Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2025

The Foissac cave: Integrating paleogenomics and preservation in a prehistoric site of unique fragility

Résumé

The prehistoric cave of Foissac (Aveyron), in France, offers a rare and exceptional insight into Neolithic life due to its extraordinary state of preservation. Sealed approximately 4,500 years ago by the collapse of its porch, the cave offers an extraordinary time capsule, preserving footprints in clay, storage areas, clay extraction sites, and funerary deposits. Four very well-preserved individual burials lie on high terraces bordering the underground river, flooding annually during the winter season.Listed as a historic monument in 1978, the site is now open to the public, with archaeological features preserved in situ. This decision enhances its uniqueness but also creates significant challenges for research, particularly for biomolecular studies requiring careful sampling in this delicate environment. As part of the LINK project in 2024, an interdisciplinary operation addressed these challenges through the systematic reassessment of artifacts, high-resolution 3D modeling of the site, and advanced paleogenomic analysis of the human remains. In partnership with the Foissac museum team, a specific sampling protocol was therefore developed in order to minimize contamination risks with maximum adaptation to cave conditions and a particular attention to the preservation of the remains. This study presents initial results from the LINK project, emphasizing the integration of paleogenomics with conservation strategies. The Foissac cave highlights how fragile, publicly accessible heritage sites can advance the study of ancient societies, offering valuable insights while demanding innovative methodologies to balance research and preservation.

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Dates et versions

hal-05237826 , version 1 (17-09-2025)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-05237826 , version 1

Citer

Ana Arzelier, Jérome Rouquet, Fanny Mendisco, Henri Duday, Antoine Laurent, et al.. The Foissac cave: Integrating paleogenomics and preservation in a prehistoric site of unique fragility. International Symposium of Biomolecular Archeology, University of Turin, Aug 2025, Turin (Italie), Italy. ⟨hal-05237826⟩
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