{"id":6924,"date":"2024-11-04T16:05:06","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T14:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/?p=6924"},"modified":"2026-05-25T14:38:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T12:38:18","slug":"visite-de-la-mission-prehistorique-franco-angolaise-a-benguela-visit-of-the-franco-angolan-prehistoric-mission-in-benguela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/uncategorized\/visite-de-la-mission-prehistorique-franco-angolaise-a-benguela-visit-of-the-franco-angolan-prehistoric-mission-in-benguela\/","title":{"rendered":"Retour de mission de l&#8217;IFAS-Recherche en Angola | Report on IFAS-Research mission in Angola"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La derni\u00e8re semaine d\u2019ao\u00fbt 2024, l\u2019IFAS-Recherche a effectu\u00e9 une mission en Angola, pour rencontrer le Service de Coop\u00e9ration et d\u2019Action Culturelle (SCAC) \u00e0 Luanda, pour \u00e9voquer avec R\u00e9n\u00e9 Quirin, Conseiller de Coop\u00e9ration et d&#8217;Action Culturelle (COCAC) sortant, et Manuela Ferreira Pinto, COCAC entrante, les missions de l&#8217;IFAS-Recherche en Angola et les collaborations \u00e0 venir entre l&#8217;UMIFRE et le SCAC. Parmi ces collaborations, citons la diffusion de nos appels \u00e0 candidatures et la pr\u00e9sentation de la revue <em>Sources<\/em>, d&#8217;<em>Africae <\/em>et de <em>Lesedi <\/em>aupr\u00e8s des chercheur\u00b7ses angolais\u00b7es, le soutien apport\u00e9 depuis 2018 au chantier arch\u00e9ologique de Benguela, ou encore le soutien \u00e0 divers projets de recherche men\u00e9s par des chercheur\u00b7ses fran\u00e7ais\u00b7es travaillant en Angola et soutenu\u00b7es par l&#8217;IFAS-Recherche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>In the last week of August 2024, IFAS-Research went on a mission to Angola to meet with the French Cultural Cooperation and Action Service (SCAC) in Luanda. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the missions of IFAS-Research in Angola and future collaborations between the UMIFRE and the SCAC, with Ren\u00e9 Quirin, the outgoing Cultural Cooperation and Action Counsellor (COCAC), and Manuela Ferreira Pinto, the new COCAC. Among these collaborations, we can mention the dissemination of IFAS-Research&#8217;s calls for projects and the presentation of the journals <\/em>Sources<em> and <\/em>Lesedi, <em>and the publication <\/em>Africae <em>to Angolan researchers, the support provided since 2018 to the archaeological fieldwork in Benguela, as well as the support of various research projects led by French researchers working in Angola and supported by IFAS-Research.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Le s\u00e9jour en Angola de l&#8217;IFAS-Recherche avait \u00e9galement pour but de rendre visite \u00e0 la Mission Pr\u00e9historique Franco-Angolaise (<a href=\"https:\/\/ao.ambafrance.org\/Benguela-Projet-Archeologique-de-Mormolo\">soutenue par le minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Europe et des Affaires \u00c9trang\u00e8res<\/a>), \u00e0 Benguela, dirig\u00e9e depuis 2019 par Isis Mesfin (charg\u00e9e de recherche au CNRS et allocataire de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche en 2019 et en 2021) et Maria-Helena Benjamim (arch\u00e9ologue et directrice du <em>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/em>), en compagnie du COCAC sortant de l\u2019ambassade de France en Angola, Ren\u00e9 Quirin. L\u2019IFAS-Recherche et le SCAC de l\u2019ambassade de France en Angola \u00e9tant des partenaires de longue date de cette mission, nous souhaitions mieux saisir les multiples enjeux de ce chantier arch\u00e9ologique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The IFAS-Research stay in Angola also aimed to visit the Franco-Angolan Prehistoric Mission (<a href=\"https:\/\/ao.ambafrance.org\/Benguela-Projet-Archeologique-de-Mormolo\">supported by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs<\/a>) in Benguela, led since 2019 by Isis Mesfin (CNRS researcher, and one of IFAS-Research&#8217;s 2019 and 2021 grantees) and Maria-Helena Benjamim (archaeologist and director of the<\/em> Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<em>), along with the outgoing COCAC of the French Embassy in Angola, Ren\u00e9 Quirin. Since IFAS-Research and the SCAC of the French Embassy in Angola have been long-standing partners of this mission, we aimed to better understand the multiple stakes involved in this archaeological project. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pourquoi cet int\u00e9r\u00eat des arch\u00e9ologues et pal\u00e9ontologues pour le littoral de Benguela&nbsp;?