ABSTRACT In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France), the numerous traces of fires raise the ques... more ABSTRACT In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France), the numerous traces of fires raise the questions of function of the site and of the way of life of the Bronze Age human groups inside the cave. The study of hearths is one possible way to answer those questions. This paper presents the methodology developed for the first time in the cave of les Fraux for the study of hearths. It consists in three parts: (1) the thermal characterization of sediment of the hearth; (2) the experimentation of fires; (3) the simulation of propagation of heat in the sediment. The thermal characterization is based on the examination of the thermoluminescence (TL) of quartz grains (from localized samples) and a map of magnetic susceptibility which is mainly brought by iron oxides contained in sediments. First, a map of magnetic susceptibility was built on the surface of the studied hearth and allowed the location of the heated zones. Then samples were extracted from the sediment along gradient of magnetic susceptibility located on the map. After the extraction of quartz grains, measurements of TL gave the paleotemperature attained by the sediment samples. This determination is based on the comparison between ’natural’ TL curves of samples and ’simulated natural’ TL curves of thermal references. The latter were made by heating, in laboratory, sediment from the cave with the same geological origin than hearth samples. They were heated according to an arbitrary and reproducible thermal cycle: heating at 20°C/min, one hour at the maximal temperature and subsequently cooling at 5°C/min. Thirteen thermal references were created with their maximal temperature ranged between 200°C and 650°C, keeping an unheated sample. The comparison allowed to associate one temperature to each sample. Then, the trend between paleotemperature and magnetic susceptibility permits to express magnetic susceptibility as a function of the paleotemperature and to obtain a map of temperature of the studied hearth. These results give some data about intensity of fires. To compare the fire effect observed on archaeological heated sediment and paleotemperature found, experimentations of fires were made. A substratum of sandstones and clay extracted from non-archaeological zones of the cave of Les Fraux was built. Temperatures in different positions and depths were recorded during firing and matched quite well with the surface paleotemperatures of archaeological hearth. Even the changing of sediment color seems to be identical. Finally, some tests of simulation of heat propagation were made in a homogeneous substratum. After a validation of the numerical modeling with the experimental data, it is possible to observe at different times the propagation of the heat. The methodology based on in situ and laboratory measurements, experimentations and simulations need to be supplement. The thermal characterization of a second hearth is begun, completed by a complete study of magnetic properties of the sediment in order to see if it is possible to obtain a new paleothermometer from magnetic mineralogy. A second step of experimentations of fires in underground environment and simulations in heterogeneous substratum are planned. Finally, it is hope that these reciprocal approaches will give clues to understand the function of the hearths and thus data on occupation of the site.
The question of function of hearths in prehistorical caves is fundamental to characterize the nat... more The question of function of hearths in prehistorical caves is fundamental to characterize the nature of human occupation. The hearths could be used for lightning, cooking or heating. Their spatial repartition, as their paleotemperature, should allow to identify their function. The ...
Au cours de l'automne 2013, un tumulus a fait l'objet d'une fouille archéologique dans le village... more Au cours de l'automne 2013, un tumulus a fait l'objet d'une fouille archéologique dans le village de Rahman (commune de Casimcea, département de Tulcea). La hauteur conservée de la structure avoisine 1 m ; son diamètre est d'environ 40 m. Cinq tombes à inhumation, dont une double, ont été mises au jour dans la zone centrale du tumulus. Elles contenaient les corps de six individus. Les tombes 3, 4 et 5 sont, d'un point de vue stratigraphique, aménagées au sol même, alors que les tombes 1 et 2 ont été aménagées dans la couverture du tumulus. Les éléments rituels identifiés, comme les rares objets découverts associés aux défunts et les analyses 14 C (Poz-65968 : 3950±35 BP) indiquent une datation Bronze ancien.
La grotte ornée des Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne), vaste réseau de galeries ayant... more La grotte ornée des Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne), vaste réseau de galeries ayant livré des vestiges d’une rare richesse (aménagements domestiques, dépôts de mobilier, manifestations pariétales, tous datés de l’âge du Bronze), a été scellée à la fin de l’âge du Bronze suite à l’effondrement de son porche d’entrée. L’étude du site est réalisée dans le cadre d’un SEEG de l’INEE, au sein duquel sont testées, de manière interdisciplinaire, de nouvelles méthodes d’acquisition de données. Dans ce cadre, un partenariat mis en place depuis 4 années entre archéologues et topographes de l’INSA a permis de conduire la numérisation 3D de la volumétrie totale du réseau et, en parallèle, l’acquisition en haute définition des panneaux ornés. L’objet de cet article est de mettre l’accent sur la complémentarité des données offertes par la multiplicité des échelles l’acquisition effectuées in situ, de dresser un premier bilan des différentes techniques testées dans ce cadre, et de pos...
For six years, an interdisciplinary team carried out the study of a Bronze Age underground networ... more For six years, an interdisciplinary team carried out the study of a Bronze Age underground network. This program has been labelled by the Institute of Ecology and Environment of the French Research Council (CNRS), who wants to promote new methodologies and experimental studies in Global Ecology. It takes advantage of the support of the French Ministry of Culture. The archaeological cave of Les Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne) is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein are gathered testimonies of domestic, spiritual and artistic activities. Fortunately, the cave was closed at the end of the Bronze Age, following to the collapse of its entrance. The site is currently registered in the French Historical Monuments. The cave forms a wide network of galleries, characterized by the exceptional richness of its archaeological remains such as ceramic and metal deposits, numerous parietal representations (engravings or fingerings incised in the clay-walls and paintings sometimes in association with deposits) and about sixty domestic fireplaces. In that framework, 3D models of the cave constitute the common work support and the best way for scientific communication for the various studies conducted on the site by nearly forty researchers. In this specific context, a partnership among archaeologists and surveyors from INSA Strasbourg allows the team to develop, in an interdisciplinary way, new methods of data acquiring based on contact-free measurements techniques in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation. All the surveys are conducted in compliance with the integrity of the site. Different techniques based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning, Digital Photogrammetry and Spatial Imaging System have been used in order to generate a geometric and photorealistic 3D model from the combination of point clouds and photogrammetric images, for both visualization and accurate documentation purposes. Various scales of acquiring and diverse resolutions have been applied according to the subject: global volume cave, parietal representations, deposits… The aim of this paper is firstly to issue a statement of 6 years of 3D-recording in the cave and secondly to display recent methodological developments as for the integration of heterogeneous data in 3D models (i.e. magnetic field recording combined with the 3D models in order to locate magnetic anomalies in the cave). Another purpose is to give an overview of methodological and technological limitations we experienced since 2008. Finally, we attempt to present work in progress as to 3D-modelling and simulating and thinking on the way we should use 3D in archaeological caves.
