Ever since its discovery, the Châtelperronian levels of the Grotte du Renne have been the subject of extensive debate. The excavations directed by André Leroi-Gourhan at the Grotte du Renne have...Show moreEver since its discovery, the Châtelperronian levels of the Grotte du Renne have been the subject of extensive debate. The excavations directed by André Leroi-Gourhan at the Grotte du Renne have yielded Châtelperronian type stone tools as well as symbolic artefacts such as pendants and pigments. The association of these finds together with multiple Neanderthal teeth and a temporal bone, led to the conclusion by Leroi-Gourhan Neanderthals were the makers of the Chatelperroian artefacts, including the ornaments. The ambiguity of this association is caused by the complex stratigraphy of the Grotte du Renne due to phases of extensive destruction of the interior of the cave due to the karstic nature of the region. Furthermore, symbolic artefacts have traditionally been associated with Homo sapiens and the Upper Paleolithic. These factors have led some to conclude the Neanderthal teeth have moved up from the Mousterian levels and the ornaments down from the Aurignacian levels, which are also present at the Grotte du Renne, Conflicting radiocarbon dates have not solved this problem. In this thesis, the available data from the Grotte du Renne has been assessed which has led to the conclusion the majority of the finds have been recovered in situ. Therefore, the ornaments from the Grotte du Renne have been made by Neaderthals indicating a symbolic aspect to their material cultre and the integrity of the Châtelperronian levels at the Grotte du Renne.Show less
