Le Peuplement Paleolithique de Cote d'Or (Bourgogne, France) Dans Son Contexte Regional: The Paleolithic Settlement in Cote d'Or (Burgundy, France) in Its Regional Context

The Côte d'Or is a border region between the Seine, Yonne, Saône, and Loire basins in Upper Burgundy, with reliefs above 600 meters. It is a zone of passage between basins rather than a place of permanent settlement, with the most numerous remains of occupation dating to the Middle Paleolithic. The Boccard cave has the most complete stratigraphic sequence in the region and is part of the larger settlement system of east-central France.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Archaeopress

The Côte d'Or, situated in Upper Burgundy, stands as a border region between the Seine, Yonne, Saône, and Loire basins, with elevations exceeding 600 meters. While it serves as a passageway between basins rather than a permanent settlement area, except during the most temperate periods of early prehistory, it holds significant historical and geological importance.

In terms of Paleolithic sites, the Côte d'Or is considered relatively impoverished, a perception that is somewhat misleading when examined in detail. A comprehensive study of inventoried sites reveals a wealth of evidence, although the region lacks the abundance of Paleolithic remains found in other parts of France.

The most abundant occupation remains in the Côte d'Or are dated to the Middle Paleolithic, specifically towards the end of the interglacial period known as MIS 5 and in the early stages of MIS 2. The intricate stratigraphy observed in caves and cornice-base systems unveils numerous shortcomings, notably erasing the fills of MIS 3 and the conclusion of MIS 2. Among the notable caves in the region is the Boccard cave, which boasts the most complete stratigraphic sequence. Comparisons with Paleolithic sites in the Seine basin, such as the Arcy-sur-Cure caves and open-air sites in the Vanne valley, as well as in the Saône basin, including Solutré, Vergisson, and Germolles, reveal that the Côte d'Or forms part of a larger settlement system in east-central France. However, the incomplete fills and brief occupations of these sites hinder our understanding of this broader settlement network.

Weight: 517g
Dimension: 244 x 173 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803274102