The Grotta Scritta I prehistoric site is located on the west side of Cap Corse, in the territory ... more The Grotta Scritta I prehistoric site is located on the west side of Cap Corse, in the territory of the municipality of Olmeta-di- Capocorso (Haute-Corse, France). This rock shelter is located on a western spur of the mountains La Serra, at 412 m height above sea level. In the regional context of a broad set of megalithic burial sites (regions Nebbiu and Agriates) and a rich insular prehistoric rock art with several engraved patterns (mainly geometric), the Grotta Scritta is the only site with painted depictions of Corsica. Around twenty parietal depictions are arranged in the upper part of the rock-shelter and takes advantage of the microtopography of the wall. Today, the Grotta Scritta is a vulnerable site, made fragile by the action of time and man. The 3D scanning of the rockshelter and paintings of the Grotta Scritta was carried out by surveyors and archaeologists from INSA Strasbourg and from UMR 5602 GEODE (Toulouse), by combining accurate terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry techniques. These techniques are based on a full 3D documentation without contact of the rock-shelter paintings. The paper presents the data acquisition methodology followed by an overview of data processing solutions based on both imaging and laser scanning. Several deliverables as point clouds, meshed models, textured models and orthoimages are proposed for the documentation. Beyond their usefulness in terms of valorization, communication and virtual restitution, the proposed models also provide support tools for the analysis and perception of the complexity of the volumes of the shelter (namely for the folded forms of the dome housing the paintings) as well as for the accuracy of the painted depictions recorded on the orthophotos processed from the 3D model.
Quaternary Geochronology 10, p353-358, Jan 1, 2012
Numerous sorts of evidence of fires were observed in the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France) and... more Numerous sorts of evidence of fires were observed in the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France) and in particular the effects of fire on sediment were studied for a better understanding of their use centuries ago. Our present objective is the evaluation of the firing intensity by determining the past temperature (paleotemperature) attained by the topmost sediment of the archaeological fires. The principle of paleotemperature determination is based on the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of quartz and the magnetic susceptibility of the sediment. By comparing the TL signal of anciently heated quartz to the TL signal of thermal references made in the laboratory, we were able to obtain a maximal equivalent temperature attained for each sample extracted from ancient fires. The magnetic susceptibility (previously measured on the hearth surface) could thus be estimated as a function of temperature. The main result of this study is the temperature mapping of the hearth which can be used as meaningful information about the ancient firing intensity.
Le site archéologique des Vautes, près de Montpellier, est un habitat occupé tout au long du Néol... more Le site archéologique des Vautes, près de Montpellier, est un habitat occupé tout au long du Néolithique final et de l’Age du cuivre et, de ce fait, régulièrement remodelé. La fréquentation principale, centrée sur les débuts du IIIe millénaire BC, s’originalise par une architecture de pierre qui peut être considérée comme le prototype des bâtiments de la culture de Fontbouisse, dans son faciès des garrigues. Elle est également marquée par des styles céramiques particuliers qui posent en termes nouveaux la question de la transition Ferrières/Fontbouisse. Les productions lithiques sont la traduction d’un fort ancrage régional. Des sépultures d’enfants ont été aménagées dans les maisons tandis que des cavités naturelles ont, sur les lieux mêmes, été utilisées à des fins sépulcrales. Le système économique montre la juxtaposition d’une agriculture céréalière, combinée avec la consommation de produits de la forêt (glands) et d’un élevage fondé sur le couple ovins/bovins. Les études anthracologiques soulignent l’exploitation de la chênaie ambiante à la fois pour la construction de charpentes et le bois de feu. Elles permettent aussi de s’interroger sur l’impact réel de la pression anthropique sur le couvert forestier, dans le cadre plus large du Languedoc oriental.
A novel approach to the intensity of archaeological fires is proposed, based on a combination of ... more A novel approach to the intensity of archaeological fires is proposed, based on a combination of archaeological observations and analyses of sedimentary hearths with relevant proxies obtained from using experimental combustion structures. In this work, two different structures were built and monitored. They aimed at reproducing two types of archaeological hearth morphology encountered at the Bronze Age site of the cave of Les Fraux (Saint Martin de Fressengeas, Dordogne, France). A series of fires was constructed and a large amount of data was collected: temperature curves, wood consumption and observations on substratum evolution. A numerical code for heat transfer was developed to model heat propagation from the surface to the underlying sedimentary layers, the input parameters of which were adapted to fit the thermal evolution observed with the experimental fires. We found that two archaeological parameters are fundamental to characterise the intensity of the fire: the paleotemperature reached at the surface of the burnt sediment (which in our case was determined by thermoluminescence analyses) and the depth of the rubefaction front as an indicator of a 250 °C isothermal surface. We then estimated the duration of an equivalent single fire that would correspond to one of the archaeological hearths investigated. Finally, with the wood consumption recorded during the fire experiments, and the estimated firing duration, the energy involved was evaluated. When generalised to the study of archaeological hearths, this approach could be of great interest in firing intensity evaluation (temperature/time/energy).
This article presents the first results of the archaeological investigations
at Gumelnita Culture... more This article presents the first results of the archaeological investigations at Gumelnita Culture site found near Mila 23, Tulcea County. A local, Mr. Haralambie Buhaev, pointed out its existence. Delta du Danube archaeological mission team carried out first research in 2013, registering the material found on the surface, completing the topography of the site and performing in-depth coring to determine the stratigraphy and thickness of the cultural layer.
