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The eastern Maghreb is a key area for understanding environmental and cultural dynamics during the early and middle Holocene. Capsian populations from around 10000–7500 cal BP were among the last foragers in the region. Capsian sites are known as escargotières (land shell middens), and locally called rammadiyat (meaning ashy mound). As taphonomic conditions in Capsian open-air sites generally favour the preservation of resistant materials such as shells and bones rather than fragile plant remains, this study integrates macro-botanical and microfossil evidence from phytoliths, calcitic wood ash pseudomorphs and dung spherulites, since each is influenced by different formation and post-depositional processes. Archaeobotanical results from recent excavations in four Tunisian sites located across the lowland steppe, the Dorsale Mountains and the eastern coast display a wide range of wild plant resources, such as pine, oak, wild legumes, and grasses, in particular Alfa grass. These findings suggest that these plants could have played an important role in Capsian diet, whereas the presence of Alfa grass suggests the use of fibre sources for basketry, matting, building and fuel. Integrated macro-botanical and microfossil records contribute to a better understanding of changing subsistence practices on the threshold of early food-producing systems in north-west Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern Africa, although one of the world hotpots of biodiversity, is poorly studied and the freshwater fauna living in this part of the world remains partly unknown. This study focused on the diversity and distribution of the poorly known epigean freshwater amphipods. We performed an exhaustive analysis of the literature on this group of crustaceans and sampled 106 additional localities from the eastern part of Algeria and in Tunisia. Our results showed an important diversity with 25 species (including the presence of at least three new undescribed species) and a very high rate of endemism with 52% of species occurring at on only 1 or 2 sites. We also highlighted a very low diversity on each site with only 4.4% of sites harboring more than 1 species. The comparative distribution of certain species between Europe and Maghreb and also between the western and eastern part of Northern Africa allow us to discuss some hypotheses about the factors underlying this endemism and the biogeographical origin of species. However, our study revealed a general lack of knowledge in the region, especially in the South of Morocco and Algeria. Hence, more information would be needed to propose adapted conservation strategies of freshwater fauna in Maghreb. Our results showed theimportant diversity of Maghreb despite the scarcity of fresh waters and the weak knowledge on this area. We highlighted a very high rate of endemism with 52% of species occurring at on only 1 or 2 sites. We found enough data to discuss some hypotheses about the factors underlying this endemism and the biogeographical origin of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'Afrique du nord et en particulier le Maghreb est une région-clé pour la préhistoire africaine en ce sens qu'elle abrite des sites dont la chronologie couvre toute la période du Pléistocène depuis 2,5 Ma jusqu'à l'Holocène. En termes de culture, elle s'intègre dans le schéma général du « Stone Age » mais elle présente des particularités qui en font une région à part avec des cultures qui lui sont propres. De par son climat et sa position géographique, entre les régions désertiques au sud et la mer Méditerranée au nord, elle a offert aux hommes une diversité de paysages et d'environnements tout à fait unique et propice au développement de l'évolution humaine. Enfin, cette région donne accès à l'Europe par plusieurs passages maritimes (Gibraltar, Sicile) qui ont vraisemblablement été utilisés au cours du Pléistocène, renforçant ainsi l'intérêt de l'étude de cette partie septentrionale de l'Afrique. Le développement récent de nombreuses méthodes de datation a permis de conforter et de consolider le cadre chronostratigraphique qui, depuis de nombreuses années, reposait uniquement sur des datations au radiocarbone. Ces méthodes ont parfois même contribué à la confirmation d'idées « nouvelles » permettant de dépoussiérer le cadre existant de la préhistoire. Cet article présente une chronologie des principaux sites anciens du Maghreb datés par différentes méthodes dont les âges comparés aux résultats obtenus par d'autres disciplines participent et contribuent à une meilleure compréhension du cadre environnemental et culturel de l'Homme préhistorique. North Africa, and in particular the Maghreb, is a key region for African prehistory in that it contains sites whose chronology covers the entire Pleistocene period from 2.5 Ma to the Holocene. In terms of culture, it fits into the general pattern of the Stone Age, but it has particularities that make it a region apart with its own cultures. Due to its climate and geographical position, between the desert regions of the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, it has offered mankind a diversity of landscapes and environments that are quite unique and favorable to the development of human evolution. Finally, this region gives access to Europe through several maritime passages (Gibraltar, Sicily), which were probably used during the Pleistocene, thus reinforcing the interest in studying this northern part of Africa. The recent development of numerous dating methods has made it possible to reinforce and consolidate the chronostratigraphic framework, which for many years had been based solely on radiocarbon dating. These methods have sometimes even contributed to the confirmation of 'new' ideas that have dusted off the existing framework of prehistory. This article presents a chronology of the main ancient sites of the Maghreb dated by different methods whose ages compared to the results obtained by other disciplines participate and contribute to a better understanding of the environmental and cultural framework of prehistoric Man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]