<\/strong> | <strong><em>Why are archaeologists and paleontologists interested in the Benguela Coast?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Le littoral qui s\u2019\u00e9tend au sud de la ville de Benguela est caract\u00e9ris\u00e9 par des falaises et des collines successives, correspondant \u00e0 des formations g\u00e9ologiques bien particuli\u00e8res&nbsp;: des \u00ab&nbsp;<strong>pal\u00e9oplages<\/strong> \u00bb ou \u00ab plages soulev\u00e9es \u00bb par le processus tectonique de surrection et l\u2019eustatisme (c&#8217;est-\u00e0-dire les variations du niveau moyen de la mer). Plusieurs de ces pal\u00e9oplages, notamment celles de Mormolo et de Dungo, livrent d\u2019importants vestiges arch\u00e9ologiques et pal\u00e9ontologiques que l\u2019\u00e9rosion rend plus accessibles chaque ann\u00e9e. Ces vestiges sont particuli\u00e8rement anciens, et proviennent de couches g\u00e9ologiques dat\u00e9es de deux \u00e9poques diff\u00e9rentes :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Le Mioc\u00e8ne<\/strong> (entre 23 et 5 millions d\u2019ann\u00e9es), dont les couches g\u00e9ologiques visibles aujourd\u2019hui correspondent \u00e0 d\u2019anciens fonds marins \u00e0 proximit\u00e9 de la ligne de c\u00f4te, puisqu\u2019\u00e0 cette \u00e9poque, la plaine c\u00f4ti\u00e8re de l\u2019Angola est recouverte par l\u2019Oc\u00e9an Atlantique. On y retrouve surtout des fossiles d\u2019animaux marins, \u00e9tudi\u00e9s par les pal\u00e9ontologues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Le Pl\u00e9istoc\u00e8ne<\/strong> (entre 2,6 millions et 11&nbsp;700 ans), dont les couches g\u00e9ologiques correspondent \u00e0 des sables de plages puis \u00e0 des d\u00e9p\u00f4ts alluviaux. \u00c0 cette \u00e9poque, la mer s\u2019est retir\u00e9e, laissant place \u00e0 des plages puis s\u00fbrement \u00e0 des paysages d\u2019embouchure de fleuves. Ce sont ces couches qui livrent les premi\u00e8res traces d\u2019occupations humaines de la c\u00f4te centre-ouest de l\u2019Afrique, dat\u00e9es de l\u2019<em>Earlier Stone Age<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The coastline extending south of the city of Benguela is characterized by successive cliffs and hills, corresponding to specific geological formations: marine terraces or &#8220;raised beaches&#8221; resulting from the tectonic uplift process and eustatism (global sea level variations). Several of these raised beaches, particularly those at Mormolo and Dungo, yield significant archaeological and paleontological remains that erosion makes more accessible each year. These remains are particularly ancient and come from geological layers dated from two different periods:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><strong>The Miocene<\/strong> (between 23 and 5 million years ago), whose geological layers correspond to ancient seabeds close by the seashore, as during this time, the Angolan coastal plain was covered by the Atlantic Ocean. Marine animal fossils are predominantly found here, and studied by palaeontologists.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>The Pleistocene<\/strong> (between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago), whose geological layers correspond to beach sands and later to alluvial deposits. At this period, the sea had receded, giving way to beaches and then probably to river mouth landscapes. It is these layers that yield the first signs of human occupation of the Central-West coast of Africa, dated to the Earlier Stone Age.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"518\" height=\"343\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6949\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-4.png 518w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-4-300x199.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 518px) 100vw, 518px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Isis Mesfin montre une coupe o\u00f9 la distinction entre couches du Mioc\u00e8ne et du Pl\u00e9istoc\u00e8ne appara\u00eet clairement. | <em>Isis Mesfin showing a cross-section where we can clearly distinguish the Miocene and the Pleistocene layers<\/em>. (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ainsi, le littoral de Benguela pr\u00e9sente un riche potentiel scientifique pour comprendre l\u2019\u00e9mergence des populations humaines dans une zone cl\u00e9, o\u00f9 peu de travaux ont \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9alis\u00e9s. En effet, la pr\u00e9histoire ancienne est largement \u00e9tudi\u00e9e en Afrique australe, en Afrique de l\u2019Est et en Afrique du Nord, mais bien moins en