Human settlements and the Last Deglaciation in the French Alps

Abstract

According to most geological and geomorphological studies, the maximal advance of the Wurmian glaciers in the French Alps occurred at least before 40ka BP and cannot be dated by 14C. Attempting to solve this chronological problem, we compiled current archaeological knowledge of the oldest Late Palaeolithic sites. A review of their 14C results shows that no site older than 15ka BP (with Gravettian, Solutrean or early Magdalenian industries) can be found east of the Saone-Rhone Valley, even at low elevations. Only rare sites, dated to ca. 14.5ka BP, may be found close to the mountain regions that were suddenly occupied around the beginning of the Bolling period (ca. 13.5ka BP). Thus, it seems that the eastern Alps offer no evidence for direct association between retreat and human settlement or simultaneous occurrence in early or late deglaciated areas. -from Authors