M Besse
Biographic Data
| ID | 125546 |
|---|---|
| NAME | M Besse |
| GIVEN NAMES | M |
| FAMILY NAME | Besse |
| SIGNATURE | BESSE M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Geneva |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4752-9070 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 31 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 119 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 31 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1998 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 7 |
Populations hiérarchisées, populations violentées ? Nouvelles perspectives sur les violences interpersonnelles au Néolithique final et au Campaniforme autour du Mont Blanc
Ce document a été généré automatiquement le 13 janvier 2026.Le texte seul est utilisable
Between stone and ash: Combined method study of Middle Neolithic (4500-3500 BC) cremation and funerary practices in Dolmen A, cairn of Goasseac’h, Brittany, France
International audience
Biography of a Levantine dolmen during the Early Bronze Age: Construction, reuse and memory at Rjile (Kufr Yuba, North Jordan)
International audience
Reconstructing Late Prehistoric Occupation in the Southern Levant: Irbid as a Case Study for Settlements and Funerary Patterns
The region of Irbid (Jordan) in the southern Levant has been known for its megalithic structures since the end of the 19th century. But despite hundreds of dolmens inventoried, it has never been the subject of an in-depth study. This article contributes to a better understanding of human occupation in the area during the 4th and 3rd millennium b.c.e., based on unpublished data collected in September 2005 by a co-directed Jordanian and French miss…
First Swiss alpine agropastoral societies: Contribution of isotope analysis to the study of their diet and mobility
The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral societies by studying their dietary practices and mobility. Using the principles of isotopic biogeochemistry, the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13 C), nitrogen (δ15 N) and sulphur (δ34 S) on bone collagen and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) on dental enamel were measured to discuss the diet and residence history of 49 individuals from the Middle Neolith…
Who venerated the ancestors at the Petit-Chasseur site? Examining Early Bronze Age cultic activities around megalithic monuments through the archaeometric analyses of ceramic findings (Upper Rhône Val…
Through the analyses of recovered pottery, this study explores the social dimension of an ancestor cult developed at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis (Upper Rhône Valley, Switzerland) during the Early Bronze Age (2200-1600 BC). The jar votive offerings and domestic pottery from settlement sites were characterized using a range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Acquired archaeometric data allowed identification of six ceramic fa…
Titelseiten
Potters’ Mobility Contributed to the Emergence of the Bell Beaker Phenomenon in Third Millennium BCE Alpine Switzerland: A Diachronic Technology Study of Domestic and Funerary Traditions
The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Small-scale technological studies investigating its integration in local contexts remain rare, even though these are crucial to observing disruptions in traditions. In this article, we studied the ceramic technology of Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age settlements of the Upper Rhône valley in Switzerland (3300–1600 BCE). We reconstructe…
Who Was Buried at the Petit-Chasseur Site? The Contribution of Archaeometric Analyses of Final Neolithic and Bell Beaker Domestic Pottery to the Understanding of the Megalith-Erecting Society of the U…
The Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis is a key archaeological context for analyzing the social and ideological changes at the end of the Neolithic in the Alpine region of Central Europe. The link between the funerary monuments and settlement sites was established by means of ceramic archaeometric analysis. Domestic pottery from settlement sites were thoroughly characterized using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Twelve cerami…
Human Skeletons, Grave Goods and Textual Sources: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Southwestern Switzerland’s Late Iron Age Communities through the Study of their Funerary Rites
