EXCAVATION METHODS

What follows is a description of the methods used in the current excavation of Fontéchevade and an overview of the work accomplished. The methodology is based in part on French tradition for Paleolithic excavations and in part on the methodologies that our team has developed through the years at the sites of La Quina, Combe-Capelle Bas, Cagny-l'Epinette, and Cagny-la-Garenne. Much of the methodology is based on the application of computerized recording techniques, which have been extensively described in previous publications (Dibble 1987b; Dibble et al. 1995; Dibble and McPherron 1989; McPherron and Dibble 1987, 2002). Special emphasis was given to standardizing the excavation techniques and recording methods at Fontéchevade, both to optimize analysis of the site itself and to make the data comparable with data collected at the previously listed sites.

The excavation grid

The site was excavated in 1-m units following the traditional French system of labeling excavation units with a letter-number designation. In this system, it is also traditional to place grid north directly into the cave. We followed this tradition, despite the fact that true north is almost exactly 180 degrees opposite. One of the principal advantages of doing so is that all of our maps are thus oriented in relation to the long axis of the cave, very much as we saw the cave each day. The principal disadvantage to this system is that there can be some confusion between, for instance, “west” and “grid west.