Papers by christine chataigner
Archaeological Research in Asia, 2024
In the second half of the last century, numerous excavations were carried out in the Southern Cau... more In the second half of the last century, numerous excavations were carried out in the Southern Caucasus, particularly in Georgia. However, most of the sites excavated were given a cultural attribution based on the material found, in the absence of absolute radiocarbon dating. Errors concerning the cultural attribution of sites appear to have occurred, as revealed by our re-excavation (2012-2014) of the Paravani-2 rock shelter, which was initially considered to be a pre-Ceramic Neolithic site. Most of the occupation of this site in fact dates from the end of the Upper Palaeolithic, between the very beginning of the post-LGM deglaciation and the Bølling-Allerød warming. Situated at an altitude of over 2000 m in the immediate vicinity of the only obsidian source in the region, the Chikiani volcano, the lithic industry and faunal remains found in this shelter provide valuable information on the culture, subsistence and mobility of the late Pleistocene human groups in the Caucasus.
Journal of Quaternary Science Reviews, 2024
The genomic characterisation of human remains and the study of archaeological assemblages are com... more The genomic characterisation of human remains and the study of archaeological assemblages are complementary keys to understanding the evolution of ancient human groups. This article proposes a dialogue between these two approaches for the South Caucasus between the Upper Palaeolithic and the Neolithic periods. In the Upper Palaeolithic before the Last Glacial Maximum (ca. 40.-23. ka cal BP), genetic and archaeological data demonstrate the originality of the populations of the South Caucasus (Caucasus_UP genome) compared with their neighbours in SE Europe and SW Asia and also show the existence of links between these different regions. For the post-LGM phase (ca. 20.9-11.7 ka cal BP), archaeological data suggest a certain continuity with the previous period during the cold phase of the Oldest Dryas, followed by a marked rapprochement with the Zarzian culture in the Zagros starting with the warming of the Bølling-Allerød. Genetic analyses, which are available only for the latter phase, reveal a new genome (Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer or CHG), that is very close to that of the ancestors of the Neolithic populations of the Zagros. For the Early Holocene (ca. 11.7-8.2 ka cal BP or 9700-6200 cal BCE), the CHG genome, which still characterises the populations of the South Caucasus, is difficult to distinguish in modelling from that of the Zagros (Iran_N). However, archaeological data suggest that the spread of the Iran_N/CHG gene pool from Iran to Upper Mesopotamia and Central Anatolia was due to populations from the northwest Zagros, and not to those from the South Caucasus, who had only occasional contacts with the Fertile Crescent. At the beginning of the Middle Holocene (ca. 8.2-7.2 ka cal BP or 6200-5200 cal BCE), the appearance in the South Caucasus of animals and plants presenting a high level of domestication, as well as the introduction of new techniques (pressure knapping with a lever, pottery), are clearly due to the arrival of populations from the Fertile Crescent, as confirmed by genetic analyses. These analyses also show that there was not a replacement of local Mesolithic communities by Neolithic farmers, which the archaeological evidence confirms.
Journal of Quaternary Science Reviews, 2024
The genomic characterisation of human remains and the study of archaeological assemblages are com... more The genomic characterisation of human remains and the study of archaeological assemblages are complementary keys to understanding the evolution of ancient human groups. This article proposes a dialogue between these two approaches for the South Caucasus between the Upper Palaeolithic and the Neolithic periods. In the Upper Palaeolithic before the Last Glacial Maximum (ca. 40.-23. ka cal BP), genetic and archaeological data demonstrate the originality of the populations of the South Caucasus (Caucasus_UP genome) compared with their neighbours in SE Europe and SW Asia and also show the existence of links between these different regions. For the post-LGM phase (ca. 20.9-11.7 ka cal BP), archaeological data suggest a certain continuity with the previous period during the cold phase of the Oldest Dryas, followed by a marked rapprochement with the Zarzian culture in the Zagros starting with the warming of the Bølling-Allerød. Genetic analyses, which are available only for the latter phase, reveal a new genome (Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer or CHG), that is very close to that of the ancestors of the Neolithic populations of the Zagros. For the Early Holocene (ca. 11.7-8.2 ka cal BP or 9700-6200 cal BCE), the CHG genome, which still characterises the populations of the South Caucasus, is difficult to distinguish in modelling from that of the Zagros (Iran_N). However, archaeological data suggest that the spread of the Iran_N/CHG gene pool from Iran to Upper Mesopotamia and Central Anatolia was due to populations from the northwest Zagros, and not to those from the South Caucasus, who had only occasional contacts with the Fertile Crescent. At the beginning of the Middle Holocene (ca. 8.2-7.2 ka cal BP or 6200-5200 cal BCE), the appearance in the South Caucasus of animals and plants presenting a high level of domestication, as well as the introduction of new techniques (pressure knapping with a lever, pottery), are clearly due to the arrival of populations from the Fertile Crescent, as confirmed by genetic analyses. These analyses also show that there was not a replacement of local Mesolithic communities by Neolithic farmers, which the archaeological evidence confirms.
