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Proceedings Chapter The First and Second Mesolithic of La Grande Rivoire (Vercors range, Isère, France): A Diachronic Perspective on Lithic Technology ANGELIN, Alexandre, PERRIN, Thomas, NICOD, Pierre-Yves Reference ANGELIN, Alexandre, PERRIN, Thomas, NICOD, Pierre-Yves. The First and Second Mesolithic of La Grande Rivoire (Vercors range, Isère, France): A Diachronic Perspective on Lithic Technology. In: 9th International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe. 2020. p. 426-433 Available at: http://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:138080 Disclaimer: layout of this document may differ from the published version. 1 / 1 Technology 67. The First and Second Mesolithic of La Grande Rivoire (Vercors range, Isère, France): A diachronic perspective on lithic technology Alexandre Angelin, Thomas Perrin and Pierre-Yves Nicod Discovered in 1986, La Grande Rivoire rockshelter is located in the north of the subalpine mountain range of Vercors (northern French Alps) at 580 masl. Five meters of the site’s stratigraphy reveals a continuous chrono- cultural sequence spanning the time from the First Mesolithic to the Gallo-Roman period. This paper presents the results of studies of lithic technology of the First and Second Mesolithic sequences (c. 8450–6050 cal BC) in a diachronic perspective. The data gathered contribute to the understanding of the regional chrono- cultural evolution. A vertical projection analysis performed in a marginal area of the settlement led us to the identification of eight assemblages. Typo-technological analysis performed on some 12,500 lithic artefacts allowed us to identify three distinctive First Mesolithic and two distinctive Second Mesolithic periods, which is supported by new radiocarbon dates. Therefore, these results permit us to identify, within half a century, the disappearance of microliths on narrow bladelets and the emergence of geometric bitruncations on large bladelets and to update the actual chronological evolution of the regional Mesolithic. Keywords: First and Second Mesolithic, lithic technology, arrowhead, Alps, mountainous environment Introduction from the First Mesolithic to the Gallo-Roman period and Since the late 1970s, French subalpine mountain rang- sets itself as a good candidate for our study. Since multidis- es such as Vercors, Chartreuse, Dévoluy, Bauges, and ciplinary and preliminary results have recently been pro- Bornes-Aravis have been the focus of archaeological ex- vided for this site (Nicod et al. 2012; Angelin et al. 2016), ploration. Research undertaken in these regions, and es- the aim of this paper is to offer new and complete results pecially in the Vercors range, revealed that this area was on the typo-technological evolution of the lithic industry repeatedly occupied since the end of the Late Glacial (see from the First and Second Mesolithic periods of the site. Angelin et al. 2016 for a list of references; Bintz et al. 2008). Mesolithic sites were recognized in rockshelters and at La Grande Rivoire rockshelter open-air locations above 1000 masl, reflecting a dynamic The archaeological settlement of La Grande Rivoire is a occupation and exploitation of this mountainous environ- rockshelter situated in the northern part of the Vercors ment by Mesolithic people. range, close to the city of Grenoble (Fig. 67.2). The site, located in the Furon Valley, main northern access to the Research objectives mountain range, faces the south and lies at 580 masl at the To date, the chronological evolution observed for the Me- foot of a cliff of the Senonian limestone, which contains si- solithic period (mainly in Vercors and Chartreuse assem- liceous flint. It was discovered by chance in 1986 and a res- blages), remains incomplete (Fig. 67.1) and places the First cue excavation was carried out by Régis Picavet from 1986 Mesolithic c. 9200–6700/6500 cal BC and the Second Me- to 1994 (Picavet 1999). Since 2000 the site has been sea- solithic between c. 6700/6500 and 5800 cal BC (Bintz and sonally excavated under the direction of Pierre-Yves Nicod. Pelletier 1999). In order to refine the regional chronological The area protected by the overhang is c. 80 square me- sequence and date high-altitude open-air sites, stratigraph- tres wide (Fig. 67.3) and has been carefully excavated by ic sequences from rockshelter settlements are taken into areas and according to the single context recording method consideration. For instance, La Grande Rivoire rockshel- by décapages, with excavation units following sedimentary ter displays a well-developed sequence spanning the time changes and archaeological deposits (Angelin et al. 2016; 67. The First and Second Mesolithic of La Grande Rivoire (Vercors range, Isère, France): A diachronic perspective on lithic technology 427 After Bintz and Pelletier 1999; Bintz et al. 2008 (modied) Nicod et al. 2012; Nicod and Picavet 2003). Mesolithic lay- c. 5800 cal BC ers, compacted in over a meter, are characterized by an- Late Mesolithic thropogenic sediments composed essentially of vegetal . – Débitage of large and regular bladelets organic