Dans l’imagerie populaire, l’âge du Bronze est intimement lié à la représentation de riches dépôt... more Dans l’imagerie populaire, l’âge du Bronze est intimement lié à la représentation de riches dépôts de mobilier métallique. A bien y réfléchir, cette métaphore s’avère bien souvent réductrice tant les particularismes régionaux ou culturels décrivent des situations contrastées, voire différentes. Dès lors que les modalités de production et de consommation du métal sont perçues distinctement dans le Temps et dans l’Espace, s’impose une pluralité de comportements dépendant tout à la fois de mécanismes économiques et culturels, très souvent en prise directe avec la sphère symbolique.
The geographical position of Babadag Lake, south of the Danube Delta, raises the question of its ... more The geographical position of Babadag Lake, south of the Danube Delta, raises the question of its possible connection to Razim Lake. The study of this connection is based on the diachronic analysis of 38 old maps of the analyzed area from the 16th century until nowadays. In this study, maps are seen as analysis instruments that permit the observation of the evolution of landscape and the chronology of the evolution of the connection between Babadag and Razim Lakes, based on comparison of documents from different historic periods. The cartographic diachronic analysis allows the identification of the big tendencies between opening and closure: periods of Babadag Lake opening to Razim Lake and vice versa, periods of separation of the two Lakes, as well as the current situation when the connection between the two lakes is reduced to expansion of vegetation or to artificial water exchange through a watergate. This study will be followed by a sedimentary analysis based on a coring at the site in 2011.
Le paysage contrasté de la montagne de Bassiès est composé de vastes espaces pastoraux mais aussi... more Le paysage contrasté de la montagne de Bassiès est composé de vastes espaces pastoraux mais aussi de dômes granitiques, mis à nu par l'érosion, et de vastes dépressions accueillant lacs ou tourbière. Quelle est la part de l'homme dans la construction de ce paysage ?
L'europe occidentale connaît durant la seconde moitié du troisième millénaire un développement im... more L'europe occidentale connaît durant la seconde moitié du troisième millénaire un développement important de la production métallurgique. A saint-Véran dans le Haut-Queyras (Hautes-Alpes), l'exploitation et la transformation des ressources cupriféres sont attestées entre 2450 et 1950 avant notre ère. De récents sondages montrent l'existence d'une petite zone métallurgique (XXIII - XXe s. av. n. e.) ayant livré la preuve directe de l'utilisation de fours bâtis.
Pursue the short time: The Bronze Age rock art of the Fraux cave (Dordogne, France). Questions of... more Pursue the short time: The Bronze Age rock art of the Fraux cave (Dordogne, France). Questions of chronology and temporality are a central part of archaeological debates. For many years, typological and stylistic approaches have dominated archaeological discourse on the subject. Recently, developments in absolute dating methods have provided new perspectives. The construction of chronometric models, based on the compilation of 14C and AMS dating, allows researchers, today, to evaluate the validity of stylistic and typo-chronological approaches. Research at Fraux cave integrates these approaches with a research agenda focused on the anthropogenic actions within a cave. Fraux cave represents, in Europe, a rare example of a decorated caved from the Bronze Age. Research in the cave focuses specifically on associating the remains of human activity (archaeological floors, hearths, object caches) with rock art. This focus makes Fraux cave an ideal research laboratory to treat questions concerning the rhythms and frequencies of cave occupation. It is for this reason, that we implemented a program of systematic dating on the hearths and artifacts of anthropogenic origin in the cave.
In this article the authors present the results of the archaeological researches conducted by "De... more In this article the authors present the results of the archaeological researches conducted by "Delta du Danube” Franco-Romanian team at the tell-settlement in Lunca (Ceamurlia de Jos Village, Tulcea County). A preliminary analysis of the archaeological material discovered at the surface is realized and the stratigraphy of the site - as shown in surveys conducted by a core drill - is revealed.Based on a radiocarbon test performed on a piece of charcoal, sampled from a thermally converted horizon identified at -1,74 m depth, the beginning of the settlement can undoubtedly be placed sometime between 4500 and 4350 BC.
In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne,
France) numerous traces of fires are visible
in the galleries... more In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France) numerous traces of fires are visible in the galleries. A multidisciplinary investigation was carried out to study these fires. This paper presents the methodology applied for the hearth study. It is based on the examination of the thermoluminescence (TL) of quartz and the magnetic susceptibility of iron oxides. First of all, magnetic susceptibility was measured on the surface of hearths. Based on both susceptibility mapping and visible sediment characteristics, small sediment samples (1-2 g) were taken. Subsequently, quartz grains were extracted from the sediment samples. Fourteen thermal references were obtained by heating (from 200 to 650°C) fractions of the pristine unfired cave sediment. Comparing the TL signal of anciently heated quartz to the reference samples allowed to obtain the maximum equivalent temperature attained for each sample extracted from ancient fires. Consequently, the correspondence between magnetic susceptibility and temperature allowed for the reconstruction of a paleotemperature map of the study area. This research provides information about fire intensity in the cave, which can help to understand its function.
An interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, surveyors, environmentalists and archaeometrists has... more An interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, surveyors, environmentalists and archaeometrists has jointly carried out the study of the Bronze Age "Les Fraux" (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne, France) since 2007. This archaeological decorated cave, registered as a French Historical Monument, forms a wide network of galleries, characterized by the exceptional richness of its archaeological remains such as ceramic and metal deposits, parietal representation and domestic fireplaces. This cave is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein testimonies of domestic, spiritual and artistic activities are gathered. This project has been labelled by the Institute of Ecology and Environment of the French Research Council (CNRS), who wants to promote new methodologies and experimental studies in Global Ecology. Accurate 3D models of the cave constitute the common framework for the different partners. We present in this paper an overview of methods of data recording based on contact-free measurement techniques in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation of the site. Different techniques based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning, Digital Photogrammetry and Spatial Imaging have been used in order to generate geometric and photorealistic 3D models from the combination of point clouds and photogrammetric images, for both visualization and accurate documentation purposes. Various scales of acquiring and diverse resolutions have been applied according to the subject, e.g. global volume of the cave, parietal representations, and deposits. Measurements from an original method of 3D indoor magnetic field recording are combined with the 3D models in order to locate magnetic anomalies in the cave. All the surveys are conducted in compliance with the integrity of the site.
