A tooth found in Tautavel becomes “the oldest human remains in France” – Liberation

This is a tweet that the museum Tautavel announced the news yesterday: “Discovery. A tooth 550 000 years, the oldest human remains found in France. “ This absolutely exceptional relic has been discovered in the Arago Cave, an archaeological site located in the vicinity of Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales) .

The excavations began in the 1960s at the Tautavel cave, overlooking the gorges of Verdouble. Just above the river, near a ford which passed delicious herbivores, it was a dream shelter for hunters and gatherers of the Middle Pleistocene, prehistoric period of the current year between 781 000 and 126 000 years .

More specifically, prehistoric man who lived in the cave there are 300 000-450 000 years was named “Tautavel man” after the discovery by archaeologist Henry de Lumley and his team Tens of fossil fragments, including from skulls. The star of the remains has the nickname of Arago 21: this is a remarkably complete skull, released in 1971 and completed in 1979 by a parietal bone that it followed suit to perfection, as in a puzzle. At the time of their discovery, they marked the earliest evidence of the presence of hominids to 450,000 years in France.

The Arago Cave is always searched every summer. Besides kilos of animal remains cold climates and stone tools, the work of recent years have helped to uncover human mandibles (lower jaw bone), humerus, a femur and fibula, and incisive last year … The pantry depends on the excavated stratum. Archeology basic principle: more is deeper, it’s old

“This year, the oldest being excavated levels correspond to a cold period, dry, windy. , about 560 000 years “ says Tautavel site in a statement. At that time, “The Acheulian hunters have abandoned the cave the remains of their meal: horses, reindeer, bison, rhinoceros, sheep … These occupancy levels are littered with animal bones and dislocated, fractured and cut stones used on site. But Thursday is a human tooth that has emerged from these remains. “

Photo European Prehistoric Centre Tautavel

On the estimated age of 560,000 years, she is 100,000 years older than the first traces of man Tautavel that was available. Hence the exceptional nature of his discovery. This is a lower central incisor from an adult body, well worn. “This tooth will allow researchers, through the study of internal characters including 3D imaging, to better characterize the morphology of the first European” , says one in Tautavel. On site, volunteers hope excavators well clear of other similar fossils hidden behind the tooth. The excitement was at its height.

Arago Cast of 21 skull. man Tautavel. Photo Luna04, CC BY SA