Y. Lignereux et al., THE CHALCOLITHIC SETTLEMENT OF THE FOISSA C CAVE (AVEYRON, FRANCE) - THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE, Revue de Medecine Veterinaire, 145(5), 1994, pp. 355
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.).