ABSTRACT In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France), the numerous traces of fires raise the ques... more ABSTRACT In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France), the numerous traces of fires raise the questions of function of the site and of the way of life of the Bronze Age human groups inside the cave. The study of hearths is one possible way to answer those questions. This paper presents the methodology developed for the first time in the cave of les Fraux for the study of hearths. It consists in three parts: (1) the thermal characterization of sediment of the hearth; (2) the experimentation of fires; (3) the simulation of propagation of heat in the sediment. The thermal characterization is based on the examination of the thermoluminescence (TL) of quartz grains (from localized samples) and a map of magnetic susceptibility which is mainly brought by iron oxides contained in sediments. First, a map of magnetic susceptibility was built on the surface of the studied hearth and allowed the location of the heated zones. Then samples were extracted from the sediment along gradient of magnetic susceptibility located on the map. After the extraction of quartz grains, measurements of TL gave the paleotemperature attained by the sediment samples. This determination is based on the comparison between ’natural’ TL curves of samples and ’simulated natural’ TL curves of thermal references. The latter were made by heating, in laboratory, sediment from the cave with the same geological origin than hearth samples. They were heated according to an arbitrary and reproducible thermal cycle: heating at 20°C/min, one hour at the maximal temperature and subsequently cooling at 5°C/min. Thirteen thermal references were created with their maximal temperature ranged between 200°C and 650°C, keeping an unheated sample. The comparison allowed to associate one temperature to each sample. Then, the trend between paleotemperature and magnetic susceptibility permits to express magnetic susceptibility as a function of the paleotemperature and to obtain a map of temperature of the studied hearth. These results give some data about intensity of fires. To compare the fire effect observed on archaeological heated sediment and paleotemperature found, experimentations of fires were made. A substratum of sandstones and clay extracted from non-archaeological zones of the cave of Les Fraux was built. Temperatures in different positions and depths were recorded during firing and matched quite well with the surface paleotemperatures of archaeological hearth. Even the changing of sediment color seems to be identical. Finally, some tests of simulation of heat propagation were made in a homogeneous substratum. After a validation of the numerical modeling with the experimental data, it is possible to observe at different times the propagation of the heat. The methodology based on in situ and laboratory measurements, experimentations and simulations need to be supplement. The thermal characterization of a second hearth is begun, completed by a complete study of magnetic properties of the sediment in order to see if it is possible to obtain a new paleothermometer from magnetic mineralogy. A second step of experimentations of fires in underground environment and simulations in heterogeneous substratum are planned. Finally, it is hope that these reciprocal approaches will give clues to understand the function of the hearths and thus data on occupation of the site.
The question of function of hearths in prehistorical caves is fundamental to characterize the nat... more The question of function of hearths in prehistorical caves is fundamental to characterize the nature of human occupation. The hearths could be used for lightning, cooking or heating. Their spatial repartition, as their paleotemperature, should allow to identify their function. The ...
Au cours de l'automne 2013, un tumulus a fait l'objet d'une fouille archéologique dans le village... more Au cours de l'automne 2013, un tumulus a fait l'objet d'une fouille archéologique dans le village de Rahman (commune de Casimcea, département de Tulcea). La hauteur conservée de la structure avoisine 1 m ; son diamètre est d'environ 40 m. Cinq tombes à inhumation, dont une double, ont été mises au jour dans la zone centrale du tumulus. Elles contenaient les corps de six individus. Les tombes 3, 4 et 5 sont, d'un point de vue stratigraphique, aménagées au sol même, alors que les tombes 1 et 2 ont été aménagées dans la couverture du tumulus. Les éléments rituels identifiés, comme les rares objets découverts associés aux défunts et les analyses 14 C (Poz-65968 : 3950±35 BP) indiquent une datation Bronze ancien.
La grotte ornée des Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne), vaste réseau de galeries ayant... more La grotte ornée des Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne), vaste réseau de galeries ayant livré des vestiges d’une rare richesse (aménagements domestiques, dépôts de mobilier, manifestations pariétales, tous datés de l’âge du Bronze), a été scellée à la fin de l’âge du Bronze suite à l’effondrement de son porche d’entrée. L’étude du site est réalisée dans le cadre d’un SEEG de l’INEE, au sein duquel sont testées, de manière interdisciplinaire, de nouvelles méthodes d’acquisition de données. Dans ce cadre, un partenariat mis en place depuis 4 années entre archéologues et topographes de l’INSA a permis de conduire la numérisation 3D de la volumétrie totale du réseau et, en parallèle, l’acquisition en haute définition des panneaux ornés. L’objet de cet article est de mettre l’accent sur la complémentarité des données offertes par la multiplicité des échelles l’acquisition effectuées in situ, de dresser un premier bilan des différentes techniques testées dans ce cadre, et de pos...
For six years, an interdisciplinary team carried out the study of a Bronze Age underground networ... more For six years, an interdisciplinary team carried out the study of a Bronze Age underground network. This program has been labelled by the Institute of Ecology and Environment of the French Research Council (CNRS), who wants to promote new methodologies and experimental studies in Global Ecology. It takes advantage of the support of the French Ministry of Culture. The archaeological cave of Les Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne) is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein are gathered testimonies of domestic, spiritual and artistic activities. Fortunately, the cave was closed at the end of the Bronze Age, following to the collapse of its entrance. The site is currently registered in the French Historical Monuments. The cave forms a wide network of galleries, characterized by the exceptional richness of its archaeological remains such as ceramic and metal deposits, numerous parietal representations (engravings or fingerings incised in the clay-walls and paintings sometimes in association with deposits) and about sixty domestic fireplaces. In that framework, 3D models of the cave constitute the common work support and the best way for scientific communication for the various studies conducted on the site by nearly forty researchers. In this specific context, a partnership among archaeologists and surveyors from INSA Strasbourg allows the team to develop, in an interdisciplinary way, new methods of data acquiring based on contact-free measurements techniques in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation. All the surveys are conducted in compliance with the integrity of the site. Different techniques based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning, Digital Photogrammetry and Spatial Imaging System have been used in order to generate a geometric and photorealistic 3D model from the combination of point clouds and photogrammetric images, for both visualization and accurate documentation purposes. Various scales of acquiring and diverse resolutions have been applied according to the subject: global volume cave, parietal representations, deposits… The aim of this paper is firstly to issue a statement of 6 years of 3D-recording in the cave and secondly to display recent methodological developments as for the integration of heterogeneous data in 3D models (i.e. magnetic field recording combined with the 3D models in order to locate magnetic anomalies in the cave). Another purpose is to give an overview of methodological and technological limitations we experienced since 2008. Finally, we attempt to present work in progress as to 3D-modelling and simulating and thinking on the way we should use 3D in archaeological caves.
