Cultural territories or shared territories? Late Glacial social networks between Rhine and Rhône (15.000-13.000 CalBP)
Résumé
The late/upper Magdalenian develops in a time interval that includes the older Dryas (GS-2) and certainly the beginning of the Bølling interstadial (GI-1e) over a very wide geographical area. From the point of view of the technical systems and of the symbolic representations, this period is characterised by an apparent homogeneity of behaviours that tend to minimise the variability expected by groups occupying and exploiting contrasted environments. Between the Rhine and the Rhone Valley, particularly along the Jura range, several sites dating from this period have recently been excavated or reexamined. The data make it possible to question the economic organisation of these human groups and, on a larger scale, the networks on different territorial scales. This data also make it possible to measure our deficiency, particularly when it comes to specifying possible inter-site relationships in order to more accurately measure the territory structuration over a short time period. However, the presence or absence of specific raw materials on several sites over the geographical area, how raw materials were transported to the site and their frequency within the sites allow us to discuss the definition of Magdalenian territories. By mobilising the results of studies carried out on the lithic assemblages of several sites located in this geographical area and on other data from other archaeological materials, we propose to outline the extent of the circulation networks and to question their historical value.