This paper’s primary focus is the investigation of Late Iron Age funeral practices. This is carried out by means of a multidisciplinary study of two necropolises, Randogne – Bluche and Sion – Parking des Remparts, which are located in southwestern Switzerland. The overall purpose of this paper is to enhance the socio-cultural understanding of this period through an integrated approach that combines the fields of bioanthropology, archaeology and a…
Funerals During the Second Iron age: A Newly Discovered Sepulchral Ensemble Reveals Practices in Western Switzerland (Pré-Du-Stand, Geneva)
During preventive archaeological excavations at the site of Pré-du-Stand in Geneva (Switzerland) in 2015 and 2016, four cremations dating to the middle La Tène period (La Tène C2/200-150 BC) were found. This discovery sheds light on Second Iron Age societies, which remain poorly understood to this day. Analysis based on existing anthropological knowledge and funerary artefacts suggest these structures represent a female grave, two warrior graves,…
Foyers empierrés du Bronze final: Nouvelles données anthracologiques issues des structures de combustion du Pré-du-Stand (Grand-Saconnex, Genève, Suisse)
Quatre foyers datés du Bronze final, dont trois à pierres chauffées, ont été découverts récemment lors de l’opération d’archéologie préventive menée sur le site du Pré-du-Stand au Grand-Saconnex (canton de Genève). Leur étude anthracologique avait pour objectif de mieux comprendre les stratégies de sélection du bois en lien avec le fonctionnement de ces structures de combustion. Les résultats parlent en faveur d’une sélection de bois non dégradé …
Raw material choices and material characterization of the 3 rd and 2 nd millennium BC pottery from the Petit‐Chasseur necropolis: Insights into the megalith‐erecting society of the Upper Rhône Valley,…
Owing to its well‐preserved and long‐lasting archaeological record, the necropolis of Petit‐Chasseur in the Upper Rhône Valley (3100–1600 BC) showcases the economic, social, and ideological changes of 3 rd and 2 nd millennium BC Europe excellently. An in‐depth investigation of pottery artifacts was carried out using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Nine types of ceramic fabrics were identified based on the variety of temper and …
More than the sum of their parts: Reconstituting the paleopathological profile of the individual and commingled Neolithic populations of Western Switzerland
This research focuses on the Neolithic populations of Western Switzerland (5500-2200 BCE) and on establishing their paleopathological profile. This chronological period presents varying burial practices, and the aim was to be able to synthesise all information regarding the pathologies these populations exhibited, in such a way that statistical tests could be performed to determine whether geographical (site location), biological (age, sex, statu…
El Castillo cave (Cantabria, Spain): Archeozoological comparison between the Mousterian occupation level (unit 20) and the “Aurignacien de transition de type El Castillo” (unit 18)
In Spain, the site of El Castillo is part of the emblematic cave system of Cantabria, famous for its cave art. They are registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2008. This archaeological site is also important due its stratigraphic sequence, which spans several prehistoric occupation units and in particular the techno-complexes of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. These constitute the subject of this article. We carried out …
Discovery of a multi-chambered long cairn at Goasseac'h, Carhaix-Plouguer, central Brittany, France
The discovery of a multi-chambered long cairn in central Brittany dating to the Middle Neolithic period challenges previous conceptions of the coastal focus of Neolithic society in this region
Cases of serpens endocrania symmetrica in young individuals from Neolithic Western Switzerland: Description and interpretation
Endocranial lesions known as serpens endocrania symmetrica (SES) appear relatively frequently in the paleopathological record, but their significance often goes undiscussed. For the past decade, however, research has proved conclusively that their presence is an indicator of illnesses within the corpus. As such, cases found in the archaeological record can provide clues as to the kinds of diseases that prehistoric populations endured. We report f…
Pottery technology as a revealer of cultural and symbolic shifts: Funerary and ritual practices in the Sion 'Petit-Chasseur' megalithic necropolis (3100-1600 BC, Western Switzerland)
