Les steles gravées néolithiques de Beyssan à Gargas (Vaucluse)

摘要

The Provence Neolithic stelae with chevron ornamentation are well known, with more than fifty monuments currently recorded. The two new stelae from Gargas were discovered during a field survey on the northern border of the Calavon plain, about 45 km east of Avignon. The area has a high concentration of archaeological sites, many excavated in the past: La Brémonde (Buoux), Les Martin (Roussillon), Les Fabrys (Bonnieux) and the Ubac dolmen (Goult). Stela 1 is complete but deteriorated in places. Its surface is encrusted. It is however possible to identify the stone as a compact, fine limestone. The general shape is triangular, with the sides and top slightly convex. The slightly concave front face indicates that the surface was pick-dressed prior to being decorated. The reserved part at the centre is deteriorated. It is not hollowed as it is usually the case for Provence stelae. This reserved vertical area narrows in its middle then gets wider towards the bottom. Anatomical details such as the eyebrows-nose-eyes block are not visible because of the deterioration of the stela but what is left of the reserved area does not show any relief or hollows. Two vertical bands decorated with parallel oblique lines running outwards are engraved on both sides of this area. The ornamentation on the top part consists of four levels: two smooth horizontal bands, one row of simple horizontal chevrons, two horizontal series of parallel oblique lines, and one row of double horizontal chevrons. The engravings are enhanced with a bright red colour which has been identified as cinnabar. Stela 2 is not complete: its base is missing. Its whole surface is encrusted. The raw material is a little more grainy than the one used for stela 1. The flat, locally convex, main face does not seem to have been pick-dressed. The ornamentation is engraved and also enhanced with a bright red colour here again identified as cinnabar. It is simpler and less carefully made than on stela 1. It is organized in three areas around the vertical reserved surface, which does not seem to have hollows, sculpted reliefs or colour. No anatomical details (eyebrows-nose-eyes) are represented. The lateral vertical bands are simple, consisting of series of parallel oblique lines running outwards. Two horizontal bands appear on the top part of the stela: a narrow band, whose ornamentation is difficult to see, above which is a series of double chevrons. The overall structure of this artwork is in accordance with that seen on other stelae in Provence, but the central band, with its form and lack of any realist figuration, is a more original feature. The site of the discovery, on the Calavon plain (North Luberon), is in the northern part of the distribution area of engraved stelae. This confirms that several stelae are associated with the Calavon valley, in the same way as other stelae groups are associated with the Arc or Durance valleys. The two Gargas stelae are part of a group initially called B, then 'Lower-Durance group' or 'chevron-ornamented stelae group or Durance-group'. The ornamentation on these stelae is limited to the representation of a head consisting of the shape of the face, hollowed out, and a series of chevrons carved in relief.