In situ study of the Gravettian individual from Cussac cave, locus 2 (Dordogne, France).
OBJECTIVE
Cussac cave, discovered in 2000, is characterized by the exceptional presence of monumental engravings and human remains deposited in bear nests. Both the style of the art and a direct radiocarbon date indicate a Gravettian age. As the cave is protected as a national heritage site, only very limited access to and restricted direct interventions involving the human remains are possible. Here, we present the results of observations and measurements of Cussac L2A, represented by a virtually complete skeleton covered with a layer of clay.


METHODS
A portion of the clay that covered some bones was removed in order to undertake a study of the skeleton in situ. The age-at-death was assessed using several indicators, especially changes on the auricular surface of the ilium. The sex was assessed using the morphology and morphometrics of the coxal bones. Cussac L2A stature, humero-femoral index, and crural index were also estimated. The dimensions of the Cussac L2A skeletal remains are compared with the other European Gravettian and Late Upper Paleolithic human remains using adjusted Z-Scores.


RESULTS
The analysis indicates that Cussac L2A is probably a male who died aged between 20 and 50 years. If the sex assessment is correct, with an averaged estimated stature of 1.64 m, Cussac L2A would be one of the shorter Gravettian males.


CONCLUSIONS
These results raise the importance of the new discoveries to better understand the variability of Upper Paleolithic skeletal morphology and stress the difficulties in marrying heritage preservation and scientific investigations.
CNRS, Anthropologie des Populations Passées et Présentes, UMR 5199 PACEA, Batiment B8, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Université De Bordeaux, CS, 50023, Pessac Cedex, France, 33615.
Sébastien
S
Villotte
CNRS, Anthropologie des Populations Passées et Présentes, UMR 5199 PACEA, Batiment B8, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Université De Bordeaux, CS, 50023, Pessac Cedex, France, 33615.
Frédéric
F
Santos
CNRS, Anthropologie des Populations Passées et Présentes, UMR 5199 PACEA, Batiment B8, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Université De Bordeaux, CS, 50023, Pessac Cedex, France, 33615.
Patrice
P
Courtaud
D001106:Archaeology; D049628:Body Size; D002048:Burial / Q000266:history*; D059552:Caves; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
Upper Paleolithic; body proportions; burial practices; sex assessment; stature