THE ABRI CASSEROLE (DORDOGNE, FRANCE): REASSESSING THE14C CHRONOLOGY OF A KEY UPPER PALEOLITHIC SEQUENCE IN SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE

• DOI: 10.1017/rdc.2020.50
• Publication Date: 2020-07-09T07:44:56Z
• Authors: Sylvain Ducasse; Jean-Marc Pétillon; Thierry Aubry; François-Xavier C...; Jean-Christophe C...; Luc Detrain; Mathieu Langlais; André Morala; William E Banks; Arnaud Lenoble
• Keywords: Magdalenian; Chronology; Sequence (biology); Aurignacian; Upper Paleolithic; Radiometric dating; Rock shelter; Sequence Stratigraphy

ABSTRACT Discovered at the beginning of twentieth century, Abri Casserole (Dordogne, France) was subject salvage excavations in early nineties. The fieldwork revealed a sequence 13 archaeological levels that document human occupations from Gravettian to Magdalenian, including very rare and poorly known assemblages (e.g. Early Badegoulian, Protosolutrean) afford particular importance this sequence. Results previous dating program focused on Badegoulian were obtained 1994 but neither extensively published nor discussed. Five AMS 14 C ages for Solutrean 2010s served complement site’s chronology. However, since beta counting conflict with accepted chronology region’s late Pleniglacial record, new implemented renew radiometric framework specific portion Compared measurements, seven newly are about 1000 years older (23.3–20.5 cal ka BP) congruent other AMS-dated sequences. These results thereby restore inter-site chronological coherence Solutrean–Badegoulian Badegoulian–Magdalenian transitions.