Gravures et abstraction: Les gravures non figuratives de Roc-la-Tour I, le schiste gravé des Beaux-Sarts et les progrès de l’abstraction durant la Préhistoire et l’Histoire

Beyond the 75 animal and human pictures, the 491 Magdalenian engraved plaquettes bear 410 abstract signs, in 14 different types, among which eight were unknown up to now in South-Western France, (more than 130 cases). Some examples of all those signs are shown. Besides there are 213 groups of parallel lines. At “Les Beaux-Sarts”, less than 2 m from the hut described in 2003, another human excavation (maybe a tomb?) delivered a schist plaquette with 94 parallel lines carved on its surface, the lines appear as three groups of 14, 7 (or 8?) and 24 (or 28?) lines and one group of 17 (or 18?) oblique lines, with various secondary lines. Five thousand years before the cerebral center of precise calculation was at the beginning of its formation, this piece, out of the bases of which calculation might be subdivided, cannot be considered as the evidence that they were able to count. The author analyses the affective mental possibilities proved by those elements and puts them apart from the rational progress in the abstraction possibilities of the human brain, which occurred later all through ten thousand years.     

Perturbateurs endocriniens et contamination orale : l’intestin oublié

Endocrine disruptors are a diverse group of compounds of natural origin (phytoestrogens and mycotoxins) or chemicals (phthalates, bisphenols, parabens or pesticides) that could create an imbalance in the homeostasis of the hormonal system, primarily in the signaling pathways involving sex steroids and thyroid hormones. Animal studies have extensively documented deleterious effects on the body, on reproductive function, metabolic and cerebral functions, particularly when exposure begins during fetal and neonatal life. If the oral contamination is a major route of contamination by these agents, a hormonal imbalance in the digestive functions has rarely been taken into account. In particular, estrogen receptors are expressed abundantly in the intestine, from the fetal stage, where endocrine disruptors, mainly xenoestrogens, are likely to have an effect. This article presents a review of known effects of xenoestrogens on gut barrier function, from the perinatal period through adulthood. Although the aetiology of diseases of the digestive system is complex and still poorly understood, clinical data contribute to the present chronic use of steroids in women (oral contraception, hormone replacement therapy) as risk factors in the development or activity of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, where xenoestrogens may act as cofactors.     

“If One Does Not Fulfil His Duties,He Must Not Be a Man”: Masculinity,Mental Health and Resilience Amongst Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee Men in Canada

Refugee men face unique mental health stressors in the pre- and post-migratory periods. However, there has been little in-depth research on the mental health of refugee men in Canada. Given this situation, the overall aim of this study is to explore the psycho-social experience of Sri Lankan Tamil refugee men in Canada. Particular objectives include better understanding any inter-relationship between war-trauma, migration, concepts of masculinity and mental health. The study employed a two-phase participatory action research design based on the grounded theory approach. Phase 1 involved an 8-month ethnography conducted in Sri Lanka. Phase 2 consisted of qualitative interviews with 33 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee men living in Canada. Consistent with grounded theory, analysis was conducted inductively and iteratively. Four specific themes emerged from the data (i) gendered helplessness of war: participants commonly reported ongoing negative rumination regarding experiences where they were unable to adequately protect loved ones from physical suffering or death; (ii) reduced capacity: participants frequently felt unable to fulfill culturally sanctioned duties, such as supporting their family, due to ongoing pre- and post-migratory stress; (iii) redundancy: many participants felt that they were useless in Canada, as they could not fulfill typical masculine social roles (e.g. provider) due to factors such as unemployment and underemployment; (iv) intimate criticism: some participants reported that their spouses would often attempt to ‘shame’ them into greater achievement by constantly reminding them of their ‘failures’. Many found this distressing. These various failures culminated in a state that we label “depleted masculinity”, which participants linked to emotional and behavioural problems. Participants reported that they actively tried to rebuild their masculine identity, for example by adopting leadership roles in community organizations, which fostered resiliency. Results suggest a need to review and rebuild masculine identity to support the mental health of refugee men.     

Les premiers Européens et la dynamique des interactions avec leur environnement : comportement écologique et niveau de cognition

Men and Carnivores used to live very closely during the Lower Pleistocene as show the assemblages. This allows us to reconstruct their behaviors and to bring up the idea that they used to share an ecological niche. It is also possible to understand the evolution of their behaviors, as regards the food supply, and the way they used to live in the sites. The first Europeans had a great capacity for adaptation, as well as a certain vulnerability, just like the Carnivores. The acquisitions of specialized technics are likely to have reduced this capacity for adaptation, as they got free from their opportunistic predator position.     

