THE CHALCOLITHIC SETTLEMENT OF THE FOISSA C CAVE (AVEYRON, FRANCE) - THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

The chalcolithic habitat of the cave of Foissac, which is situated in the Causse de Limogne north from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, came sudden ly to an end when the settlement was burnt, and the porch of entry col lapsed : so the cavity and its vestiges were sealed. The cave was disc overed in 1965, and searched from 1978 to 1989, giving an important co llection of remains. For the chalcolithic period, 2 071 osseous remain s (23 465 g.) were examined, and 1 345 (22 586 g.) were determined. Ca ttle represent 24 % of the NR, ovicaprinae 27 %, pig 48 % (dog 0,4 %, fox 0,07 %, hare 0,07 %, red deer 0,6 %, roe deer 0,2 %). Weight distr ibution is 49 % (cattle), 37,5 % (pig) and 13 % (small ruminants). Pig consumption was very important relatively to reference sites. Pigs we re slaughtered in autumn, to prevent them to be fed in winter, when th eir meat could be conserved for a few months : numerous indices permit to assert that the cavity, which was a quarry of clay and burial plac e, has also been utilized as a food conserving place, where only selec ted pieces of meat were introduced (chops, shoulders, hams, feet) ; th e cutting technique was elaborate (splitting of the carcass in two hal ves). A bone of a seawater fish (Serranidae) announces a trade with co astal regions. Cattle was small (almost-equal-to 110 cm.), and pig rel atively tall (almost-equal-to 80 cm.).