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Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal populations occupied Eurasia for at least 250,000 years prior to the arrival of anatomically modern humans. While a considerable body of archaeological research has focused on Neanderthal material culture and subsistence strategies, little attention has been paid to the relationship between regionally specific cultural trajectories and their associated existing fundamental ecological niches, nor to how the latter varied across periods of climatic variability. We examine the Middle Paleolithic archaeological record of a naturally constrained region of Western Europe between 82,000 and 60,000 years ago using ecological niche modeling methods. Evaluations of ecological niche estimations, in both geographic and environmental dimensions, indicate that 70,000 years ago the range of suitable habitats exploited by these Neanderthal populations contracted and shifted. These ecological niche dynamics are the result of groups continuing to occupy habitual territories that were characterized by new environmental conditions during Marine Isotope Stage 4. The development of original cultural adaptations permitted this territorial stability.

The dispersal of hominin groups with an Acheulian technology and associated bifacial tools into northern latitudes is central to the debate over the timing of the oldest human occupation of Europe. New evidence resulting from the rediscovery and the dating of the historic site of Moulin Quignon demonstrates that the first Acheulian occupation north of 50°N occurred around 670–650 ka ago. The new archaeological assemblage was discovered in a sequence of fluvial sands and gravels overlying the chalk bedrock at a relative height of 40 m above the present-day maximal incision of the Somme River and dated by ESR on quartz to early MIS 16. More than 260 flint artefacts were recovered, including large flakes, cores and five bifaces. This discovery pushes back the age of the oldest Acheulian occupation of north-western Europe by more than 100 ka and bridges the gap between the archaeological records of northern France and England. It also challenges hominin dispersal models in Europe showing that hominins using bifacial technology, such as Homo heidelbergensis , were probably able to overcome cold climate conditions as early as 670–650 ka ago and reasserts the importance of the Somme valley, where Prehistory was born at the end of the 19 th century.

Mainland France is part of a plate interior with a strong structural heritage, undergoing a low rate of deformation, where destructive earthquakes can nevertheless occur. In this paper, we emphasize that the knowledge of active faults is still largely fragmentary, and that significant efforts are needed to generate robust data, in particular on the numerous faults, that still lack any study. This is the aim of the “Failles ACTives France” (FACT) axis launched in the framework of the Transverse Seismicity Action (ATS) of the Resif-Epos consortium. We present some recent investigations carried out along suspected active faults in mountainous areas, their forelands and remote lowlands, which implement new approaches and new tools, and allow characterizing their Quaternary activity.

La découverte du site de Fresnoy-au-Val (vallée de la Somme, Picardie) enrichit un peu plus les données concernant le Début Glaciaire weichsélien dans le Nord de la France. Réalisée en 2002, la fouille a mis en évidence deux niveaux d'occupation montrant chacun des particularités spécifiques dans leurs méthodes de débitage et leurs répartitions spatiales. Tout d'abord, l'analyse des industries permet d'appréhender les systèmes techniques mis en œuvre. C'est ensuite l'étude de certains remontages couplés aux répartitions spatiales qui offrent un éclairage nouveau sur les modalités d'occupation des hommes de cette époque. The discovery of the settlement of Fresnoy-au-Val (Somme valley, Picardy) provides further data concerning the Early Glacial Weichselian in the North of France. The excavations carried out in 2002 revealed two occupation levels, each showing specific characteristics in their lithic artefacts configuration and their spatial distribution. First of all, analysis of the industries allows the technical systems used to be grasped, then the study of some refitted elements in conjunction with the spatial distribution sheds new light on the modalities of human occupation during this period.