Évolution des caractères technologiques et typologiques des industries lithiques dans la stratigraphie de la Caune de l'Arago

The thick Quaternary deposits of the Caune de l’Arago (Pyrénées-Orientales, France) are dated to between 690 000 and 90 000 years old. At least fifteen different archeostratigraphical units have been identified within these deposits, each corresponding to distinct prehistoric occupations. Numerous stone tools made from several different rock types, have been discovered in each unit. The tools present specific characteristics concerning the choice of raw materials, the typology, and the technology used to produce them. Morpho-technological study of the different components of the assemblage contributes to a better understanding of the debitage methods used for their production. Each raw material is considered individually in order to ascertain its origin in the environment, its typological role and the technology applied during its exploitation. Defining production systems leads to the characterisation of the assemblages from each unit. When compared, they reveal common elements, as well as differences, suggesting evolutionary trends. Some observations are also made concerning the extent to which changing uses of the site may have influenced the general morphology of each assemblage, therefore taking into account exterior factors. Analysis of this rich stone tool assemblage helps to situate the Caune de l’Arago industry within the larger evolutionary context of the Lower Paleolithic in Mediterranean Europe.     

Genome‐wide variation in DNA methylation is associated with stress resilience and plumage brightness in a wild bird

Individuals often differ in their ability to cope with challenging environmental and social conditions. Evidence from model systems suggests that patterns of DNA methylation are associated with variation in coping ability. These associations could arise directly if methylation plays a role in controlling the physiological response to stressors by, among other things, regulating the release of glucocorticoids in response to challenges. Alternatively, the association could arise indirectly if methylation and resilience have a common cause, such as early‐life conditions. In either case, methylation might act as a biomarker for coping ability. At present, however, relatively little is known about whether variation in methylation is associated with organismal performance and resilience under natural conditions. We studied genome‐wide patterns of DNA methylation in free‐living female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and a tree swallow genome that was assembled for this study. We identified areas of the genome that were differentially methylated with respect to social signal expression (breast brightness) and physiological traits (ability to terminate the glucocorticoid stress response through negative feedback). We also asked whether methylation predicted resilience to a subsequent experimentally imposed challenge. Individuals with brighter breast plumage and higher stress resilience had lower methylation at differentially methylated regions across the genome. Thus, widespread differences in methylation predicted both social signal expression and the response to future challenges under natural conditions. These results have implications for predicting individual differences in resilience, and for understanding the mechanistic basis of resilience and its environmental and social mediators.     

Application d'une méthode d'analyse du territoire à partir de la situation des marqueurs graphiques à l'intérieur de la Péninsule Ibérique : le Tage International

This paper, analyses the graphic evidences of the boundaries of Tagus between Spain and Portugal from the perspective of the model defended by our team. This model proposes the existence of the relationship between graphic markers: paintings, engravings in the open air, decorations over dolmens and menhirs, understood as a compact ideological group fixed in the organization social system of European producing people and metallurgical that occupying this landscape. This argument attempt to verify the possibilities of applying a pre-defined model in an area in which have been developed investigation models, focused to study megalithic monuments, menhirs, habitational areas, paints and engravings that shows symbolic expressions of the tradition to justify the property of rich areas in natural resources in what metallurgical have a remarkable importance.     

La flore probable : un mode d’expression des gradients écologiques en France

The application of the criterion of fidelity of plants to plants over four millions botanical observations in France is considered to characterize the ecology of 215,000 phytosociological surveys. Among those discriminant plants, some are missing of the surveys, but they can have a certain probability of occurrence: these plants are called “probable plants” and they represent the “probable flora” of a territory. The study of their geographical distribution shows ecological gradients of flora across France in a better way than only considering the botanical observations. In fact, this method mitigates the discontinuities of taxa observations whose absence may be due to historical and/or anthropogenic factors.     

Les isoformes neuronales des tyrosines kinases Src,Fyn et Lck : rôle particulier de la p56lckN dans la survie neuronale

The two main tyrosine kinases (TK) in the brain are p60Src and p59Fyn, expressed as specific isoforms (p60SrcNI, p60SrcNI + NII and p59fynB). They play a pivotal role in some major processes such as neuronal growth and myelinisation. Another member of this TK family was then reported in brain, the p56lck. Its name Lck (lymphocyte cell kinase) indicates its cellular specificity observed initially, so its presence in the brain was intriguing. But no further studies were performed to understand its role in brain until recent clinical studies on Alzheimer patients’ brains. One study reveals a decreased p56lck level in the brains of these patients while another study shows an association between one peculiar SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) of the lck gene and some cases of the disease. These new data prompt us to reinvestigate the original biochemical data and to confront them with the present knowledge. This analysis suggests some hypothesis concerning both the Lck protein expressed in the brain (rather an isoform than the lymphocyte protein itself) and its role (to maintain the neuronal survival presumably by protecting them from inflammation, the main pathway that leads to neuron degeneracy).     

