Bouyssonie (Brive-la-Gaillarde, Corrèze, France)

Discovered in 2005 by T. Bismuth and diagnosed as part of a preventive operation by Inrap under the responsibility of L. Detrain in 2006, Bouyssonie Cave has been the object of planned excavations, coordinated since 2008 by D. Pesesse. This work has revealed a stratigraphic sequence from the Early Upper Palaeolithic to the Neolithic, which documents several cultural traditions, regarding which little had hitherto been known at a regional level. In particular, the work carried out at the entrance of the cave carved into the Triassic sandstone, has revealed several layers of remains, dated to between 20,500 and 9,000 cal BP. Succeeding the elements currently under study, which are attributable to the Middle and Late Gravettian and the Solutrean, a dense layer of lithic and carbon remains, currently excavated over just two square meters, has revealed an industry of bladelets with right-hand and marginal backs, dated to around 20,500 cal BP and most likely attributable to an early phase of Magdalenian. Separated from this assemblage by a stratigraphic interface, a second layer comprising many lithic and carbon remains, dated to around 19,000 cal BP, is characteristic of the early Middle Magdalenian. Most of the remains found at the entrance of the cave during the 2006 operation can be attributed to this same technocomplex. Above it, an assemblage more dilated in thickness, comprising a lower density of remains included mixed elements from the Late Glacial (Magdalenian s.l. and Azilian) and even the Post Glacial (Mesolithic).By integrating petroarchaeological and techno-typological analyses it has been possible to characterize the early Middle Magdalenian. A first use-wear analysis has allowed us to consider the taphonomy of the remains, to establish the intentions behind the lithic reduction and the methods used, and to document certain activities carried out according to the occupation of the site. The anthracological analysis, combined with the radiocarbon datings, has allowed us to question the homogeneity of the upper assemblage and to propose a first radiometric framework for this sequence. Repositioned in its geoarchaeological framework, this new Magdalenian archaeological sequence has permitted us to characterize two assemblages regarding which little had hitherto been known at a regional level.Top of page Découvert en 2005 par T. Bismuth et diagnostiqué dans le cadre d'une opération préventive de l'Inrap, sous la responsabilité de L. Detrain en 2006, l