With National Science Foundation support, Dr. Dibble and his colleagues will conduct three seasons of archaeological excavation and analysis at the site of Cagny-l'Epinette which is located in the Somme Valley of northern France. They will collaborate with Professor Alain Tuffreau and his team who have worked at this site for several years. Excavation to date indicates multiple archaeological levels, the lowest of which is the focus of this project. It contains materials from the Acheulian culture as well as associated faunal remains. Geological evidence indicates it dates to more than 700,000 years ago and the distribution of materials and the nature of the matrix within which they are contained suggest it may represent a living floor. Dr. Dibble and team will attempt to determine whether this, in fact, is correct. In the course of their excavation, they will apply a number of techniques which have never been used before in tandem in the excavation of such a site. All artifact orientations and distributions will be noted; a concerted effort will be made to recover very small remains; lithic artifacts and bone will be refit; fauna will be studied from a taphonomic perspective and sediment magnetic measurements will be made. On this basis the investigators hope to determine the extent of post depositional disturbance. The archaeological meaning of the materials can then be addressed. This research is important for three reasons. The Acheulian peoples were among the first to move from Africa to the more temperate regions of the Old World. While many Acheulian sites are known, very few contain in situ material which permit cultural interpretation. From this perspective Cagny-l'Epinette may be an exception which provides information on early human subsistence and social organization. Secondly, the research is important for methodological reasons. When archaeologists excavate surfaces such as this it is extremely difficult to disentangle the "cultural" and "natural" forces which played a role in their formation. Dr. Dibble's work will help to develop techniques, applicable in a wide range of sites, which may make this possible. Finally, this project includes a number of students and will assist in the training of these young scientists.
