Isabelle Théry-Parisot

Bio: Isabelle Théry-Parisot is an academic researcher from Centre national de la recherche scientifique. The author has contributed to research in topics: Charcoal & Anthracology. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 67 publications receiving 1406 citations. Previous affiliations of Isabelle Théry-Parisot include University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.

A Preliminary Report on Pech de l’Azé IV, Layer 8 (Middle Paleolithic, France)

Abstract: Pech de l'Aze IV (Dordogne, France) is a collapsed cave with an approximately three meter sequence of wellpreserved Mousterian assemblages. At the base of the sequence, resting on bedrock, is a ~50cm thick layer (Layer 8) of dark, primarily anthropogenic sediments that show unambiguous evidence of Neandertal use of fire dating to the time of OIS 5c. The faunal assemblage, which suggests a temperate, wooded environment, has evidence for the exploitation of some small game, and provides possible evidence for some non-subsistence related activities. The stone tool assemblage is characterized by the use of Levallois technology and, among the retouched tools, scrapers are predominant. Raw materials were primarily local and the complete reduction sequence is present in the assemblage with no evidence for import or export of prepared elements. Because of the state of preservation of all aspects of this layer, it represents one of the clearest examples of human management of fire in the European Middle Paleolithic.

Taphonomic and Ecologic Information Form Bone Weathering

Abstract: Bones of recent mammals in the Amboseli Basin, southern Kenya, exhibit distinctive weathering characteristics that can be related to the time since death and to the local conditions of temperature, humidity and soil chemistry. A categorization of weathering characteristics into six stages, recognizable on descriptive criteria, provides a basis for investigation of weathering rates and processes. The time necessary to achieve each successive weathering stage has been calibrated using known-age carcasses. Most bones decompose beyond recognition in 10 to 15 yr. Bones of animals under 100 kg and juveniles appear to weather more rapidly than bones of large animals or adults. Small-scale rather than widespread environmental factors seem to have greatest influence on weathering characteristics and rates. Bone weathering is potentially valuable as evidence for the period of time represented in recent or fossil bone assemblages, in- cluding those on archeological sites, and may also be an important tool in censusing populations of animals in modern ecosystems.

On the earliest evidence for habitual use of fire in Europe

Abstract: The timing of the human control of fire is a hotly debated issue, with claims for regular fire use by early hominins in Africa at ∼1.6 million y ago. These claims are not uncontested, but most archaeologists would agree that the colonization of areas outside Africa, especially of regions such as Europe where temperatures at time dropped below freezing, was indeed tied to the use of fire. Our review of the European evidence suggests that early hominins moved into northern latitudes without the habitual use of fire. It was only much later, from ∼300,000 to 400,000 y ago onward, that fire became a significant part of the hominin technological repertoire. It is also from the second half of the Middle Pleistocene onward that we can observe spectacular cases of Neandertal pyrotechnological knowledge in the production of hafting materials. The increase in the number of sites with good evidence of fire throughout the Late Pleistocene shows that European Neandertals had fire management not unlike that documented for Upper Paleolithic groups.

Practical and theoretical geoarchaeology

Abstract: Book description: Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology provides an invaluable overview of geoarchaeology and how it can be used effectively in the study of archaeological sites and contexts. Taking a pragmatic and functional approach, this book presents: a fundamental, broad-based perspective of the essentials of modern geoarchaeology in order to demonstrate the breadth of the approaches and the depth of the problems that it can tackle. The rapid advances made in the area in recent years, but also gives the reader a firm grasp of conventional approaches. Covers traditional topics with the emphasis on landscapes, as well as anthropogenic site formation processes and their investigation. Provides guidelines for the presentation of field and laboratory methods and the reporting of geoarchaeological results. Essential reading for archaeology undergraduate and graduate students, practicing archaeologists and geoscientists who need to understand and apply geoarchaeological methodologies.