Research on the third millennium BC in Western Europe has tried for decades to understand the mechanisms of the large-scale cultural changes that took place during its course. Few studies have focused on technological traditions, although these are key to considering continuities and disruptions. In this article, we used pottery technology to approach the evolution of social and symbolic practices at a major megalithic site in Switzerland: the ne…
Étude bioanthropologique et analyse des rituels funéraires de quatre sépultures plurielles du Premier âge du Fer de la nécropole de «Don Bosco» à Sion (Suisse, Valais)
Deville Anaïs, Desideri Jocelyne, Mariéthoz François, Besse Marie. Étude bioanthropologique et analyse des rituels funéraires de quatre sépultures plurielles du Premier âge du Fer de la nécropole de «Don Bosco» à Sion (Suisse, Valais). In: Bulletin de l'Association Française pour l'Étude de l’Âge du Fer, n°37, 2019. pp. 11-13
First Obsidian in the Northern French Alps during the Early Neolithic
An exceptional discovery was made in 2013 in the northern French Alps, at the Grande Rivoire site in Sassenage (Isre department): an obsidian bladelet from Sardinia was found in a cultural horizon dated to about 5360-5210 CAL B.C. The abundant arrowheads found with it are characteristic of the Early Neolithic in the South of France (Cardial/Epicardial). Yet there was no pottery or domestic fauna, and only discrete markers of farming. The typologi…
Nouvelles découvertes laténiennes à Sboryanovo (Bulgarie)
Les fouilles et les recherches récentes menées sur les nécropoles royales de la réserve archéologique de Sboryanovo, au nord-est de la Bulgarie, ont permis de mettre en évidence toute une série de vestiges de faciès typologique laténien datés de la fin du IVe et du début du IIIe s. av. J.-C
Qarassa, vestiges d’une société à mégalithes dans le Leja en Syrie du Sud, entre 3600 et 3000 avant J.-C
Au Bronze ancien I dans le sud du Leja, les habitants de Qarassa profitèrent des coulées de basalte altérées, se délitant facilement en petits blocs ou en grandes dalles selon les zones, pour construire des maisons à double abside, des enclos pour protéger leurs ressources et des dolmens pour leurs défunts. Outre un savoir-faire architectural qui comprend la manipulation de blocs de plusieurs tonnes et l’adoption de plans pour leurs monuments int…
Reconstructing carcass processing related to elk (Alces alces) exploitation during the Late Mesolithic: The case of Zamostje 2 (Central Russia)
De la dent à l'individu, du groupe humain à son histoire: Le phénomène campaniforme dans le nord de l'Espagne
Entité de la fin du Néolithique européen, le Campaniforme, que l’on a du mal à définir et à cerner comme un tout, a bénéficié d’interprétations diverses et variées. À l’origine de ces difficultés, son ample répartition géographique et ses composantes culturelles complexes. Depuis quelques années maintenant, la recherche au sein du laboratoire d’archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie de l’université de Genève privilégie les études à l’échelle …
Provenance of Early Bronze Age metal artefacts in Western Switzerland using elemental and lead isotopic compositions and their possible relation with copper minerals of the nearby Valais
Provenance of Early Bronze Age metal artefacts in Western Switzerland using elemental and lead isotopic compositions and their possible relation with copper minerals of the nearby Valais
Lead isotopes and archaeometallurgy
of Anthropology and Ecology) of the University of Geneva with the financial support of the Swiss National Science Foundation.Dr. F. Cattin and Dr. B. Guénette-Beck were in charge of the scientific organization.More than 30 scientists from
Swiss Bell Beaker population dynamics: Eastern or Southern Influences
El Castillo cave (Cantabria, Spain): Archeozoological comparison between the Mousterian occupation level (unit 20) and the “Aurignacien de transition de type El Castillo” (unit 18)
In Spain, the site of El Castillo is part of the emblematic cave system of Cantabria, famous for its cave art. They are registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2008. This archaeological site is also important due its stratigraphic sequence, which spans several prehistoric occupation units and in particular the techno-complexes of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. These constitute the subject of this article. We carried out …
Pottery technology as a revealer of cultural and symbolic shifts: Funerary and ritual practices in the Sion 'Petit-Chasseur' megalithic necropolis (3100-1600 BC, Western Switzerland)