Afrique subsaharienne atlantique, qui indique pourtant de nombreuses sp\u00e9cificit\u00e9s peu retrouv\u00e9es ailleurs (l&#8217;exploitation des ressources marines d\u00e8s le <em>Early Stone Age<\/em>, une industrie atypique par rapport \u00e0 l\u2019Acheul\u00e9en moyen, la conservation de fossiles d\u2019animaux peu communs ailleurs, etc.). Le littoral de Benguela, situ\u00e9 entre ces zones, appara\u00eet alors comme un ensemble de sites pr\u00e9cieux pour permettre d\u2019appr\u00e9hender les dynamiques chrono-culturelles \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle du continent mais aussi les dynamiques pal\u00e9o\u00e9cologiques \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle du littoral atlantique de l\u2019Afrique australe-centrale, notamment la mise en place et l\u2019\u00e9volution du courant de Benguela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Thus, the coast of Benguela presents a rich scientific potential for understanding the emergence of human populations in a key area where few studies have been conducted. Indeed, early prehistory is extensively studied in Southern Africa, East Africa, and North Africa, but much less so in Atlantic sub-Saharan Africa, despite many unique characteristics not found elsewhere (such as the exploitation of marine resources as early as the Early Stone Age, an atypical industry compared to the Middle Acheulean, or the preservation of animal fossils that are rare elsewhere). The coast of Benguela, located between these regions, appears as a valuable group of sites to grasp the chrono-cultural dynamics on a continental scale, as well as palaeoecological dynamics along the southern Africa\u2019s Atlantic coastline (particularly regarding the Benguela Current).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quels sont les objectifs de la mission arch\u00e9ologique \u00e0 Benguela&nbsp;? <\/strong>| <strong><em>What are the objectives of the Franco-Angolan archaeological mission in Benguela?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Les responsables de la mission, <a href=\"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1322-6925\">Isis Mesfin<\/a> et <a href=\"_wp_link_placeholder\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\">Maria-Helena Benjamim<\/a>, l\u2019ont construite autour de trois enjeux&nbsp;: la recherche, la formation et la diffusion des savoirs&nbsp;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>L\u2019objectif scientifique est de <strong>construire un cadre chrono-culturel des occupations humaines<\/strong>, notamment les premi\u00e8res, et de reconstituer le contexte environnemental et climatique dans lequel elles ont v\u00e9cu. Cet objectif n\u00e9cessite notamment un important travail de datation pour \u00e9tablir un cadre interpr\u00e9tatif solide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Le 2<sup>e<\/sup> objectif est de <strong>former des professionnel\u00b7les de l\u2019arch\u00e9ologie<\/strong>. Actuellement, Marie-Helena Benjamim est la seule docteure en arch\u00e9ologie angolaise qui exerce dans le pays en tant que chercheuse. La mission franco-angolaise souhaite contribuer \u00e0 former une nouvelle g\u00e9n\u00e9ration d\u2019arch\u00e9ologues professionnel\u00b7les qui puisse prendre la rel\u00e8ve de la recherche dans le pays \u00e0 la suite de leurs \u00e9tudes \u00e0 un niveau Master et Doctorat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Le 3<sup>e<\/sup> objectif est la <strong>pr\u00e9servation et la valorisation du patrimoine arch\u00e9ologique et pal\u00e9ontologique angolais<\/strong>, mal connu, autant au niveau national qu\u2019international. Cet objectif s\u2019appuie largement sur le partenariat avec le <em>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/em>, dirig\u00e9 par Maria-Helena Benjamim, o\u00f9 les collections arch\u00e9ologiques et pal\u00e9ontologiques de Mormolo et de Dungo sont conserv\u00e9es et pr\u00e9sent\u00e9es au public. De nombreuses autres actions sont men\u00e9es dans le cadre de ce partenariat&nbsp;: visites de sites, r\u00e9alisation de vid\u00e9os et conf\u00e9rences grand public.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&nbsp;The mission directors, <a href=\"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1322-6925\">Isis Mesfin<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/_wp_link_placeholder\">Maria-Helena Benjamim<\/a>, have structured the archaeological mission around three key issues: research, training, and knowledge dissemination:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>The scientific objective is to <strong>build a chrono-cultural framework of human occupations<\/strong>, particularly the earliest ones, and to reconstruct the environmental and climatic context in which these early humans lived. This goal requires significant dating work to establish a solid interpretive framework.