|

The Paleolithic age in Burgundy:
At certain times the temperature in Burgundy rose enough between
ice-ages for certain types of tortoise and other animals to be found
in the valleys of the Yonne and the Cure. Signs of human industries
are to found in again the Yonne area and the Saône and Loire, where
large amounts of single sided and double faced flint stones have
been found, it is only in the Morvan, and on the plateau of the
Côte d'0r, where signs of life in Burgundy are negligible. During
the middle Paleolithic times (120 000 to 35 000 BC), begins a long
period of temperate climate, where the forest began to develop and
warm species of animals such as the Merck Rhinoceros. Then the forest
retreated in front of the conifer trees and signs of deer and boar
appeared.
In Burgundy signs are to be found in many areas such as the Auxois
and the hills of Macon. With the superior Paleolithic age, men settled
many times at the Rock of Solutre in the Saône and Loire, also known
for the very large graveyard of horses which spreads across many
hectares. Afterwards is the development of a flint stone called
'Laurel leaf' due to its surprising shape, by the Soultreen.
Then the arrival of the Magdalenien who hunted not only the horses
but also the deer and bison. The life style of this period was not
that different to the preceding ones, there was however much more
use of blades and tools made of bones. In Burgundy at the village
of Racy, traces of huts with walls made of mammoth tusk have been
found. The greatest change for this time was the beginnings of art,
with some remarkable examples at Arcy sur Cure in the centre of
Burgundy.
The specialist conclude that Burgundy was not a region where people
settled, but where the came during good hunting periods, unlike
the times before, where signs of long settlement are to be found.
Burgundy 8000 BC: With the end of the ice age the forest quickly
recover the land, mainly with conifers but soon hazel and then oak
and lime. The animals rapidly change and deer and wild boar replace
horses and reindeer. The men also change lifestyles and begin collecting
vegetation and shell fish from the rivers, the tools change dramatically,
traces of humans are to be found everywhere except in the Yonne,
even in the Morvan region, people lived on the summits of the hills,
which leads us to believe that the forest was much different than
it is today.
The Neolithic age in Burgundy has a climate very similar
to that of now, this period stretches from 55000 to 2 000 BC, and
then 2000 to 1800 BC where metal appeared. During this time the
life of men complete changes, Lives are based not purely on hunting,
but on livestock and agriculture. The main species are cattle, pork
sheep and goats. Wheat is cultivated and hunting becomes secondary.
Agriculture forces the tribes to settle down and build real homes
and small villages. Stones are not completely forgotten, as arrowheads
are still made, but they are then polished and axes and scissors
are made. The settling also permits the discovery of clay and pottery.
With all this factors, the small groups of people began to grow
in size, as the basic hygiene of life became better. This also forced
the people to move in search of other lads to cultivate, and they
brought with them their own techniques and traditions. People came
to Burgundy following the Danube and moving north from the Mediterranean.
With the arrival of people from the Danube, Burgundy saw the first
large house constructions 20 to 30 meters long.
We hope that you have found this information concerning the Burgundy
useful.
Previous page
|