Research on the third millennium BC in Western Europe has tried for decades to understand the mechanisms of the large-scale cultural changes that took place during its course. Few studies have focused on technological traditions, although these are key to considering continuities and disruptions. In this article, we used pottery technology to approach the evolution of social and symbolic practices at a major megalithic site in Switzerland: the ne…
Copper supply during the Final Neolithic at the Saint-Blaise/Bains des Dames site (Neuchâtel, Switzerland)
Les céramiques communes des Campaniformes européens
Die Glockenbecherzeit ist als Einheit immer noch ziemlich schlecht definiert, obwohl es schon zahlreiche Arbeiten über diese Epoche gibt. Ihr Ausbreitungsareal ist so gross, dass man sich einige Fragen stellen muss : Haben wir es mit einer Ideologie zu tun ? Mit Völkern ? Mit einer Völkerwanderung ? Betraf diese mehrere Menschengruppen ? Gab es nur eine Wanderungswelle oder mehrere ? In welche Richtungen ? Wir werden versuchen, diese Fragen anhan…
Qarassa, vestiges d’une société à mégalithes dans le Leja en Syrie du Sud, entre 3600 et 3000 avant J.-C
Au Bronze ancien I dans le sud du Leja, les habitants de Qarassa profitèrent des coulées de basalte altérées, se délitant facilement en petits blocs ou en grandes dalles selon les zones, pour construire des maisons à double abside, des enclos pour protéger leurs ressources et des dolmens pour leurs défunts. Outre un savoir-faire architectural qui comprend la manipulation de blocs de plusieurs tonnes et l’adoption de plans pour leurs monuments int…
Raw material choices and material characterization of the 3 rd and 2 nd millennium BC pottery from the Petit‐Chasseur necropolis: Insights into the megalith‐erecting society of the Upper Rhône Valley,…
Owing to its well‐preserved and long‐lasting archaeological record, the necropolis of Petit‐Chasseur in the Upper Rhône Valley (3100–1600 BC) showcases the economic, social, and ideological changes of 3 rd and 2 nd millennium BC Europe excellently. An in‐depth investigation of pottery artifacts was carried out using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Nine types of ceramic fabrics were identified based on the variety of temper and …
Cases of serpens endocrania symmetrica in young individuals from Neolithic Western Switzerland: Description and interpretation
Endocranial lesions known as serpens endocrania symmetrica (SES) appear relatively frequently in the paleopathological record, but their significance often goes undiscussed. For the past decade, however, research has proved conclusively that their presence is an indicator of illnesses within the corpus. As such, cases found in the archaeological record can provide clues as to the kinds of diseases that prehistoric populations endured. We report f…
Potters’ Mobility Contributed to the Emergence of the Bell Beaker Phenomenon in Third Millennium BCE Alpine Switzerland: A Diachronic Technology Study of Domestic and Funerary Traditions
The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Small-scale technological studies investigating its integration in local contexts remain rare, even though these are crucial to observing disruptions in traditions. In this article, we studied the ceramic technology of Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age settlements of the Upper Rhône valley in Switzerland (3300–1600 BCE). We reconstructe…
More than the sum of their parts: Reconstituting the paleopathological profile of the individual and commingled Neolithic populations of Western Switzerland
This research focuses on the Neolithic populations of Western Switzerland (5500-2200 BCE) and on establishing their paleopathological profile. This chronological period presents varying burial practices, and the aim was to be able to synthesise all information regarding the pathologies these populations exhibited, in such a way that statistical tests could be performed to determine whether geographical (site location), biological (age, sex, statu…
Des Campaniformes européens au Campaniforme méditerranéen
The difficulties related to our understanding of the Bell Beaker phenomenon are mainly due to the huge geographical area covered and the presence of pan-European features in conjunction with purely regional components. To consider only ceramics, both decorated and undecorated pots are found. The latter have forms which sometimes proceed from the late Neolithic or, on the contrary, may be new. These are the Begleitkeramik or so-called "common" or …
First Swiss alpine agropastoral societies: Contribution of isotope analysis to the study of their diet and mobility