Le débitage laminaire est fréquemment attesté au Paléolithique moyen dans les productions septentrionales (Tuffreau, 1983; Révillion, 1994; Locht, 2002). Il est, la plupart du temps, associé à d'autres types de productions (éclats et pointes). Néanmoins, la place qu'il occupe par rapport à ces derniers est loin d'être claire. S'il ne constitue généralement qu'une production secondaire en proportion, il peut également être exclusif dans de rares cas. Afin de comprendre sa représentativité dans les occupations moustériennes, nous nous sommes intéressés à sa fréquence au sein de différents ensembles archéologiques. Nous avons pour cela analysé cinq séries lithiques du Bassin parisien datant du Weichsélien ancien (SIM 5, soit entre environ 110 et 70 ka BP), à savoir celles d'Angé (Loir-et-Cher), les niveaux C et D de Soindres (Yvelines), le niveau supérieur d'Auteuil (Oise) et Villiers-Adam (Val-d'Oise). Ces séries ont retenu notre attention car les productions laminaires y sont quantitativement très variées, leur présence étant exclusive dans l'assemblage de Soindres, niveau D, minoritaire dans celui d'Angé et sporadique à Auteuil, Soindres, niveau C et Villiers-Adam. Leur étude a offert l'opportunité de mettre en relation les différences de proportion des productions laminaires au sein de ces ensembles archéologiques, pouvant s'expliquer, entre autre, par une importante fragmentation de la chaîne opératoire laminaire. En effet, des phénomènes d'export et d'import de lames sont systématiquement attestés. Quand le niveau D de Soindres suggère une production laminaire in situ ainsi qu'un export de lames, il en est tout autrement pour le niveau C de Soindres, le niveau supérieur d'Auteuil et Villiers-Adam pour lesquels un import de lame est constaté. Enfin, la série d'Angé révèle une position intermédiaire avec une production laminaire in situ accompagnée d'imports de lames. Cette fragmentation des chaînes opératoires laminaires dans l'espace et dans le temps doit être corrélée à celle également constatée pour les productions de pointes (Locht et al., 2003; Goval, 2008; Koehler, 2009) et d'éclats Levallois (Koehler, 2009). Ce constat, couplé aux fonctions manifestement variées des séries étudiées (halte, occupations brèves, occupations longues, répétées, etc.), nous amène à envisager une structuration singulière de l'espace géographique par les Paléolithiques dans le Bassin parisien au Weichsélien ancien, basée sur une forte mobilité des vestiges et donc probablement des hommes. Structuration de l'espace qui serait, en l'état actuel des données, différente pour les périodes ultérieures du Pléniglaciaire inférieur et moyen du Weichsélien. En effet, bien que ces périodes soient moins bien documentées que pour le Début Glaciaire du Weichsélien, les ensembles lithiques sont non seulement moins diversifiés mais semblent surtout plus réduits et davantage circonscrits dans l'espace. Ces observations nous amènent ainsi à proposer que produire des lames au Weichsélien ancien pourrait être une réponse à l'organisation spatiale singulière des tailleurs de l'époque, en lien avec leur forte mobilité. Blade production is common in northwest European industries for the Middle Palaeolithic (Tuffreau, 1983; Révillion, 1994; Locht, 2002). It is typically associated with the Early Weichselian (MIS 5d-a, ibid.). Its presence, even minor, is a strong marker and the assemblages containing this kind of production are systematically attributed to the 'Northwest European Technocomplex' (Depaepe, 2007). However, its frequency in the assemblages is rarely considered although it is far from being identical. Generally associated with other kinds of production (flakes and/or points), blade production most often represents 5-15% of the assemblage structure, but is sometimes very minor (1-2%) or, on the contrary, exclusive. The question of its status and frequency in relation to other production modes should be addressed. To explain the representativeness of blade production in Mousterian assemblages, we have examined its frequency in different archaeological assemblages. Five lithic assemblages from the Paris Basin dating to the Early Weichselian (MIS 5, ca. 110 to 70 ka BP) were selected: Angé (Loir-et-Cher), levels C and D at Soindres (Yvelines), the upper level at Auteuil (Oise) and Villiers-Adam (Val-d'Oise). These assemblages were chosen because blade production varies quite significantly between them. Angé contains a relatively minor blade production component (around 7% of the assemblage), with volumetric and pyramidal core structure, produced in situ and accompanied by the importation of blades, the latter frequently retouched. The industry in level D at Soindres is exclusively laminar (i.e., blade production represents 100% of all production), with a dominance of volumetric core structure, made in situ and accompanied by the export of blades. Finally, level C at Soindres, the upper level at Auteuil and Villiers-Adam show only the importation of rare blades in the assemblages (ca. 3%) and reflect volumetric core reduction. The present study offers an opportunity to identify the relationships between the differences in proportion of blade production within these assemblages, which could be explained, among other factors, by the significant fragmentation of the blade production chaîne opératoire. Indeed, some sites appear to be 'producers' and 'exporters' of blades, while others are 'importers' or 'consumers'. Such fragmentation of blade chaînes opératoires in space and time should be correlated with that also observed for point production (Locht et al., 2003; Goval, 2008; Koehler, 2009) and Levallois flake production (Koehler, 2009). Such splitting of these chaînes opératoires during the Early Weichselian in the Paris Basin may be correlated with variability in site function for the assemblages studied (halts, short-term camps, long-term occupations, repeated occupations, etc.). These observations lead us to propose interpretative hypotheses concerning the space occupation mode during this period. One of the responses, the most appealing, would be to consider these sites as evidence of different occupations by a single human group/set of human groups, each site having a specific function: some long/repeated occupations with varied activities would indicate long-duration occupations by all of the groups, others would reveal specific camps occupied by a few people leaving the base camp to carry out certain specific tasks, in line with the 'base camps' and 'logistical camps' proposed by L. and S. Binford (1966). This hypothesis, while attractive, cannot be confirmed as is, the main pitfall being the contemporaneity of the sites, which has not been conclusively demonstrated. However, it has the merit of highlighting the organization of space and the high degree of mobility of artefacts and thus probably of humans during the Early Weichselian in the Paris Basin. This observation is even more valid for more recent periods, the Lower and Middle Pleniglacial of the Weichselian, during which the organization of space appears to be entirely different. Indeed, although these periods are less well documented than the First Weichselian Glacial, the lithic assemblages are not only less diversified but appear especially small and more circumscribed in space. These observations, although they need to be developed and clarified, particularly given the rate of discovery of MIS 4 and 3 sites, currently demonstrate differences in the occupation of space in the Paris Basin during the recent phases of the Middle Palaeolithic. We are thus tempted to propose the hypothesis that blade production during the Weichselian may have been a response to the singular organization of knappers of the period, in line with a high degree of mobility.

