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| Year : | 1994 |
| Tome : | 145 |
| Volume : | 5 |
| Pages : | 355-386 |
| Title : | The chalcolithic settlement of the Foissac cave (Aveyron, France) : the archeological evidence. |
| Authors : | Y. LIGNEREUX, J. PETERS, S. COURS, H. DUDAY, M. GARCIA, A. DU FAYET DE LA TOUR et F. ROUZAUD. |
| Summary : | The chalcolithic habitat of the cave of Foissac, which is situated in the Causse de Limogne north from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, came suddenly to an end when the settlement was burnt, and the porch of entry collapsed : so the cavity and its vestiges were sealed. The cave was discovered in 1965, and searched front 1978 to 1989, giving an important collection of remains. For the chalcolithic period, 2 071 osseous terrains (23 465 g.) were examined, and 1 345 (22 586 g.) were determined. Cattle represent 24 % of the NR, ovicaprinae 27 %, pig 48 % (dog 0,4 %, fox 0,07 %, hare 0,07 %, red deer 0,6 %, roe deer 0,2 %a). Weight distribution is 49 % (cattle), 37,5 % (pig) and 13 % (small ruminants). Pig consumption was very important relatively to reference sites. Pigs were slaughtered in autumn, to prevent them to be fed in winter, when their meat could be conserved for a few months : numerous indices permit to assert that the cavity, which was a quarry of clay and burial place, has also been utilized as a food conserving place, where only selected pieces of meat were introduced (chops, shoulders, hams, feet) ; the cutting technique was elaborated (splitting of the carcass in two halves). A bone of a seawater fish (Serranidae) announces a trade with coastal regions. Cattle was small (= 110 cm.), and pig relatively tall (= 80 cm.). |
| Keywords : | chalcolithic - cave of Foissac - archaeozoology - osteometry - meat conservation. |
| Correspondence : | J. PETERS |
| Adress : | Institut für Palaeoanatomie, Domestikationsforschung und Geschichte der Tiermedizin der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Feldmochinger StraBe 7, D80992 München |
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