The Grotta Scritta I prehistoric site is located on the west side of Cap Corse, in the territory ... more The Grotta Scritta I prehistoric site is located on the west side of Cap Corse, in the territory of the municipality of Olmeta-di- Capocorso (Haute-Corse, France). This rock shelter is located on a western spur of the mountains La Serra, at 412 m height above sea level. In the regional context of a broad set of megalithic burial sites (regions Nebbiu and Agriates) and a rich insular prehistoric rock art with several engraved patterns (mainly geometric), the Grotta Scritta is the only site with painted depictions of Corsica. Around twenty parietal depictions are arranged in the upper part of the rock-shelter and takes advantage of the microtopography of the wall. Today, the Grotta Scritta is a vulnerable site, made fragile by the action of time and man. The 3D scanning of the rockshelter and paintings of the Grotta Scritta was carried out by surveyors and archaeologists from INSA Strasbourg and from UMR 5602 GEODE (Toulouse), by combining accurate terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry techniques. These techniques are based on a full 3D documentation without contact of the rock-shelter paintings. The paper presents the data acquisition methodology followed by an overview of data processing solutions based on both imaging and laser scanning. Several deliverables as point clouds, meshed models, textured models and orthoimages are proposed for the documentation. Beyond their usefulness in terms of valorization, communication and virtual restitution, the proposed models also provide support tools for the analysis and perception of the complexity of the volumes of the shelter (namely for the folded forms of the dome housing the paintings) as well as for the accuracy of the painted depictions recorded on the orthophotos processed from the 3D model.
Quaternary Geochronology 10, p353-358, Jan 1, 2012
Numerous sorts of evidence of fires were observed in the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France) and... more Numerous sorts of evidence of fires were observed in the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France) and in particular the effects of fire on sediment were studied for a better understanding of their use centuries ago. Our present objective is the evaluation of the firing intensity by determining the past temperature (paleotemperature) attained by the topmost sediment of the archaeological fires. The principle of paleotemperature determination is based on the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of quartz and the magnetic susceptibility of the sediment. By comparing the TL signal of anciently heated quartz to the TL signal of thermal references made in the laboratory, we were able to obtain a maximal equivalent temperature attained for each sample extracted from ancient fires. The magnetic susceptibility (previously measured on the hearth surface) could thus be estimated as a function of temperature. The main result of this study is the temperature mapping of the hearth which can be used as meaningful information about the ancient firing intensity.
Le site archéologique des Vautes, près de Montpellier, est un habitat occupé tout au long du Néol... more Le site archéologique des Vautes, près de Montpellier, est un habitat occupé tout au long du Néolithique final et de l’Age du cuivre et, de ce fait, régulièrement remodelé. La fréquentation principale, centrée sur les débuts du IIIe millénaire BC, s’originalise par une architecture de pierre qui peut être considérée comme le prototype des bâtiments de la culture de Fontbouisse, dans son faciès des garrigues. Elle est également marquée par des styles céramiques particuliers qui posent en termes nouveaux la question de la transition Ferrières/Fontbouisse. Les productions lithiques sont la traduction d’un fort ancrage régional. Des sépultures d’enfants ont été aménagées dans les maisons tandis que des cavités naturelles ont, sur les lieux mêmes, été utilisées à des fins sépulcrales. Le système économique montre la juxtaposition d’une agriculture céréalière, combinée avec la consommation de produits de la forêt (glands) et d’un élevage fondé sur le couple ovins/bovins. Les études anthracologiques soulignent l’exploitation de la chênaie ambiante à la fois pour la construction de charpentes et le bois de feu. Elles permettent aussi de s’interroger sur l’impact réel de la pression anthropique sur le couvert forestier, dans le cadre plus large du Languedoc oriental.
A novel approach to the intensity of archaeological fires is proposed, based on a combination of ... more A novel approach to the intensity of archaeological fires is proposed, based on a combination of archaeological observations and analyses of sedimentary hearths with relevant proxies obtained from using experimental combustion structures. In this work, two different structures were built and monitored. They aimed at reproducing two types of archaeological hearth morphology encountered at the Bronze Age site of the cave of Les Fraux (Saint Martin de Fressengeas, Dordogne, France). A series of fires was constructed and a large amount of data was collected: temperature curves, wood consumption and observations on substratum evolution. A numerical code for heat transfer was developed to model heat propagation from the surface to the underlying sedimentary layers, the input parameters of which were adapted to fit the thermal evolution observed with the experimental fires. We found that two archaeological parameters are fundamental to characterise the intensity of the fire: the paleotemperature reached at the surface of the burnt sediment (which in our case was determined by thermoluminescence analyses) and the depth of the rubefaction front as an indicator of a 250 °C isothermal surface. We then estimated the duration of an equivalent single fire that would correspond to one of the archaeological hearths investigated. Finally, with the wood consumption recorded during the fire experiments, and the estimated firing duration, the energy involved was evaluated. When generalised to the study of archaeological hearths, this approach could be of great interest in firing intensity evaluation (temperature/time/energy).
This article presents the first results of the archaeological investigations
at Gumelnita Culture... more This article presents the first results of the archaeological investigations at Gumelnita Culture site found near Mila 23, Tulcea County. A local, Mr. Haralambie Buhaev, pointed out its existence. Delta du Danube archaeological mission team carried out first research in 2013, registering the material found on the surface, completing the topography of the site and performing in-depth coring to determine the stratigraphy and thickness of the cultural layer.
Dans l’imagerie populaire, l’âge du Bronze est intimement lié à la représentation de riches dépôt... more Dans l’imagerie populaire, l’âge du Bronze est intimement lié à la représentation de riches dépôts de mobilier métallique. A bien y réfléchir, cette métaphore s’avère bien souvent réductrice tant les particularismes régionaux ou culturels décrivent des situations contrastées, voire différentes. Dès lors que les modalités de production et de consommation du métal sont perçues distinctement dans le Temps et dans l’Espace, s’impose une pluralité de comportements dépendant tout à la fois de mécanismes économiques et culturels, très souvent en prise directe avec la sphère symbolique.
