Abstract

1Discovery of a large deposit of lithic and faunal remains during the building of a pumping station near the La Borde farm (Livernon, Lot) led Monsieur Lorblanchet to mount an urgent rescue excavation in spring 1971, followed by systematic study of spoil from the site over several years.

2The site lies on a limestone plateau forming part of the Causses de Quercy, on the eastern border of the Bassin aquitain. Construction work had already destroyed a large part of the filling of an aven, but section mapping and spot excavations made it possible to establish the stratigraphic sequence and confirm that all remains belonged to a single thick archaeological layer.

3The sedimentological study carried out in the difficult context of the time allows definition of the type of deposit and its transformation through colluvial action, which shifted the remains in situ. Compaction and concretionment affected a considerable portion of the sequence.

4Large mammals are abundant, more than 93% of animal remains being those of Aurochs (Bos primigenius). Detailed paleolontological study of these has contributed new and original elements to current knowledge of Aurochs dentition, and allowed a more specific definition of the structure and size of their population (MNI = 40). Associated species include horse (Equus caballus), hydrun‑tine horse (Equus hydruntinus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wolf (Cams lupus) and indicate a temperate period related either to the last interglacial (isotopic stage 5) or more likely to an anterior stage (stage 7).

5The lithic industry, essentially concentrating on quartz, belongs to the Middle Paleolithic, and is characterized by the presence of particular features (notches, denticulates and polyhedrons) possibly related to specific activities. Waste flakes (lineal and centripetal) corresponding to the Levallois technique are present, together with a few flint scrapers of local or exotic origin.

6Archaeozoological analysis supplies complementary data enabling speculation on the function of the site and its role in the activities of the Mousterian hunters. It seems to have been used repeatedly for non‑seasonal occupation recurring throughout the year, no doubt for a specific purpose : the capturing of Aurochs young and females. This is therefore not so much a dwelling‑site as a hunting centre, inhabited for periods whose length is difficult to estimate. The hunting strategy involved demonstrates well thought‑out exploitation and thorough knowledge of the environment, very different from simple opportunistic behaviour, on the part, of La Borde Man. Other Middle Paleolithic sites in South‑West France (Coudoulous, Mauran) also show similar focused hunting use, but this time for bison. Rapid comparison with Holocene sites in North America show them to differ considerably.