[The middle palaeolithic open air site of Salouel (Somme, France).]

The palaeolithic open air site of Salouel, contained in the coarse fluvial deposits of a low terrace of the Selle river, could be dated towards the isotope stage 8 or the beginning of the isotope stage 7, by taking the regional context into consideration (terraces system of the Somme basin). The palynological analysis of the fine fluvial deposits confirm the existence of a continental environment revealing climatic conditions which could characterize the beginning of a glacial period (sylvosteppe landscape), while the malacological analysis accounts of the evolution of the particular palaeoenvironmental conditions of the site. The lithic material shows a great homogeneity in the characteristics of the various artifacts categories. The abundance of cortical artifacts, cores and chipping waste with regard to the number of blanks and retouched tools, makes that the site of Salouel can be considered as a workplace for producing flakes. The practice of Levallois technology and the typological characteristics of the tools (absence of handaxes) allow the attribution of these artifacts to the complex of the mousterian industries with Levallois debitage