Chronology of human populations in Northwest Africa during the Upper Pleistocene : multi-method chronological approach (ESR/US, OSL et 14C) applied to Rabat-Témara sites

Abstract

Known for its archaeological caves that have preserved since 120 ka from human occupations of the Middle Stone Age (MSA), Later Stone Age (LSA) and Neolithic, the Rabat-Témara region is a unique example in North Africa to study the evolution and dispersion of H. sapiens. This region also has the largest amount of geochronological data in Northwest Africa (215 dates). However, the current chronologies of human occupations in Temara are subject to much debate. This thesis work contributes to redefining the chronological framework of the caves of El Harhoura 2 and El Mnasra through the prism of a comparative multi-method chronological approach of the MSA and LSA occupations in relation to environmental changes. ESR dating combined with uranium series (ESR/US) was applied to herbivore teeth. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating has made it possible to date quartz grains included in the sediment of these caves. Finally, carbon 14 dating was applied to date charcoal. The 39 dates obtained in this work, at El Harhoura 2, rejuvenated the end of the MSA by about 15 ka, dated the LSA, and identified a chronological hiatus of about 30 ka between the end of the MSA and the LSA, and which extends from the end of MIS 3 to MIS 2. For the El Mnasra cave, the layers of ancient MSA occupations related to coastal exploitation of marine resources have been dated between 70 and 100 ka, about 10 to 15 ka younger than previously published ages. The new data obtained and the revision of the old chronological data provide encouraging methodological approaches to refine and improve the chrono-cultural framework already established by other methods for these reference sites across North Africa.