Spécificités et évolution des chevaux de l'Igue du Gral : analyses morphométriques et inférences comportementales

Igue du Gral Horses specificities and evolution: morphometric analysis and behavioral inferences.- This study aims to characterise the anatomical specificities of the horses of the Igue du Gral through morphometric analyses. These data allow us to infer some behavioural traits, particularly those relating to locomotion and feeding habits. These behaviours are particularly vital, especially when one considers the chronological period of the site sequence, which covers a large part of the Upper Palaeolithic. Besides, the presence of horses is attested throughout the sequence. However, our palaeodemographic analyses (mortality profiles by chrono-stratigraphic Ensembles) show a unstable abundance of these specimens. Although these observations could suggest fluctuating densities, it should be noted that these equids were particularly well represented during the Last Glacial Maximum, and this throughout the year, as indicated by our seasonality indices.The anterior and posterior phalanges III indicate the environment frequented by these equids. The large dimensions of these elements more likely characterise animals evolving on the loose soil of the bottom of valleys. However, we cannot exclude that these morphologies of the horses of the Igue du Gral correspond to a very marked characteristic in the specimens of the whole Upper Palaeolithic.The examination of different elements of the appendicular skeleton using the Log Size Index method was carried out. These analyses tend to show little variation in size during the chronological sequence of the Igue du Gral. Despite fluctuating and often very small numbers, the morphometric variations with other data suggest the fragmentation of populations at the regional scale.