Environments and Societies in the Southern Caucasus during the Holocene
Quaternary International, Feb 1, 2016
Archaeometry, 2014
Within the framework of the French archaeological mission 'Caucasus', in a previous paper we have... more Within the framework of the French archaeological mission 'Caucasus', in a previous paper we have presented new geochemical analyses on geological obsidians from the southern Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia) and eastern Turkey. We present here the second part of this research, which deals with provenance studies of archaeological obsidians from Armenia. These new data enhance our knowledge of obsidian exploitation over a period of more than 14 000 years, from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Late Bronze Age. The proposed methodology shows that source attribution can be easily made by plotting element contents and element ratios on three simple binary diagrams. The same diagrams were used for source discrimination. As the southern Caucasus is a mountainous region for which the factor of distance as the crow flies cannot be applied, we have explored the capacity of the Geographic Information System to evaluate the nature and patterns of travel costs between the sources of obsidian and the archaeological sites. The role of the secondary obsidian deposits, which enabled the populations to acquire raw material at a considerable distance from the outcrops, is also considered.
Archaeometry, 2014
A large analytical programme involving both obsidian source characterization and obsidian artefac... more A large analytical programme involving both obsidian source characterization and obsidian artefact sourcing was initiated recently within the framework of the French archaeological mission 'Caucasus'. The results will be presented in two parts: the first part, this paper, deals with the presentation and characterization of obsidian outcrops in the southern Caucasus, while the second presents some results obtained from a selection of artefacts originating from different Armenian sites dated to between the Upper Palaeolithic and the Late Bronze Age. The same analytical method, LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), has been used to characterize all the studied samples (both geological and archaeological). This method is more and more widely used to determine the elemental composition of obsidian artefacts, as it causes minimal damage to the studied objects. We present in this first part new geochemical analyses on geological obsidians originating from the southern Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia) and eastern Turkey. These data enhance our knowledge of the obsidian sources in these regions. A simple methodology, based on the use of three diagrams, is proposed to easily differentiate the deposits and to study the early exploitation of this material in the southern Caucasus.
Quaternary International, 2020
The cave of Getahovit-2 is situated in north-eastern Armenia, in the foothills of the Lesser Cauc... more The cave of Getahovit-2 is situated in north-eastern Armenia, in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus which dominate the valley of the Kura. The excavations (2011–2017), carried out by the Armenian-French mission ‘Caucasus’, have revealed several phases of occupation – Upper Palaeolithic (ca 22,000 cal BC), Chalcolithic (ca. 4700-4050 cal BC), and early Middle Ages (ca. 900–1200 cal AD). Although the cave is near outcroppings of flint (lower valley of the Aghstev river), the artifacts found there are mainly in obsidian, whatever the period of occupation. During the Chalcolithic period (levels IV-III), the cave served as a shelter for herds, as seen in the succession of coprolite deposits, that were regularly burned to clean the floor of the cave. The origin of the populations that sheltered their herds in this cave is difficult to determine. LA-ICP-MS analyses have been carried out to study the provenance of the obsidian artifacts found in level III. Corroborated by the techno-typological study of the artifacts, they have enabled the differentiation of two assemblages: the first, coming from deposits situated on Armenian territory (Geghasar, Gutansar, Arteni, Tsaghkunyats) and consisting of blanks knapped by percussion (flakes above all), and the second coming from deposits situated in Georgia (Chikiani) or Turkey (region of Sarıkamış) and consisting of pressure-flaked blades. In the lower part of level III (ca 4700-4400 cal BC), the provenance of the obsidian (mainly Gutansar) suggests links with the south, the Ararat plain. For the upper part of level III (ca. 4400-4050 cal BC), it is the outcrops situated farther north (Tsaghkunyats) that were the origin of almost 60% of the pieces analysed. Based on environmental, cultural and ethnographic data, we discuss the role of the cave of Getahovit-2 and the mobility of the human groups who occupied it in the 5th millennium BC.