Aux origines de la Spiritualité : la notion de transcendance au Paléolithique

In a previous note we presented the expression of the late paleolithic spirituality (Welté and Lambert, 2004). A special analytic grid was used as a possible tool for a demonstration. We separeted rationality from metaphysic; notions which are linked with dialectic relations between necessity (daily constraints), thought, action and evolution in the paleolithic period. Starting from the no direct material activities like burials, funeral materials and art, we purpose now that such notions existed before the upper Paleolithic. We infer that a privilegious set of interactions between the animal and the human appeared early in the thought of the people, before the upper Paleolithic. A metaphysic univers forced itself upon them as an evident “anti-world” which is the symmetric shape of the real and tangible world. In such a context, the social system(s) could not discard these duality.     

Prospections sur les plateaux désertiques du désert libyque égyptien (Abydos, Moyenne Égypte). Quelques exemples de technologies lithiques

Recent work in the high desert west of the historic site of Abydos has revealed a number of technologies that date from the Middle Paleolithic through later periods. The earliest of these include both Nubian and classical Levallois technologies, which are abundant and demonstrate virtually all stages of production. Presumed later technologies include both large blade production technologies as well as more expedient reduction methods. Although results are still preliminary, the lack of significant taphonomic disturbance, the abundance of refits (including many discrete flintknapping episodes), and the high visibility of the archaeological remains make this an ideal area to reconstruct the techniques of lithic reduction in use.     

Les occupations gravettiennes de Buran-Kaya III (Crimée) : contexte archéologique

Buran-Kaya III (Crimea, Ukraine) is a unique site, with a stratigraphy from Middle to Final Palaeolithic. The Gravettian layers 5-2, 6-1 and 6-2 of this site yielded numerous lithic and bone industries, ornaments from marine and freshwater shells, mammal teeth and mammoth ivory, human fossils and abundant faunal remains. Аccording to the stylistic indications of the lithic and bone inventories, the settlements of layers 5-2, 6-1 and 6-2 of Buran-Kaya III represent local variants of the Gravettian in Crimea and in mainland Ukraine and, therefore, the existence of separately social communities. Conversely, ornament objects and human remains (with specific mortuary practices) of Buran-Kaya III may suggest extensive social contacts of its Gravettian inhabitants with other human populations from mainland Ukraine. These hypotheses make necessary future investigations about the social organisation of the Epigravettian societies in Eastern Europe.     

Nouvelles découvertes d'art rupestre au Mato Grosso (Cidade de Pedra, Rondonópolis, Brésil)

Since 1983, Professor Agueda Vilhena-Vialou is conducting in Mato Grosso (Brazil) the French-brasilian archeological mission Fossil men and their paleo-environments in the Paraná basin. Its goal is the study of the first prehistoric settlements of Latin America's heart, in their economic, social, cultural and symbolic dimensions. Thanks to the complementary and comparative analysis of the habitats, the regional settlements and the rock art, our research targets a more precise definition of territories and cultures proper of the prehistoric human groups from the South of the actual Mato Grosso state. The study of rock art, the most revealing aspect of symbolic behaviours, is one of the strongest programs inside our multidisciplinary team. Today, thanks to systematic prospections led along the Rio Vermelho (between Pantanal swamp at West and Rondonópolis city at East), a hundred rock art sites (walls, shelters and caves), decorated with signs, animals and humans, have been discovered, and, for the most of them, studied. These figures are painted, engraved and more rarely sculpted. Along those pages, the author is presenting the preliminary analysis of ten new rock art sites, recently identified in a cliff on the right bank of the Vermelho River. He starts a comparative study with the sites of the Cidade de Pedra and of close micro basin, from the left bank of the River. This research is showing the symbolic identities, both common and specific, proper to different territories of this major rock art region of Brazil, which is divided in several areas and micro territories, shared but autonomous.     

Des Miliolacea aux Alveolinacea (grands foraminifères): la faune du Crétacé supérieur et du Tertiaire inférieur du Chiapas (S.E. Mexique)

Found in Chiapas (South-East of Mexico), Praealveolina michaudi nov. sp. and Chubbina jamaicensis (of Campanian-Maestrichtian age) are described, both evolved from Nummoloculina sp. while Raadshoovenia guatemalensis (upper Paleocene-lower Eocene) arises from Quinqueloculina. We precisely analyze and modelize the nepionic coiling during the evolutionary change from Miliolacea to Alveolinacea. During ontogenesis as well as during phylogenesis, quinqueloculine coiling progresses to streptospiral and then to planispiral chamber arrangement with the increase of volume of embryo and of chambers. Appearance of these large foraminifers are understood as a consequence of the rise of K-strategies in their mode of life, following the development of photosynthetic symbioses.     