Cet article constitue une présentation synthétique des principaux résultats du programme CNRS \"Paléoenvironnement et Hominidés\", consacré à l'étude des interactions entre le peuplement humain et l'évolution de l'environnement, entre 500 et 10 ka, par l'approche multidisciplinaire et diachronique des gisements clefs du bassin de la Somme. Les principaux résultats analytiques concernent les datations: ESR, TL-IRSL et 14C, qui renforcent le calage chronostratigraphique des différents gisements paléolithiques. Parallèlement les analyses bioclimatiques menées sur les sédiments fluviatiles (palynologie, malacologie, coléoptères), ou la mesure des variations du †13C du carbone organique et de la susceptibilité magnétique des loess et des paléosols ont permis d'affiner la restitution des différents paléoenvironnements pléistocènes, notamment interglaciaires. Les conclusions principales de la synthèse des données archéologiques, chronostratigraphiques et environnementales sont les suivantes: 1) Les premières occupations dans le bassin de la Somme remontent au maximum à environ 500-450 ka et sont d'emblée représentées par des industries acheuléennes déjà évoluées (début du stade 12, d'après les données des fouilles modernes). 2) Au cours du dernier cycle climatique l'occupation du bassin de la Somme et nettement discontinue et influencée par les modifications climatiques et environnementales: maximum de vestiges au cours du début-Glaciaire, quelques occupations pendant les Pléniglaciaires inférieurs et moyens, rares incursions vers 23-24 ka 14C, abandon total de la région entre 23 et 13 ka BP, puis recolonisation au début de l'amélioration climatique du Tardiglaciaire. 3) Bien que les données soient moins nombreuses, au cours du Pléistocène moyen le modèle du dernier cycle semble aussi valable pour la fin du Saalien (occupations humaines lors du la fin du stade 7 ou de transition 7/6 et abandon de la région lors du maximum de froid du stade 6). 4) Pour la période 500/450-200 ka les sites se localisent préférentiellement lors des périodes de transition climatique (début-Glaciaire ou tardiglaciaires). D'une manière générale, le peuplement du bassin de la Somme semble donc s'être effectué d'une manière nettement discontinue et avoir été fortement influencé par les conditions climatiques et enviornnementales. This paper represents a synthetic overview of the main results of the CNRS Programme \"Palaeoenvironments and Hominids\". This project focused on the study of interactions between human occupation and environmental modification, between 500 and 10 kyrs BP, based on multidisciplinary and diachronic studies of key sites in the Somme Basin. The main analytic results concern ESR, TL-IRSL and 14C dates, which reinforce the chronostratigraphical interpretation of the various Palaeolithic sites. At the same time, bioclimatic analyses of fluvial sediments (palynology, malacology, analysis of Coleoptera), combined with the measurement of δ13C variations of organic carbon, and of the low-field magnetic susceptibility in loess and fossil soils, allowed the restitution of the various Pleistocene environments, and especially of the full Interglacials, to be refined. The main conclusions of the synthesis of archaeological, chronostratigraphical and environmental data are the following. 1) The earliest human occupations in the Somme Basin are no older than 500-450 kyrs BP and are straight away represented by well evolved Acheulean industries (beginning of MIS 12, according to the data from modern excavations). 2) During the last climatic cycle, human occupation of the Somme Basin was clearly discontinuous and strongly influenced by climatic and environmental modifications: maximum during the Early-Glacial, some occupations during the Lower and Middle Maximum Glaciations, rare occurrences around 23-24 kyrs (14C), total abandonment of the area between 23 and 13 kyrs, then reoccupation with the beginning of the Lateglacial climatic improvement. 3) Although the data are less numerous, the model of the last climatic cycle seems to apply during the Middle Pleistocene for the end of the Saalian (occupation at the end of MIS 7 or at the transition MIS7/MIS6, and desertion of the area during the cold maximum of MIS 6). 4) Finally, between 500/450 and 200 kyrs human settlements mainly occurred during periods of climatic transition (Early or Lateglacial). From a general point of view, the human occupation of the Somme Basin during the Middle Pleistocene was therefore discontinuous and strongly influenced by climatic and environmental factors.

