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International audience; The thematic correspondences between the ancient paintings of the Tassili-n-Ajjer, the Aramat, the Akukas, the Tibesti, the Ennedi, the Gilf Kébir, the Jebel Uweynat and its small satellite massifs, due to their large number and wide range, plead in favour from near to far of a transmission of concepts of humanoid essence, to which were receptive groups with distinct identities who had comparable technical knowledge, and who evolved in wooded savannah landscapes with permanent water bodies. Several areas of the bush were thus progressively marked with images of men, women, children, more or less close deceased ancestors, genies and beasts. Ordinary at the origin, these sectors became the territories of the authors of these representations, i.e. lands that they considered to have been inhabited for a long time, perhaps since time immemorial, by their forebears, which were nonetheless inhabited by extraordinary entities with whom mediations were required. These ancient paintings, predominantly anthropomorphic, would thus be consubstantial with local phenomena of ancestralisation-territorialisation. Iconographic, archaeological and palaeoecological data agree in dating these pictorial expressions between the end of the 7th and 4th millennia BC.; Les correspondances thématiques qui s’établissent entre les peintures anciennes de la Tassili-n-Ajjer, de l’Aramat, de l’Akukas, du Tibesti, de l’Ennedi, du Gilf Kébir, du Djebel Uweynat et de ses petits massifs satellites, de par leur nombre conséquent et leur large éventail, plaident en faveur d’une transmission de proche en proche de concepts d’essence humanoïde, auxquels furent réceptifs des groupes aux identités distinctes qui avaient des connaissances techniques comparables, et qui évoluaient dans des paysages de savane arborée avec plans d’eau permanents. Plusieurs espaces de brousse se sont ainsi trouvés progressivement balisés d’images d’hommes, de femmes, d’enfants, d’ancêtres défunts plus ou moins proches, de génies et de bêtes. Ordinaires au départ, ces secteurs sont devenus les territoires des auteurs de ces représentations, c’est-à-dire des terres qu’ils considéraient comme habitées de longue date, peut-être depuis des temps immémoriaux, par leurs aïeux, lesquelles n’en demeuraient pas moins peuplées d’entités extraordinaires avec qui s’imposaient des médiations. Ces peintures anciennes à prédominance anthropomorphe seraient ainsi consubstantielles de phénomènes locaux d’ancestralisation-territorialisation. Les données iconographiques, archéologiques et paléoécologiques s’accordent pour dater ces expressions picturales entre la fin du VIIe et le IVe millénaires av. J.-C.

International audience; In the southeastern part of Arabian Gulf, evidence of Neolithic human occupation was reported after the 1990’ first surveys carried out in the early 1990s (Uerpmann and Uerpmann, 1996). A substantial investment in a multi-year program of excavation was required, as it represents he only realistic means of documenting a detailed stratigraphic and cultural sequence and to establish a first typology of sites, from simple way stations to encampments and possibly more sedentary sites. For such a demanding task to be accomplished, extensive planimetric excavations were necessary instead of small trenches, combined with the study and accurate drawing of relevant sections. This strategy was applied by different teams of the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE (FAM-UAE) at Akab, UAQ36, and more extensively at UAQ2, today the major Neolithic site known in the Umm al-Quwain Emirate (18 surveyed sections document 146 linear meters of stratigraphic sequences overall). Small-scale excavations were also carried out at UAQ17 (a Neolithic site), and UAQ52 (a site occupied from Neolithic to the Iron Age). The two latter sites are unpublished yet, but can be mapped together with the other sites surveyed by the FAM-UAE in order to gain a perception of the diffuse Neolithic human occupationin the area. In late 2018, a new stratified site was excavated following the same methodology at UAQ38, a shell midden located c. 2 Km from UAQ2, with the aim of collecting further data to compare and contrast with the results obtained from the UAQ2 (2011-2014, 2017) and UAQ36 (2017-2018) excavations. Over the last almost thirty years, archaeological investigations have shown that the Neolithic occupation in the coastal area of the Umm al-Quwain Emirate can be dated back to the middle of the 6th millennium. The mentioned projects carried out at Akab in the 2000s, and more recently at UAQ2 and UAQ36 also started to shed some light on the nature of the 5th millennium human presence in the same area. While radiometric analyses of charcoal and shell samples are awaited, which will help to more solidly ground the absolute chronology of the site, the preliminary results of UAQ38’s excavation will be presented here, as they add significant data for the discussion of Neolithic human occupation in the region.