Étude taphonomique, paléoécologique et archéozoologique des faunes de grands mammifères de la seconde moitié du Pléistocène inférieur de la grotte du Vallonnet (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes, France)

Vallonnet cave (Alpes-Maritimes, France) provided archaic lithic tools together with a big amount of large mammals of the end of lower pleistocene. At the crossing of diverse ecological niches in time and space, three main levels and within them several smaller units were distinguished. The poorly mineralized bones witnessed a huge diagenetic fragmentation. The presence of the animals in the cave seems to be linked to the reasons of their death. The exhaustive and systematic observation of the bones, like the bears probably used to die inside the cave. Some other carnivores especially hyenas, used the cave as a nursery. Man also occupied the cave and had an activity mainly on large cervid bones and on some other species as well. The very progressive deposit gave a way for carnivores and porcupine to gnaw the bones on the ground before their burial. The succession of actions (man, carnivores and porcupine) on the same bones is characteristic on Vallonnet large mammals bones.     

How Social Context,Token Value,and Time Course Affect Token Exchange in Capuchin Monkeys (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cebus apella</Emphasis>)

Although numerous studies have examined token-directed behaviors in primates, few have done so in a social context despite the fact that most primate species live in complex groups. Here, we provided capuchin monkeys with a relatively limited budget of tokens, likely to elicit intragroup competition, and, after an overnight delay, we allowed them to exchange tokens while in a group setting. We aimed to 1) evaluate whether social context affects token-directed behaviors of knowledgeable subjects, i.e., subjects already proficient in token exchange before the present study, as well as of naïve subjects, i.e., subjects that never showed exchange behavior before this study; 2) appraise whether capuchins indeed value tokens; and 3) assess whether capuchins can refrain from throwing tokens outside their enclosure when the experimenter is not present. Overall, the social context positively affected high-ranking individuals and negatively affected low-ranking ones. All 6 high-ranking naïve subjects, but none of the 4 low-ranking ones, quickly acquired token exchange behavior, whereas 9 of 12 low-ranking knowledgeable subjects, but only 1 high-ranking knowledgeable subject, never displayed token exchange in social contexts. Thus, competition constrained token exchange in low-ranking subjects and prompted exchange behavior in high-ranking naïve subjects. Capuchins were unable to inhibit the exchange of valueless items when the experimenter was soliciting them and, at the group level, knowledgeable subjects did not exchange more valuable tokens than less valuable (or valueless) ones. However, the 3 high-ranking knowledgeable subjects that exchanged most of the tokens first preferentially exchanged more valuable tokens over less valuable or valueless ones. Finally, capuchins inhibited exchange behavior in the absence of the experimenter, thus recognizing the appropriate conditions in which a successful exchange could occur.     

L’analyse des unités techno-fonctionnelles appliquée à l’étude du macro-outillage néolithique

Ground stone tools are lithic tools made on coarse blanks that are not included in the chipped or polished stone studies. During the study of a ground stone tools collection coming from the Campaniform site of Beg ar Loued (Molène island, Finistère, France), the techno-functional unit (TFU) analysis as been adapted to these objects. A TFU is a part of a tool that is technologically independent, having his own part in this tool's overall functioning. The application of this method to ground stone tools needed some adaptations to their characteristics. The aim is to obtain a high level technological analysis for these tools, succeeding to express functional hypothesis. Two concrete examples from Beg ar Loued's collection illustrate the TFU analysis method's application to ground stone tools. This method has the advantage to organize the progress of each piece's analysis. The TFU analysis helps to understand the multifunctional tools by considering each function as a full tool. This allows us to talk about function's hierarchisation and their adaptation to blanks. We also obtain some informations about blank's selection. These many and varied results make the TFU analysis essential for ground stone tool's technological and functional analysis.     

Perturbateurs endocriniens et écosystèmes

Hormonal imbalances, sexual changes and unusual behaviours are observed in wildlife. Some chemicals are implicated as endocrine disruptors (EDCs). Their dispersal into ecosphere allows them to reach biotopes isolated of emission sources and they accumulate in organisms and they cause alterations in biological functions (reprotoxicity, immunotoxicity, etc.). Beyond the individual, the community equilibrium is endangered with a potential impact on biodiversity. The organohalogen substances are historically concerned. Despite the prohibition of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs, they persist in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. But the “emerging substances” are also dangerous. Numerous examples of endocrine disruption in animal communities are described. The imposex in female of marine gastropods related to tributyltin (TBT) is one of the earliest known events. The feminization of fish in the estuary of the Seine, the hermaphroditism of some amphibians and the strange behaviour of birds, are famous facts. The cumulative effects are of concern to wild populations. These are mix of pollutants or the concomitancy of other global changes, the decline of polar bears or seals from the Baltic Sea proves it. In conclusion, endocrine disruption jeopardizes all natural biological systems and contributes in loss of biological diversity by reducing the number of sensitive species and making them vulnerable, considering the global extinction risk.