The aim of this study is to add new data to the knowledge of the first alpine agro-pastoral societies by studying their dietary practices and mobility. Using the principles of isotopic biogeochemistry, the stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13 C), nitrogen (δ15 N) and sulphur (δ34 S) on bone collagen and strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) on dental enamel were measured to discuss the diet and residence history of 49 individuals from the Middle Neolith…
Foyers empierrés du Bronze final: Nouvelles données anthracologiques issues des structures de combustion du Pré-du-Stand (Grand-Saconnex, Genève, Suisse)
Quatre foyers datés du Bronze final, dont trois à pierres chauffées, ont été découverts récemment lors de l’opération d’archéologie préventive menée sur le site du Pré-du-Stand au Grand-Saconnex (canton de Genève). Leur étude anthracologique avait pour objectif de mieux comprendre les stratégies de sélection du bois en lien avec le fonctionnement de ces structures de combustion. Les résultats parlent en faveur d’une sélection de bois non dégradé …
First Obsidian in the Northern French Alps during the Early Neolithic
An exceptional discovery was made in 2013 in the northern French Alps, at the Grande Rivoire site in Sassenage (Isre department): an obsidian bladelet from Sardinia was found in a cultural horizon dated to about 5360-5210 CAL B.C. The abundant arrowheads found with it are characteristic of the Early Neolithic in the South of France (Cardial/Epicardial). Yet there was no pottery or domestic fauna, and only discrete markers of farming. The typologi…
Reconstructing carcass processing related to elk (Alces alces) exploitation during the Late Mesolithic: The case of Zamostje 2 (Central Russia)
De la dent à l'individu, du groupe humain à son histoire: Le phénomène campaniforme dans le nord de l'Espagne
Entité de la fin du Néolithique européen, le Campaniforme, que l’on a du mal à définir et à cerner comme un tout, a bénéficié d’interprétations diverses et variées. À l’origine de ces difficultés, son ample répartition géographique et ses composantes culturelles complexes. Depuis quelques années maintenant, la recherche au sein du laboratoire d’archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie de l’université de Genève privilégie les études à l’échelle …
L'apport de l'étude de la céramique commune à la compréhension du Campaniforme
Bell Beaker pottery is characterised by decorated beakers and bowls, as well as by its common earthenware, which is especially important in settlements. The different shapes of these earthenware articles reflect local differences, which will be interpreted within the general Bell Beaker environment
Les céramiques communes des Campaniformes européens
Die Glockenbecherzeit ist als Einheit immer noch ziemlich schlecht definiert, obwohl es schon zahlreiche Arbeiten über diese Epoche gibt. Ihr Ausbreitungsareal ist so gross, dass man sich einige Fragen stellen muss : Haben wir es mit einer Ideologie zu tun ? Mit Völkern ? Mit einer Völkerwanderung ? Betraf diese mehrere Menschengruppen ? Gab es nur eine Wanderungswelle oder mehrere ? In welche Richtungen ? Wir werden versuchen, diese Fragen anhan…
Des Campaniformes européens au Campaniforme méditerranéen
The difficulties related to our understanding of the Bell Beaker phenomenon are mainly due to the huge geographical area covered and the presence of pan-European features in conjunction with purely regional components. To consider only ceramics, both decorated and undecorated pots are found. The latter have forms which sometimes proceed from the late Neolithic or, on the contrary, may be new. These are the Begleitkeramik or so-called "common" or …
Lead isotopes and archaeometallurgy
of Anthropology and Ecology) of the University of Geneva with the financial support of the Swiss National Science Foundation.Dr. F. Cattin and Dr. B. Guénette-Beck were in charge of the scientific organization.More than 30 scientists from
Copper supply during the Final Neolithic at the Saint-Blaise/Bains des Dames site (Neuchâtel, Switzerland)
Swiss Bell Beaker population dynamics: Eastern or Southern Influences
Provenance of Early Bronze Age metal artefacts in Western Switzerland using elemental and lead isotopic compositions and their possible relation with copper minerals of the nearby Valais
De la dent à l'individu, du groupe humain à son histoire: Le phénomène campaniforme dans le nord de l'Espagne
Entité de la fin du Néolithique européen, le Campaniforme, que l’on a du mal à définir et à cerner comme un tout, a bénéficié d’interprétations diverses et variées. À l’origine de ces difficultés, son ample répartition géographique et ses composantes culturelles complexes. Depuis quelques années maintenant, la recherche au sein du laboratoire d’archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie de l’université de Genève privilégie les études à l’échelle …