The geographical position of Babadag Lake, south of the Danube Delta, raises the question of its ... more The geographical position of Babadag Lake, south of the Danube Delta, raises the question of its possible connection to Razim Lake. The study of this connection is based on the diachronic analysis of 38 old maps of the analyzed area from the 16th century until nowadays. In this study, maps are seen as analysis instruments that permit the observation of the evolution of landscape and the chronology of the evolution of the connection between Babadag and Razim Lakes, based on comparison of documents from different historic periods. The cartographic diachronic analysis allows the identification of the big tendencies between opening and closure: periods of Babadag Lake opening to Razim Lake and vice versa, periods of separation of the two Lakes, as well as the current situation when the connection between the two lakes is reduced to expansion of vegetation or to artificial water exchange through a watergate. This study will be followed by a sedimentary analysis based on a coring at the site in 2011.
Le paysage contrasté de la montagne de Bassiès est composé de vastes espaces pastoraux mais aussi... more Le paysage contrasté de la montagne de Bassiès est composé de vastes espaces pastoraux mais aussi de dômes granitiques, mis à nu par l'érosion, et de vastes dépressions accueillant lacs ou tourbière. Quelle est la part de l'homme dans la construction de ce paysage ?
L'europe occidentale connaît durant la seconde moitié du troisième millénaire un développement im... more L'europe occidentale connaît durant la seconde moitié du troisième millénaire un développement important de la production métallurgique. A saint-Véran dans le Haut-Queyras (Hautes-Alpes), l'exploitation et la transformation des ressources cupriféres sont attestées entre 2450 et 1950 avant notre ère. De récents sondages montrent l'existence d'une petite zone métallurgique (XXIII - XXe s. av. n. e.) ayant livré la preuve directe de l'utilisation de fours bâtis.
Pursue the short time: The Bronze Age rock art of the Fraux cave (Dordogne, France). Questions of... more Pursue the short time: The Bronze Age rock art of the Fraux cave (Dordogne, France). Questions of chronology and temporality are a central part of archaeological debates. For many years, typological and stylistic approaches have dominated archaeological discourse on the subject. Recently, developments in absolute dating methods have provided new perspectives. The construction of chronometric models, based on the compilation of 14C and AMS dating, allows researchers, today, to evaluate the validity of stylistic and typo-chronological approaches. Research at Fraux cave integrates these approaches with a research agenda focused on the anthropogenic actions within a cave. Fraux cave represents, in Europe, a rare example of a decorated caved from the Bronze Age. Research in the cave focuses specifically on associating the remains of human activity (archaeological floors, hearths, object caches) with rock art. This focus makes Fraux cave an ideal research laboratory to treat questions concerning the rhythms and frequencies of cave occupation. It is for this reason, that we implemented a program of systematic dating on the hearths and artifacts of anthropogenic origin in the cave.
In this article the authors present the results of the archaeological researches conducted by "De... more In this article the authors present the results of the archaeological researches conducted by "Delta du Danube” Franco-Romanian team at the tell-settlement in Lunca (Ceamurlia de Jos Village, Tulcea County). A preliminary analysis of the archaeological material discovered at the surface is realized and the stratigraphy of the site - as shown in surveys conducted by a core drill - is revealed.Based on a radiocarbon test performed on a piece of charcoal, sampled from a thermally converted horizon identified at -1,74 m depth, the beginning of the settlement can undoubtedly be placed sometime between 4500 and 4350 BC.
In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne,
France) numerous traces of fires are visible
in the galleries... more In the cave of Les Fraux (Dordogne, France) numerous traces of fires are visible in the galleries. A multidisciplinary investigation was carried out to study these fires. This paper presents the methodology applied for the hearth study. It is based on the examination of the thermoluminescence (TL) of quartz and the magnetic susceptibility of iron oxides. First of all, magnetic susceptibility was measured on the surface of hearths. Based on both susceptibility mapping and visible sediment characteristics, small sediment samples (1-2 g) were taken. Subsequently, quartz grains were extracted from the sediment samples. Fourteen thermal references were obtained by heating (from 200 to 650°C) fractions of the pristine unfired cave sediment. Comparing the TL signal of anciently heated quartz to the reference samples allowed to obtain the maximum equivalent temperature attained for each sample extracted from ancient fires. Consequently, the correspondence between magnetic susceptibility and temperature allowed for the reconstruction of a paleotemperature map of the study area. This research provides information about fire intensity in the cave, which can help to understand its function.
An interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, surveyors, environmentalists and archaeometrists has... more An interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, surveyors, environmentalists and archaeometrists has jointly carried out the study of the Bronze Age "Les Fraux" (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne, France) since 2007. This archaeological decorated cave, registered as a French Historical Monument, forms a wide network of galleries, characterized by the exceptional richness of its archaeological remains such as ceramic and metal deposits, parietal representation and domestic fireplaces. This cave is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein testimonies of domestic, spiritual and artistic activities are gathered. This project has been labelled by the Institute of Ecology and Environment of the French Research Council (CNRS), who wants to promote new methodologies and experimental studies in Global Ecology. Accurate 3D models of the cave constitute the common framework for the different partners. We present in this paper an overview of methods of data recording based on contact-free measurement techniques in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation of the site. Different techniques based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning, Digital Photogrammetry and Spatial Imaging have been used in order to generate geometric and photorealistic 3D models from the combination of point clouds and photogrammetric images, for both visualization and accurate documentation purposes. Various scales of acquiring and diverse resolutions have been applied according to the subject, e.g. global volume of the cave, parietal representations, and deposits. Measurements from an original method of 3D indoor magnetic field recording are combined with the 3D models in order to locate magnetic anomalies in the cave. All the surveys are conducted in compliance with the integrity of the site.
La redécouverte par les archéologues en 2014 de l’une des nombreuses carrières-refuges utilisées ... more La redécouverte par les archéologues en 2014 de l’une des nombreuses carrières-refuges utilisées par les civils pris sous les bombes lors de la Bataille de Caen (juin-juillet 1944), a offert l’opportunité de mettre en place une opération archéologique à caractère expérimental permettant de confronter différents types d’analyses, au croisement de l’archéologie, de l’histoire et de la sociologie.
