SESSION 3

Metamorphoses of valleys in prehistory (in the broad sense): from site to watershed

Kim Génuite, Igor Girault, Audiard Benjamin, Delmas Magali, Bon François, Julienne Piana

 kim.genuite@gmail.com

Evidence of human presence dating back to Prehistory is frequently preserved within karstic cavities, as well as in so-called open-air sites associated with fluvial or slope deposits. The formation and evolution processes of prehistoric sites and deposits—at the scale of the site, the cave, and the slope—are therefore dependent on the evolution of the fluvial system at the scale of the valley segment and the drainage basin.

Methodological innovations in dating techniques (luminescence, electron spin resonance, cosmogenic nuclides), in the characterisation of deposits (provenance analyses, source-to-sink approaches), and in spatial correlations (LiDAR topography, 3D modelling) now make it possible to better understand the respective roles of climatic, tectonic, and lithological factors in the evolution of fluvial systems across various spatial and temporal scales.

These data also help to better characterise the timing of landscape transformations that occurred throughout the Quaternary, as well as their role in the genesis of past ecosystems and even in population dynamics.

This session aims to explore recent advances in understanding the evolution of fluvial and karstic systems during the Quaternary, their influence on the formation of archaeological sites, and the factors guiding settlement choices. In this way, it seeks to promote dialogue and collaboration among communities of researchers—geomorphologists, geoarchaeologists, and archaeologists—interested in the evolution of valleys across different spatial and temporal scales.

Keywords: Fluvial archives, karst, valleys, Prehistory, archaeology, landscapes.