Neolithic bone tools from Aknashen
Archaeopress Publishing Ltd eBooks, Feb 17, 2022
La Transcaucasie au Néolithique et au Chalcolithique (The Trans-Caucasus Region in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic). Christine Chataigner
Near Eastern Archaeology, Mar 1, 1998
The provenance of the obsidian used at Aknashen
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2022
Quaternary International, Jun 1, 2020
in obsidian procurement patterns and the role of the cave-sheepfold of Getahovit-2 (NE Armenia) d... more in obsidian procurement patterns and the role of the cave-sheepfold of Getahovit-2 (NE Armenia) during the Chalcolithic period, Quaternary International,
Animal production and Neolithic subsistence economy in the plain of Ararat (Armenia)
223 Early Pleistocene vegetation and climate changes in continental deposits of the Lesser Caucasus of Armenia
日本花粉学会会誌, Aug 23, 2012
A GIS for the analysis of obsidian circulation in the northern near east during prehistory
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Nov 1, 2004
Archaeometry, Jan 7, 2013
A large analytical programme involving both obsidian source characterization and obsidian artefac... more A large analytical programme involving both obsidian source characterization and obsidian artefact sourcing was initiated recently within the framework of the French archaeological mission 'Caucasus'. The results will be presented in two parts: the first part, this paper, deals with the presentation and characterization of obsidian outcrops in the southern Caucasus, while the second presents some results obtained from a selection of artefacts originating from different Armenian sites dated to between the Upper Palaeolithic and the Late Bronze Age. The same analytical method, LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), has been used to characterize all the studied samples (both geological and archaeological). This method is more and more widely used to determine the elemental composition of obsidian artefacts, as it causes minimal damage to the studied objects. We present in this first part new geochemical analyses on geological obsidians originating from the southern Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia) and eastern Turkey. These data enhance our knowledge of the obsidian sources in these regions. A simple methodology, based on the use of three diagrams, is proposed to easily differentiate the deposits and to study the early exploitation of this material in the southern Caucasus.
Post-landslide forest recolonization: a paleoecological view from a 4000 yrs old case-study
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jul 9, 2019
International audienc
Archaeometry, Jan 7, 2013
Within the framework of the French archaeological mission 'Caucasus', in a previous paper we have... more Within the framework of the French archaeological mission 'Caucasus', in a previous paper we have presented new geochemical analyses on geological obsidians from the southern Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia) and eastern Turkey. We present here the second part of this research, which deals with provenance studies of archaeological obsidians from Armenia. These new data enhance our knowledge of obsidian exploitation over a period of more than 14 000 years, from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Late Bronze Age. The proposed methodology shows that source attribution can be easily made by plotting element contents and element ratios on three simple binary diagrams. The same diagrams were used for source discrimination. As the southern Caucasus is a mountainous region for which the factor of distance as the crow flies cannot be applied, we have explored the capacity of the Geographic Information System to evaluate the nature and patterns of travel costs between the sources of obsidian and the archaeological sites. The role of the secondary obsidian deposits, which enabled the populations to acquire raw material at a considerable distance from the outcrops, is also considered.
Le Néolithique et le Chalcolithique en Transcaucasie : l’exemple des bassins de la Kura et de l'Araxe
Paléolithique moyen de la haute vallée du Kasakh (Arménie) : peuplement de montagne et exploitation d'obsidienne
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2013
International audienc
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Papers by christine chataigner