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES Around 13,000 years BP, from the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, hunter-gatherer groups became more observable in the Brazilian archaeological record. This period was the origin of the densest settlement process in Brazil. Several occupations dated from that estage are attested in the area known as Central Brazil. Most of them are connected to the Itaparica Thecnocomplex, an original technical system based on the functional complementarity between the unifacially shaped pieces with a flat face (also known as lesmas or flat surface), and equipments on chips. The Itaparica Thecnocomplex is the common cultural element of the prehistoric populations of this vast territory, and will last up to almost 8,000 years, when a deep technical rupture occurs, giving rise to a technical system of instruments on varied and little modified chips. The common characteristics of the lithic industries in this large area are one of the foremost components in the formulation of models for the settlement of that area, substantially based on interregional studies of a coetaneous nature. These studies highlight the common culture, revealing dynamics of occupation at each stage of the process, and probable exchanges between populations, but the evolution of cultural aspects has been poorly approached. Our study aims to understand the diachrony of occupations from the late Pleistocene to the Middle Holocene, through the research of the rich cultural sequence of Serra da Capivara, Piauí. Through the structural analysis of the lithic industries of the archaeological sequence of Toca do João Leite, Toca da Baixa das Cabaceiras and Toca do Veado, covering occupations from 12,800 to 6,000 years cal BP, we revealed that, in the area, the Itaparica Technocomplex is of external origin and, quickly, aggregated regional features. During the Middle Holocene, the lithic industries are completely different from the previous period, loaded with juxtaposed elements without strict integration, but also with innovations in the ways of débitage. A partir de la transition Pléistocène-Holocène, autour de 13.000 BP, la visibilité des groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs augmente dans les enregistrements archéologiques brésiliens. Cette période correspond au début du processus de densification du peuplement du Brésil. Dans le territoire du Brésil Central, plusieurs occupations datées de ce moment sont attestées, presque toujours associées au Technocomplexe Itaparica, un système technique original basé sur la complémentarité fonctionnelle entre pièces façonnées unifacialement à une face plane (aussi appelées lesmas ou plano-convexos), et outils sur éclats. Le Technocomplexe Itaparica est l’élément culturel commun des populations préhistoriques de ce vaste territoire et va perdurer jusque presque 8.000 ans, quand survient une rupture technique profonde, vers un système technique produisant des outils sur éclats variés et peu modifiés. Les caractéristiques communes des industries lithiques de ce vaste territoire sont un des principaux éléments pris en compte pour l’élaboration de modèles sur le processus de peuplement de cette zone, basés principalement sur des études interrégionales synchroniques. Si, d’un côté, ces études mettent en évidence la culture commune, révélant des dynamiques d’occupation à chaque étape du processus, et de probables liens entre populations, l’évolution des aspects culturels a été peu abordée. Notre étude a pour objectif de comprendre la diachronie des occupations du Pléistocène final à l’Holocène ancien, par l’étude de la riche séquence culturelle de la Serra da Capivara (Etat du Piauí). A travers l’analyse structurelle des industries lithiques de la séquence archéologique des sites Toca do João Leite, Toca da Baixa das Cabaceiras et Toca do Veado, qui concerne des occupations allant de 12.800 à 6.000 BP, nous mettons en évidence que le Technocomplexe Itaparica y est d’origine extérieure, et qu’il y a pris rapidement une forme régionale. Pendant l’Holocène moyen, les industries lithiques sont complètement différentes de celles de la période antérieure, chargés d’éléments juxtaposés non intégrés les uns aux autres, mais également d’innovations en ce qui concerne les modes de débitage. A partir da transição Pleistoceno-Holoceno, por volta de 13.000 anos AP, a visibilidade dos grupos caçadores-coletores aumenta no registro arqueológico brasileiro. Esse período corresponde ao início do processo de povoamento mais denso do Brasil. No território conhecido como Brasil Central, várias ocupações datadas desse período são atestadas, quase sempre associadas ao Tecnocomplexo Itaparica, um sistema