History of Bernières-sur-Seine
PREHISTORY
Located within a meander of the Seine, Bernières-sur-Seine forms part of a landscape shaped since the Pleistocene by climatic fluctuations and the gradual formation of river terraces. This geomorphological setting favored early and continuous human occupation.
The territory was already occupied during the Middle Neolithic, as demonstrated by the Fondriaux site. This site revealed an occupation attributed to the Northern Chasséen culture, characterized by a substantial and well-preserved lithic industry. The Chasséen culture developed between approximately 4350 and 3300 BCE in France and northern Italy. It is notably identified through distinctive lithic and ceramic production, as well as by a paleo-economic organization distinguishing producers from consumers.
The assemblage consists mainly of worked flint: 6,392 pieces were recorded, including 817 tools. The knapping primarily involved flint of local origin, the main source of supply. Production focused almost exclusively on flakes used as blanks for various types of tools, according to several operational sequences. Certain stages of the production process appear to have been specifically emphasized in order to obtain blanks suited to particular tools. Original and sophisticated retouching techniques were also identified, demonstrating a clear intention to optimize the use of raw material.
The tool assemblage is dominated by scrapers, mainly used for hide processing, although not exclusively. Other categories of tools are also present in smaller proportions: tranchets, denticulates, backed pieces, transverse arrowheads, and perforating or striking tools. Among the most remarkable discoveries is an exceptional deposit composed of two paired and burned axe blades.
The detailed study of some of these tools aims to highlight their technical, typological, and functional characteristics, thereby enriching our understanding of tool use within this culture. These new findings make Bernières-sur-Seine an important reference site for the Northern Chasséen culture in the Paris Basin.