Reconstructing carcass processing related to elk (Alces alces) exploitation during the Late Mesolithic: The case of Zamostje 2 (Central Russia)
Nouvelles découvertes laténiennes à Sboryanovo (Bulgarie)
Les fouilles et les recherches récentes menées sur les nécropoles royales de la réserve archéologique de Sboryanovo, au nord-est de la Bulgarie, ont permis de mettre en évidence toute une série de vestiges de faciès typologique laténien datés de la fin du IVe et du début du IIIe s. av. J.-C
Qarassa, vestiges d’une société à mégalithes dans le Leja en Syrie du Sud, entre 3600 et 3000 avant J.-C
Au Bronze ancien I dans le sud du Leja, les habitants de Qarassa profitèrent des coulées de basalte altérées, se délitant facilement en petits blocs ou en grandes dalles selon les zones, pour construire des maisons à double abside, des enclos pour protéger leurs ressources et des dolmens pour leurs défunts. Outre un savoir-faire architectural qui comprend la manipulation de blocs de plusieurs tonnes et l’adoption de plans pour leurs monuments int…
Étude bioanthropologique et analyse des rituels funéraires de quatre sépultures plurielles du Premier âge du Fer de la nécropole de «Don Bosco» à Sion (Suisse, Valais)
Deville Anaïs, Desideri Jocelyne, Mariéthoz François, Besse Marie. Étude bioanthropologique et analyse des rituels funéraires de quatre sépultures plurielles du Premier âge du Fer de la nécropole de «Don Bosco» à Sion (Suisse, Valais). In: Bulletin de l'Association Française pour l'Étude de l’Âge du Fer, n°37, 2019. pp. 11-13
First Obsidian in the Northern French Alps during the Early Neolithic
An exceptional discovery was made in 2013 in the northern French Alps, at the Grande Rivoire site in Sassenage (Isre department): an obsidian bladelet from Sardinia was found in a cultural horizon dated to about 5360-5210 CAL B.C. The abundant arrowheads found with it are characteristic of the Early Neolithic in the South of France (Cardial/Epicardial). Yet there was no pottery or domestic fauna, and only discrete markers of farming. The typologi…
El Castillo cave (Cantabria, Spain): Archeozoological comparison between the Mousterian occupation level (unit 20) and the “Aurignacien de transition de type El Castillo” (unit 18)
In Spain, the site of El Castillo is part of the emblematic cave system of Cantabria, famous for its cave art. They are registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2008. This archaeological site is also important due its stratigraphic sequence, which spans several prehistoric occupation units and in particular the techno-complexes of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. These constitute the subject of this article. We carried out …
Discovery of a multi-chambered long cairn at Goasseac'h, Carhaix-Plouguer, central Brittany, France
The discovery of a multi-chambered long cairn in central Brittany dating to the Middle Neolithic period challenges previous conceptions of the coastal focus of Neolithic society in this region
Cases of serpens endocrania symmetrica in young individuals from Neolithic Western Switzerland: Description and interpretation
Endocranial lesions known as serpens endocrania symmetrica (SES) appear relatively frequently in the paleopathological record, but their significance often goes undiscussed. For the past decade, however, research has proved conclusively that their presence is an indicator of illnesses within the corpus. As such, cases found in the archaeological record can provide clues as to the kinds of diseases that prehistoric populations endured. We report f…
Pottery technology as a revealer of cultural and symbolic shifts: Funerary and ritual practices in the Sion 'Petit-Chasseur' megalithic necropolis (3100-1600 BC, Western Switzerland)
Research on the third millennium BC in Western Europe has tried for decades to understand the mechanisms of the large-scale cultural changes that took place during its course. Few studies have focused on technological traditions, although these are key to considering continuities and disruptions. In this article, we used pottery technology to approach the evolution of social and symbolic practices at a major megalithic site in Switzerland: the ne…
Funerals During the Second Iron age: A Newly Discovered Sepulchral Ensemble Reveals Practices in Western Switzerland (Pré-Du-Stand, Geneva)