técnico original baseado na complementaridade funcional entre as peças façonadas unifacialmente com uma face plana (também conhecidas como lesmas ou plano-convexos), e os instrumentos sobre lascas. O Tecnocomplexo Itaparica é o elemento cultural comum das populações pré-históricas deste vasto território, e vai perdurar até quase 8.000 anos, quando uma ruptura técnica profunda ocorre, dando lugar a um sistema técnico de instrumentos sobre lascas variadas e pouco modificadas. As características comuns das indústrias líticas desse vasto território são um dos principais elementos na formulação de modelos de processo de povoamento desta área, baseados principalmente em estudos inter-regionais de caráter sincrônico. Se, por um lado, esses estudos colocam em evidência a cultura comum, revelando dinâmicas de ocupação em cada etapa do processo, e prováveis intercâmbios entre populações, a evolução dos aspectos culturais foi pouco abordada. Nosso estudo tem como objetivo compreender a diacronia das ocupações do Pleistoceno final ao Holoceno médio, por meio do estudo da rica sequência cultural da Serra da Capivara, Piauí. Através da análise estrutural das indústrias líticas da sequência arqueológica da Toca do João Leite, Toca da Baixa das Cabaceiras e Toca do Veado, abarcando ocupações de 12.800 a 6.000 anos AP cal, revelamos que, na área, o Tecnocomplexo Itaparica é de origem externa e aderiu características regionais rapidamente. Durante Holoceno médio, as indústrias líticas são completamente distintas do período anterior, carregada de elementos justapostos sem integração estrita, mas também de inovações quanto aos modos de debitagem. Laranjeiras

Numerous researchers discuss of the collapse of civilizations in response to abrupt climate change in the Mediterranean region. The period between 6500 and 5000 cal yr BP is one of the least studied episodes of rapid climate change at the end of the Late Neolithic. This period is characterized by a dramatic decline in settlement and a cultural break in the Balkans. High-resolution paleoenvironmental proxy data obtained in the Lower Angitis Valley enables an examination of the societal responses to rapid climatic change in Greece. Development of a lasting fluvio-lacustrine environment followed by enhanced fluvial activity is evident from 6000 cal yr BP. Paleoecological data show a succession of dry events at 5800–5700, 5450 and 5000–4900 cal yr BP. These events correspond to incursion of cold air masses to the eastern Mediterranean, confirming the climatic instability of the middle Holocene climate transition. Two periods with farming and pastural activities (6300–5600 and 5100–4700 cal BP) are evident. The intervening period is marked by environmental changes, but the continuous occurrence of anthropogenic taxa suggests the persistence of human activities despite the absence of archaeological evidence. The environmental factors alone were not sufficient to trigger the observed societal changes., The research presented in this paper has been conducted in the framework of two research programmes. The “Balkans 4000” project (ANR-07-JCJC-072) was coordinated by Zoï Tsirtsoni. The Archeomed-Paleomex Programme is part of the INSU-INEE MISTRALS Research project and is directed by L. Carozza and L. Lespez. Funding for the present study was also obtained from the RELICTFLORA (P11RNM-7033) project, provided by the Junta de Andalucía (Spain)

During middle Holocene, between 8000 and 4000 BP, central and northern Brazil lithic industries were often described in terms of lacks more than tangible characteristics: lacks of “lesma” (unifacial shaping tool), lacks of ceramics. Specific technical features linked to that period are not easy to pinpoint because of a high level of artifacts diversity. Described as somewhat elaborate or simple, the specific nature of these industries highlights differences between this period and the previous one. To explain such a change in material culture, external factor hypothesis were proposed: huge environment modification due to climate change, new population that replaces another one. However, it is uneasy to evaluate break modalities regarding few studies on these period assemblages.Our work proposes to characterize the technical systems for the middle Holocene, and, by this way, to broach the technical break phenomenon using Itaparica techno-complex. Two middle Holocene lithic assemblages were study in a techno-functional way: la Toca Nova do Inharé, in Serra da Capivara (Piauí) and the Cajueiro site (BA-RC-19) northeastern of the central plateau (Bahia). Results reveal shared characteristics and significant variability. Organization of different functional parts of tools outlined around recurrent presence of abrupt sides, form a strong shared feature. Tool blanks have, however, high degree of variability according to different sites, explaining the lack of strictly