matter, wood ashes, and heated stones. Archaeo- ESO – Punch (and/or pressure) technique – Manufacture of bitruncations (trapezes) logical finds are also abundant and mainly consist of faunal M remains and knapped lithic artefacts (Angelin et al. 2016; ND – Microburin technique 2 – Castelnovian culture Nicod et al. 2012). c. 6700 Due to the lack of both features and artefacts in cal BC area S19–21 (see Fig. 67.3) as well as some taphonomical Middle Mesolithic (late phase) processes in area ST21, in this paper, we will only focus our – Débitage of "regular" bladelets – Direct percussion with a soft/hard-stone percussor lithic typo-technological analysis of the First and Second – Manufacture of backed points and scalene triangles Mesolithic layers in area SU16–18 of the site (Fig. 67.3). – Slight increase in arrowheads’ sizes c. 7500 – Late Sauveterrian culture cal BC Radiocarbon chronology Middle Mesolithic (early phase) The Mesolithic chronological sequence of La Grande Rivoire – Débitage of thin flakes and micro-bladelets – Direct percussion with a soft/hard-stone percussor is aided by 14 radiocarbon dates (Picavet 1999; Nicod et al. ESOLITHIC 2012; Angelin et al. 2016). Six measurements have been ob- – Manufacture of crescents and isosceles triangles M tained from bone samples coming from squares SU16–18 ST – Hypermicrolithism and microburin technique 1 – Early Sauveterrian culture c. 8500 and one from square S19 but are regardless considered in cal BC this study (Fig. 67.4, Table 67.1). According to the current Early Mesolithic chronological sequence (Fig. 67.1), four dates (Lyon-12102 – Very anecdotal presence in Vercors – Epipalaeolithic Azilian/Laborian traditions [SacA-41848], Lyon-12103 [SacA-41849], Lyon-12104 [SacA- c. 9200 – Microburin technique 41850], Lyon-12105 [SacA-41851]) correspond to an early cal BC phase of the First Mesolithic, spanning the period from c. 8430 to 7600 cal BC. Two other measurements (Lyon-12106 Fig. 67.1. First and Second Mesolithic of the northern [SacA-41852], Lyon-12107 [SacA-41853]) correspond to a French Alps chronology. The different phases follow late phase of the First Mesolithic, spanning the period from the lithic techno-typological evolution (modified after c. 7300 to 6600 cal BC. The last two dates (Beta-282248, Bintz and Pelletier 1999; Bintz et al. 2008). Excavation cal BC (95% Assemblage Lab ID Reference Sample Age BP Reliability unit confidence) GR08.T17.d30.614. metatarsus, ASS 5 Beta-255119 SU16-21.d30 7310±40 6237–6072 Good LSBM Cervus elaphus GR09.S17.d34. rib, Cervus ASS 4 Beta-282248 SU16-21.d34 7790±40 6688–6506 Good LGM(C) elaphus Lyon-12107 GR09.S17.d38.672. metatarsus, ASS 3B SU16-21.d38 7835±35 6770–6594 Probable (SacA-41853) LSBMG Cervus elaphus Lyon-12106 GR10.S19.d40.905. ASS 3A SU16-21.d40 rib mammal 8165±35 7304–7064 Probable (SacA-41852) LSGM tibia, Cervus Lyon-12105 GR11.S16.d44.636. ASS 2 SU16-21.d44 elaphus/Capra 8705±40 7934–7597 Good (SacA-41851) LBM(F) ibex Lyon-12104 GR11.S18.d45.1133. bone diaphysis, SU16-21.d45 9060±40 8312–8231 Good (SacA-41850) LSGFB mamal ASS 1B metatarsus, Lyon-12103 GR11.S18.d46.1187. SU16-21.d46 Capreolus 9095±40 8429–8242 Good (SacA-41849) LSP/CX capreolus) Lyon-12102 GR11.T17.d47.1044. tibia, Cervus ASS 1A SU16-21.d47 9040±40 8301–8223 Good (SacA-41848) LGM/LGC elaphus Table 67.1. Radiocarbon raw data from Mesolithic levels of La Grande Rivoire (SU16–21) calibrated at 95% confidence against InCal13 (Reimer et al. 2013) using OxCal v4.2.4 (Bronk Ramsey et al. 2013). Reliability is based on radiocarbon dates’ matching with lithic industries. 428 Alexandre Angelin, Thomas Perrin and Pierre-Yves Nicod Beta-255119) are compatible with the Chambéry Second Mesolithic (6690–6070 cal Guiers BC) but need to be refined and con- Isère fronted with the lithic industry for further discussion. Further analysis 1 and sample collection will soon be performed in order to strengthen the Fure 2 present results and refine the chro- CHARTREUSE no-cultural Mesolithic sequence of Chamechaude Summits Alt. (masl) N 0 2082 m La Grande Rivoire. Main cities 200 Occupations: 500 First Mesolithic 1000 1500 BELLEDONNE Lithic techno-typology: Second Mesolithic 3 >2000 Isère Grenoble Isère (km) 4 A diachronic perspective 0 40 5 Boisse Furon Methods 0 (mi) 24 Drac Reminder: 1 mi = 1.609344 km (exactly) Prior to the technological study, GRANDES 6 Doulouche 7 ROUSSES lithic artefact refitting and spatial Romans-sur- Taillefer Romanche Isère Bourne Villard-de- 2857 m distribution analysis have been car- Isère Lans Cholet 8 ried out for excavation units d30 to Lyonne d48 in area SU16–18 (Fig. 67.3). Data TAILLEFER VERCORS 9 Rhône Gresse such as the density of unearthed Gresse-en- Vercors Drac ÉCRINS sediment as well as three-dimension Vernaison Grand Veymont provenance of in situ uncovered fau- 2341 m Ebron nal and lithic remains have allowed Sure 10 us to group excavation units and to Donnière 11 identify eight archaeological assem- Gervanne Die Drôme Archiane 12 Drôme blages numbered in a sequence from Crest Drac bottom to top (0, 1A, 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, Châtillon-en-Diois DÉVOLUY Bez 4, and 5).