During preventive archaeological excavations at the site of Pré-du-Stand in Geneva (Switzerland) in 2015 and 2016, four cremations dating to the middle La Tène period (La Tène C2/200-150 BC) were found. This discovery sheds light on Second Iron Age societies, which remain poorly understood to this day. Analysis based on existing anthropological knowledge and funerary artefacts suggest these structures represent a female grave, two warrior graves,…
Foyers empierrés du Bronze final: Nouvelles données anthracologiques issues des structures de combustion du Pré-du-Stand (Grand-Saconnex, Genève, Suisse)
Quatre foyers datés du Bronze final, dont trois à pierres chauffées, ont été découverts récemment lors de l’opération d’archéologie préventive menée sur le site du Pré-du-Stand au Grand-Saconnex (canton de Genève). Leur étude anthracologique avait pour objectif de mieux comprendre les stratégies de sélection du bois en lien avec le fonctionnement de ces structures de combustion. Les résultats parlent en faveur d’une sélection de bois non dégradé …
Raw material choices and material characterization of the 3 rd and 2 nd millennium BC pottery from the Petit‐Chasseur necropolis: Insights into the megalith‐erecting society of the Upper Rhône Valley,…
Owing to its well‐preserved and long‐lasting archaeological record, the necropolis of Petit‐Chasseur in the Upper Rhône Valley (3100–1600 BC) showcases the economic, social, and ideological changes of 3 rd and 2 nd millennium BC Europe excellently. An in‐depth investigation of pottery artifacts was carried out using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Nine types of ceramic fabrics were identified based on the variety of temper and …
More than the sum of their parts: Reconstituting the paleopathological profile of the individual and commingled Neolithic populations of Western Switzerland
This research focuses on the Neolithic populations of Western Switzerland (5500-2200 BCE) and on establishing their paleopathological profile. This chronological period presents varying burial practices, and the aim was to be able to synthesise all information regarding the pathologies these populations exhibited, in such a way that statistical tests could be performed to determine whether geographical (site location), biological (age, sex, statu…
Titelseiten
Potters’ Mobility Contributed to the Emergence of the Bell Beaker Phenomenon in Third Millennium BCE Alpine Switzerland: A Diachronic Technology Study of Domestic and Funerary Traditions
The spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon across Europe is still strongly debated today. Small-scale technological studies investigating its integration in local contexts remain rare, even though these are crucial to observing disruptions in traditions. In this article, we studied the ceramic technology of Final Neolithic, Bell Beaker period, and Early Bronze Age settlements of the Upper Rhône valley in Switzerland (3300–1600 BCE). We reconstructe…
Who Was Buried at the Petit-Chasseur Site? The Contribution of Archaeometric Analyses of Final Neolithic and Bell Beaker Domestic Pottery to the Understanding of the Megalith-Erecting Society of the U…
The Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis is a key archaeological context for analyzing the social and ideological changes at the end of the Neolithic in the Alpine region of Central Europe. The link between the funerary monuments and settlement sites was established by means of ceramic archaeometric analysis. Domestic pottery from settlement sites were thoroughly characterized using multiple spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Twelve cerami…
Human Skeletons, Grave Goods and Textual Sources: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Southwestern Switzerland’s Late Iron Age Communities through the Study of their Funerary Rites
This paper’s primary focus is the investigation of Late Iron Age funeral practices. This is carried out by means of a multidisciplinary study of two necropolises, Randogne – Bluche and Sion – Parking des Remparts, which are located in southwestern Switzerland. The overall purpose of this paper is to enhance the socio-cultural understanding of this period through an integrated approach that combines the fields of bioanthropology, archaeology and a…
Geography (22 works) · Archaeology (20 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (20 works) · Art (11 works) · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology (10 works) · History (9 works) · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (8 works) · Humanities (8 works) · Pottery (8 works) · Beaker (7 works)