defined tools. Our results compared to available literature data allow us to confirm that these features are specific to these middle Holocene industries and also to bear out the existence of a significant technical break with the Itaparica techno-complex., Les industries lithiques de l’Holocène moyen, entre 8.000 et 4.000 BP dans le centre et le nord-est du Brésil ont souvent été décrites non pas en fonction des caractères présents mais de ceux absents : absence de lesma (pièce façonnée unifacialement), absence de céramique. Les traits techniques spécifiques à la période sont difficiles à cerner à cause de la diversité des artefacts. Décrites comme peu élaborées ou simples, ces industries interrogent pourtant par leurs caractères extrêmement différents de ceux de la période antérieure. Des hypothèses liées à des facteurs externes ont été évoquées pour expliquer de tels changements dans la culture matérielle : changement climatique avec une forte modification de l’environnement, remplacement de la population par une nouvelle vague de peuplement. Toutefois, il est difficile d’évaluer les modalités de cette rupture tant les analyses sur des assemblages de la période sont peu nombreux. Nous proposons dans ce travail de caractériser les systèmes techniques de l’Holocène moyen et par ce biais aborder le phénomène de rupture technique avec le technocomplexe Itaparica. Deux assemblages lithiques de l’Holocène moyen ont été étudiés selon une approche techno-fonctionnelle : la Toca Nova do Inharé dans la Serra da Capivara (Piauí) et le site Cajueiro (BA-RC-19) au nord-est du plateau central (Bahia).Les résultats obtenus mettent en évidence l’existence de caractères partagés et de variabilités importantes. L’organisation des différentes parties fonctionnelles des outils, structurée par la présence récurrente de pans abrupts, constitue un caractère commun fort. Les supports d’outils sont en revanche très variables selon les sites, expliquant cette impression d’absence d’outils clairement définis déjà soulignée.La confrontation de nos résultats aux données disponibles dans la littérature nous a permis d’affirmer ces caractères comme une spécificité des industries de l’Holocène moyen et de confirmer également l’existence d’une rupture technique importante avec le technocomplexe Itaparica.

O quadro geral descrito para as indústrias líticas brasileiras sugerem que durante o período da transição Pleistoceno-Holoceno e Holoceno médio, momento onde se verifica um aumento considerável no número de sítios arqueológicos em todo o Brasil, as indústrias líticas sofreram mudanças importantes. Essas diferenças são quase sempre ressaltadas devido a ausência nas indústria do Holoceno médio, das peças façonadas unifacialmente do Tecno-complexo Itaparica. Os outros elementos técnicos dessas indústrias são pouco descritos. No sudeste do Piauí, o sítio Toca do João Leite mostrou-se particularmente interessante para abordar esse assunto. A sequência estratigráfica desse sítio mostrou a presença de quatro conjuntos arqueo-estratigráficos, que aliados a datações indicam ocupações que vão dos 10.800 anos BP a 1.330 anos BP. O estudo das indústrias líticas de dois desses conjuntos arqueo-estratigráficos, a partir de uma abordagem tecno-funcional que permite um conhecimento global (modos de produção e funcionamento dos objetos) do sistema técnico, permitiu observar que uma ruptura técnica profunda ocorreu. E ainda, que essas indústrias partilham características técnicas comuns com outras indústrias da região Nordeste e do Planalto Central do Brasil. Le cadre général défini pour les industries lithiques brésiliennes suggère que durant la période de transition Pléistocène-Holocène et de l’Holocène moyen, pendant lequel on observe une augmentation considérable du nombre de sites archéologiques dans tout le Brésil, les industries lithiques subissent des changements importants. Ces différences sont très souvent soulignées en raison de l’absence, dans les industries de l’Holocène moyen, des pièces façonnées unifacialement du Techno-complexe Itaparica. Les autres éléments techniques sont peu décrits. Dans le Sud-est du Piaui, le site Toca do João Leite est particulièrement intéressant pour aborder ce sujet. Quatre ensembles archéo-stratigraphiques sont présents dans la séquence stratigraphique de ce site, et, mis en relation avec les datations, ils indiquent des occupations allant de 10.800 BP à 1330 BP. L’étude des industries lithiques de deux de ces ensembles archéo-stratigraphiques, à partir d’une approche techno-fonctionnelle qui apporte une connaissance globale (modes de productions et de fonctionnements des objets) du système technique, a permis d’observer qu’une rupture technique profonde a eu lieu. De plus, il a pu être constaté que ces industries partagent des caractéristiques techniques communes avec d’autres industries du Nordeste et du Plateau central du Brésil.