La fouille effectuée dans le cadre de l'aménagement de l'autoroute A16 a livré deux niveaux moustériens repérés sur près de 3 700 m2. Les implantations préhistoriques sont localisées en bordure de plateau et sur un versant lœssique orienté vers le nord. Ces deux niveaux ont été recalés en chronostratigraphie, le premier pourrait être attribuable à l'Éémien, le second au Weichsélien ancien. Two Mousterian archeological levels have been discovered during excavations carried out before the construction of the A16 motorway. About 3700 m2 were explored. The first level could be Eemian, the second early Weichselian.

Situé au pied d'une butte tertiaire résiduelle, le gisement de Beauvais a livré de nombreux vestiges, lithiques et osseux, d'une occupation du Paléolithique moyen sur une superficie de 763 m2. Les caractéristiques sédimentologiques et la structure des dépôts de sables éoliens contenant le matériel archéologique, indiquent des conditions froides et sèches et un milieu steppique fortement ouvert. Le cortège faunique, dominé par le Renne, évoque également des conditions climatiques rigoureuses. L'industrie lithique est caractérisée par l'emploi d'un mode de débitage s'inscrivant dans un concept général discoïde et contient de nombreux éclats débordants et pointes pseudo-Levallois. L'outillage est dominé par les racloirs simples, les couteaux à dos et les éclats portant une courte retouche marginale. Des datations actuellement en cours permettront d'attribuer cette occupation au stade isotopique 6 ou au stade 4; le gisement de Beauvais constitue ainsi un des rares exemples de la fréquentation de ces régions durant une phase pléniglaciaire. Located at the foot of a residual Tertiary mound, the Beauvais deposit has revealed numerous stone and bone remains, dating from the Middle Palaeolithic period over an area of 763 m2. The sedimentological characteristics and the structure of the aeolian sand deposits containing the archaeological material, indicate cold and dry conditions in a largely open steppe environment. The accompaning fauna, dominated by reindeer, also suggests extreme climatic conditions. The lithic industry is characterized by the use of a flaking style which can be generally described as discoidal and contains numerous projecting flakes and pseudo-Levallois points. The tool assemblage is dominated by simple scrapers, backed-knives and flakes showing short marginal retouch. Dating actually in progress will allow to attribute this occupation either to isotopic stage 6 or to 4; the Beauvais deposit thus constitutes one of the rare examples of human activite in these regions during a pleniglacial phase.

Background and Objectives: The incidence of tuberculosis lymphadenopathy (TBLA) is increasing, and diagnostic procedures lack sensitivity and are often highly invasive. TBLA may be asymptomatic, and differential diagnosis with other adenopathies (ADPs) is difficult. We evaluated a blood-cell interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) with two different stage-specific mycobacterial antigens for the differential diagnosis of ADP suspected of mycobacterial origin. Methods: Twenty-one patients were included and divided into three groups: (1) cervical/axillar ADP (n = 8), (2) mediastinal ADP (n = 10), and (3) disseminated ADP (n = 3). The mycobacterial antigens used for the IGRA were the heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA) and the early-secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6), a latency-associated antigen and a bacterial replication-related antigen, respectively. Diagnosis of TBLA based on microbiological results and/or response to anti-TB treatment was obtained for 15 patients. Results: An IGRA profile highly suggestive of active TB (higher IFN-γ response to ESAT-6 compared to HBHA) was found for 3/6 TBLA patients from group 1, and for all the TBLA patients from groups 2 and 3, whereas this profile was not noticed in patients with a final alternative diagnosis. Conclusion: These results highlight the potential value of this combined HBHA/ESAT-6 IGRA as a triage test for the differential diagnosis of ADP.