20ème colloque international du GMPCA - Archéométrie, 2015
Le site néolithique du Pontet, sur la commune de Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente (Charente-Maritime, F... more Le site néolithique du Pontet, sur la commune de Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente (Charente-Maritime, France), est situé à proximité de l’embouchure du fleuve Charente. Il a été identifié par des photographies aériennes mettant en évidence la présence de quatre fossés discontinus subparallèles. Une prospection magnétique réalisée en août 2014 sur une surface d’environ 1 ha a permis de confirmer la présence de ces fossés. Leur morphologie et le matériel trouvé en surface semblent indiquer qu’ils correspondent au Néolithique récent. Le site est implanté sur une falaise calcaire qui le sépare d’une zone humide contenue dans une petite vallée débouchant sur La Charente. Une étude géophysique multi-méthodes a été menée afin d’établir le contexte paléogéographique du site et de localiser la zone la plus propice pour implanter un carottage. Une cartographie électromagnétique (EM31) a tout d’abord été réalisée pour d’identifier la position d’anciens chenaux et des structures géologiques de surface. La morphologie interne et les variations lithologiques associées au comblement holocène du vallon ont ensuite été déterminées par une série de tomographies de résistivité électrique. Afin d’appuyer et de compléter ces observations, plusieurs essais au pénétromètre dynamique ainsi qu’un carottage ont été réalisés. Divers proxies paléoenvironnementaux ont été déterminés sur les sédiments prélevés. Ces données ont également été mises en relation avec des résultats de diagraphie magnétique.
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Capocorso (Haute-Corse, France). This rock shelter is located on a western spur of the mountains La Serra, at 412 m height above
sea level. In the regional context of a broad set of megalithic burial sites (regions Nebbiu and Agriates) and a rich insular prehistoric
rock art with several engraved patterns (mainly geometric), the Grotta Scritta is the only site with painted depictions of Corsica.
Around twenty parietal depictions are arranged in the upper part of the rock-shelter and takes advantage of the microtopography of
the wall. Today, the Grotta Scritta is a vulnerable site, made fragile by the action of time and man. The 3D scanning of the rockshelter
and paintings of the Grotta Scritta was carried out by surveyors and archaeologists from INSA Strasbourg and from UMR
5602 GEODE (Toulouse), by combining accurate terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry techniques. These techniques are
based on a full 3D documentation without contact of the rock-shelter paintings. The paper presents the data acquisition methodology
followed by an overview of data processing solutions based on both imaging and laser scanning. Several deliverables as point clouds,
meshed models, textured models and orthoimages are proposed for the documentation. Beyond their usefulness in terms of
valorization, communication and virtual restitution, the proposed models also provide support tools for the analysis and perception of
the complexity of the volumes of the shelter (namely for the folded forms of the dome housing the paintings) as well as for the
accuracy of the painted depictions recorded on the orthophotos processed from the 3D model.
observations and analyses of sedimentary hearths with relevant proxies obtained from using experimental combustion structures. In this work, two different structures were built and monitored. They aimed at reproducing two types of archaeological hearth morphology encountered at the Bronze Age site of the cave of Les Fraux (Saint Martin de
Fressengeas, Dordogne, France). A series of fires was constructed and a large amount of data was collected: temperature curves, wood consumption and observations on substratum evolution. A numerical code for heat transfer was developed to model heat propagation from the surface to the underlying sedimentary layers, the input parameters of which were adapted to fit the thermal evolution observed with the
experimental fires. We found that two archaeological
parameters are fundamental to characterise the intensity of
the fire: the paleotemperature reached at the surface of the
burnt sediment (which in our case was determined by thermoluminescence analyses) and the depth of the rubefaction front as an indicator of a 250 °C isothermal surface. We then estimated the duration of an equivalent single fire that would correspond to one of the archaeological hearths investigated. Finally, with the wood consumption recorded during the fire experiments, and the estimated firing duration, the energy involved was evaluated. When generalised to the study of archaeological hearths, this approach could be of great interest in firing intensity evaluation (temperature/time/energy).
at Gumelnita Culture site found near Mila 23, Tulcea County. A local, Mr. Haralambie
Buhaev, pointed out its existence. Delta du Danube archaeological mission team carried
out first research in 2013, registering the material found on the surface, completing the
topography of the site and performing in-depth coring to determine the stratigraphy and
thickness of the cultural layer.
Un site métallurgique du Bronze ancien dans le vallon du Longet à Molines-en-Queyras (Hautes-Alpes). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44452347_Un_site_mtallurgique_du_Bronze_ancien_dans_le_vallon_du_Longet__Molines-en-Queyras_(Hautes-Alpes) [accessed Apr 1, 2015].
temporality are a central part of archaeological debates. For many years, typological and stylistic approaches have dominated archaeological discourse on the subject. Recently, developments in absolute dating methods have provided new perspectives. The construction of chronometric models, based on the compilation of 14C and AMS dating, allows researchers, today, to evaluate the validity of stylistic and typo-chronological approaches. Research at Fraux cave integrates these approaches with a research agenda focused on the anthropogenic actions within a cave. Fraux cave represents, in Europe, a rare example of a decorated caved from the
Bronze Age. Research in the cave focuses specifically on associating the remains of human activity (archaeological floors, hearths,
object caches) with rock art. This focus makes Fraux cave an ideal research laboratory to treat questions concerning the rhythms and frequencies of cave occupation. It is for this reason, that we implemented a program of systematic dating on the hearths and artifacts of anthropogenic origin in the cave.
France) numerous traces of fires are visible
in the galleries. A multidisciplinary investigation
was carried out to study these fires.
This paper presents the methodology applied
for the hearth study. It is based on the examination
of the thermoluminescence (TL) of
quartz and the magnetic susceptibility of iron
oxides. First of all, magnetic susceptibility
was measured on the surface of hearths.
Based on both susceptibility mapping and
visible sediment characteristics, small sediment
samples (1-2 g) were taken.
