Time scale and cultural component in the late Middle Palaeolithic in Northern France

International audienceIn northern France, the Upper Pleistocene is characterized by discontinuous human presence, closely linked to climatic variations. Human groups were mainly present during the Eemian interglacial and the beginning of the Weichselian (Early-glacial), as well as during the Late glacial, in close correlation with variations in large mammal populations. In addition, during the Upper Pleistocene, climatic erosion phases linked to rapid climatic events modified raw material access, which partly impacted lithic production modalities. However, the influence of cultural traditions remains important, for both lithic production and subsistence strategies. The excavation of numerous Late Middle Palaeolithic sites over the last twenty years has provided invaluablechronological and environmental information on Upper Pleistocene human occupation contexts in northern France, mainly in loessic context. This study is based on data from 45 excavated archaeological levels, representing a total surface of about 54 000 m², combined with a unique pedostratigraphic reference frame for European Upper Pleistocene . A total of ~ 62 000 artefacts have been unearthed in these levels. From a chronological viewpoint, five of these levels are contemporary with the Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e), seven are attributed to MIS 5c, 10 to MIS 5a (temperate continental forest / grey forested soils) and 8 others, to the end of MIS 5a (steppe soils). Lastly, 13 others are contemporary with the end of the Lower Pleniglacial (MIS 4) or Middle Pleniglacial (~ MIS 3). This significant database has enabled us to analyze interactions between climatic fluctuations, responsible for palaeoenvironmental modifications, and prehistoric occupations, focusing on four main themes: occupation density, raw materials, lithic industries and faunal remains