Second annual seminar of the “Unity, coherence and representativeness of sites: Palethnology under what conditions?

Séminaire palethno

On Thursday 29 February, the Inha in Paris hosted the second annual seminar entitled “La palethnologie à quelles conditions”, organised this year by Boris Valentin.

The seminar, which was open to all, was part of the activities of the “Unity, coherence and representativeness of sites: Palethnology under what conditions” of the Umr Temps, coordinated by Mathieu Leroyer, Boris Valentin and Bénédicte Souffi. It is also intended for Masters students taking Boris Valentin’s ‘Last hunters’ seminar at Paris 1.

In 2023, the first part, organised by Mathieu Leroyer, focused mainly on Magdalenian palethnology. This year, the presentations focused on older periods, from the Early Palaeolithic to the Early Upper Palaeolithic.

After a presentation of the PAS INRAP and its interconnections with sub-area 3 by Benedicte Souffi, Boris Valentin discussed the terms prehistoric ethnology, palethnography, palethnology, palaeohistory and hyperhistory. Pierre Bodu then presented a wide-ranging summary of the taphonomic issues surrounding the Gravettian and Solutrean of Ormesson. Finally, the day concluded with a presentation by Frédéric Blaser, Mathieu Leroyer and Roxane Rocca entitled: What palethnography before the Recent Palaeolithic?