New extensive focused AMS C-14 dating of the Middle and Upper Magdalenian of the western Aquitaine/Pyrenean region of France (ca. 19-14 ka cal BP): Proposing a new model for its chronological phases and for the timing of occupation

摘要

In this paper we present all the AMS radiocarbon dates obtained for the 19 sites of the MAGDATIS project (69 results, including 4 human remains) and the approach we took to do this. This large-scale project involved a substantial multi-disciplinary re-assessment of the Middle and Upper Magdalenian of the western Aquitaine/Pyrenean region of France. Our principal questions in this project regarding this period and region related to the renewal (i.e. expansion and disappearance) of the ungulate community and the timing of major techno-economical innovations. Dating sites was a key aspect of this project. Many of these sites were excavated a long time ago, often without the benefit of taphonomic assessment at the time. As a result, careful selection of artifacts for dating was key to obtaining accurate and reliable results and thus our methodology is emphasized in this paper.