Subsequently, quartz grains were extracted
from the sediment samples. Fourteen thermal
references were obtained by heating
(from 200 to 650°C) fractions of the pristine
unfired cave sediment. Comparing the TL
signal of anciently heated quartz to the reference
samples allowed to obtain the maximum
equivalent temperature attained for each
sample extracted from ancient fires.
Consequently, the correspondence between
magnetic susceptibility and temperature
allowed for the reconstruction of a paleotemperature
map of the study area. This research
provides information about fire intensity in
the cave, which can help to understand its
function.
Capocorso (Haute-Corse, France). This rock shelter is located on a western spur of the mountains La Serra, at 412 m height above
sea level. In the regional context of a broad set of megalithic burial sites (regions Nebbiu and Agriates) and a rich insular prehistoric
rock art with several engraved patterns (mainly geometric), the Grotta Scritta is the only site with painted depictions of Corsica.
Around twenty parietal depictions are arranged in the upper part of the rock-shelter and takes advantage of the microtopography of
the wall. Today, the Grotta Scritta is a vulnerable site, made fragile by the action of time and man. The 3D scanning of the rockshelter
and paintings of the Grotta Scritta was carried out by surveyors and archaeologists from INSA Strasbourg and from UMR
5602 GEODE (Toulouse), by combining accurate terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry techniques. These techniques are
based on a full 3D documentation without contact of the rock-shelter paintings. The paper presents the data acquisition methodology
followed by an overview of data processing solutions based on both imaging and laser scanning. Several deliverables as point clouds,
meshed models, textured models and orthoimages are proposed for the documentation. Beyond their usefulness in terms of
valorization, communication and virtual restitution, the proposed models also provide support tools for the analysis and perception of
the complexity of the volumes of the shelter (namely for the folded forms of the dome housing the paintings) as well as for the
accuracy of the painted depictions recorded on the orthophotos processed from the 3D model.
observations and analyses of sedimentary hearths with relevant proxies obtained from using experimental combustion structures. In this work, two different structures were built and monitored. They aimed at reproducing two types of archaeological hearth morphology encountered at the Bronze Age site of the cave of Les Fraux (Saint Martin de
Fressengeas, Dordogne, France). A series of fires was constructed and a large amount of data was collected: temperature curves, wood consumption and observations on substratum evolution. A numerical code for heat transfer was developed to model heat propagation from the surface to the underlying sedimentary layers, the input parameters of which were adapted to fit the thermal evolution observed with the
experimental fires. We found that two archaeological
parameters are fundamental to characterise the intensity of
the fire: the paleotemperature reached at the surface of the
burnt sediment (which in our case was determined by thermoluminescence analyses) and the depth of the rubefaction front as an indicator of a 250 °C isothermal surface. We then estimated the duration of an equivalent single fire that would correspond to one of the archaeological hearths investigated. Finally, with the wood consumption recorded during the fire experiments, and the estimated firing duration, the energy involved was evaluated. When generalised to the study of archaeological hearths, this approach could be of great interest in firing intensity evaluation (temperature/time/energy).
at Gumelnita Culture site found near Mila 23, Tulcea County. A local, Mr. Haralambie
Buhaev, pointed out its existence. Delta du Danube archaeological mission team carried
out first research in 2013, registering the material found on the surface, completing the
topography of the site and performing in-depth coring to determine the stratigraphy and
thickness of the cultural layer.
Un site métallurgique du Bronze ancien dans le vallon du Longet à Molines-en-Queyras (Hautes-Alpes). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44452347_Un_site_mtallurgique_du_Bronze_ancien_dans_le_vallon_du_Longet__Molines-en-Queyras_(Hautes-Alpes) [accessed Apr 1, 2015].
temporality are a central part of archaeological debates. For many years, typological and stylistic approaches have dominated archaeological discourse on the subject. Recently, developments in absolute dating methods have provided new perspectives. The construction of chronometric models, based on the compilation of 14C and AMS dating, allows researchers, today, to evaluate the validity of stylistic and typo-chronological approaches. Research at Fraux cave integrates these approaches with a research agenda focused on the anthropogenic actions within a cave. Fraux cave represents, in Europe, a rare example of a decorated caved from the
Bronze Age. Research in the cave focuses specifically on associating the remains of human activity (archaeological floors, hearths,
object caches) with rock art. This focus makes Fraux cave an ideal research laboratory to treat questions concerning the rhythms and frequencies of cave occupation. It is for this reason, that we implemented a program of systematic dating on the hearths and artifacts of anthropogenic origin in the cave.
France) numerous traces of fires are visible
in the galleries. A multidisciplinary investigation
was carried out to study these fires.
This paper presents the methodology applied
for the hearth study. It is based on the examination
of the thermoluminescence (TL) of
quartz and the magnetic susceptibility of iron
oxides. First of all, magnetic susceptibility
was measured on the surface of hearths.
Based on both susceptibility mapping and
visible sediment characteristics, small sediment
samples (1-2 g) were taken.
Subsequently, quartz grains were extracted
from the sediment samples. Fourteen thermal
references were obtained by heating
(from 200 to 650°C) fractions of the pristine
unfired cave sediment. Comparing the TL
signal of anciently heated quartz to the reference
samples allowed to obtain the maximum
equivalent temperature attained for each
sample extracted from ancient fires.
Consequently, the correspondence between
magnetic susceptibility and temperature
allowed for the reconstruction of a paleotemperature
map of the study area. This research
provides information about fire intensity in
the cave, which can help to understand its
function.
Le site est implanté sur une falaise calcaire qui le sépare d’une zone humide contenue dans une petite vallée débouchant sur La Charente. Une étude géophysique multi-méthodes a été menée afin d’établir le contexte paléogéographique du site et de localiser la zone la plus propice pour implanter un carottage. Une cartographie électromagnétique (EM31) a tout d’abord été réalisée pour d’identifier la position d’anciens chenaux et des structures géologiques de surface. La morphologie interne et les variations lithologiques associées au comblement holocène du vallon ont ensuite été déterminées par une série de tomographies de résistivité électrique. Afin d’appuyer et de compléter ces observations, plusieurs essais au pénétromètre dynamique ainsi qu’un carottage ont été réalisés. Divers proxies paléoenvironnementaux ont été déterminés sur les sédiments prélevés. Ces données ont également été mises en relation avec des résultats de diagraphie magnétique.