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The 2<sup>nd<\/sup> objective is to <strong>train professionals in archaeology<\/strong>. Currently, Maria-Helena Benjamim is the only Angolan with a PhD in archaeology working in the country as a researcher. The Franco-Angolan mission aims to contribute to training a new generation of professional archaeologists at the Masters and PhD level, so they can continue <\/em><em>research in the country.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The 3<sup>rd<\/sup> objective is the <strong>preservation and promotion of Angola&#8217;s poorly known archaeological and paleontological heritage<\/strong>, both nationally and internationally. This objective relies heavily on the partnership with the <\/em>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<em>, directed by Maria-Helena Benjamim, where the archaeological and paleontological collections from Mormolo and Dungo are curated and exhibited. Many other activities are carried out as part of this partnership: site visits, video production, and public conferences.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Comment la mission r\u00e9pond-elle \u00e0 ces objectifs&nbsp;?<\/strong> | <strong><em>How does the mission address these objectives?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pour r\u00e9pondre \u00e0 ces objectifs, la mission pr\u00e9historique franco-angolaise rassemble <strong>une \u00e9quipe pluridisciplinaire et compos\u00e9e autant de chercheur\u00b7es confirm\u00e9\u00b7es que de doctorant\u00b7es ou d\u2019\u00e9tudiant\u00b7es, fran\u00e7ais\u00b7es et angolais\u00b7es<\/strong>. Les sp\u00e9cialistes de l\u2019\u00e9tude des restes fauniques, des outils lithiques et les pal\u00e9ontologues apportent leur expertise scientifique en m\u00eame temps qu\u2019ils et elles transmettent leurs connaissances aux \u00e9tudiant\u00b7es pr\u00e9sent\u00b7es sur le chantier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>To achieve these objectives, the Franco-Angolan prehistoric mission brings together <strong>a multidisciplinary team, composed of both experienced researchers and doctoral students or undergraduates, from France and Angola<\/strong>. Specialists in the study of faunal remains or lithic tools, and paleontologists provide their scientific expertise while also sharing their knowledge with the students present on site.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Les chercheur\u00b7ses de l\u2019\u00e9quipe encadrent aussi plusieurs \u00e9tudiant\u00b7es de master ou doctorat, fran\u00e7ais\u00b7es et angolais\u00b7es. Par ailleurs, depuis quelques ann\u00e9es, l\u2019Institut Sup\u00e9rieur des Sciences de l\u2019\u00c9ducation de Sumbe (province de Cuanza Sul), propose aux \u00e9tudiant\u00b7es en 2<sup>e<\/sup> ann\u00e9e de licence d\u2019histoire des cours de m\u00e9thodologie de l\u2019arch\u00e9ologie coupl\u00e9s au <strong>chantier-\u00e9cole de la <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/uncategorized\/dernier-episode-de-la-serie-arqueologia-angolana-arqueologia-angolana-last-episode\/\">grotte orn\u00e9e de Ndalambiri<\/a><\/strong>, \u00e9galement dirig\u00e9 par Isis Mesfin et Maria-Helena Benjamim. Plusieurs \u00e9tudiant\u00b7es de ce cursus, maintenant en 4<sup>e<\/sup> ann\u00e9e de licence, participent \u00e9galement au chantier de Benguela, et envisagent un master d\u2019arch\u00e9ologie en France. En effet, l\u2019une des ambitions de ce programme est de permettre la mobilit\u00e9 d\u2019\u00e9tudiant\u00b7es angolais\u00b7es vers la France, pour y suivre une formation de master ou doctorat en arch\u00e9ologie, formation qui n\u2019existe pas \u00e0 ce jour en Angola. Dans la m\u00eame perspective, l&#8217;\u00e9quipe de la mission et le <em>Museu de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/em> m\u00e8nent en outre une op\u00e9ration d&#8217;arch\u00e9ologie de sauvetage dans le cadre de la construction du <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/374674489_Os_sitios_arqueologicos_monoliticos_da_Barragem_de_Caculo_Cabaca\">barrage de Caculo Caba\u00e7a<\/a><\/strong> (Province Cuanza Sul). Le site a notamment livr\u00e9 un important site fun\u00e9raire de l\u2019\u00c2ge du Fer, avec plus de 200 structures, telles que des tumulus, dolmens et murets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The team\u2019s researchers also supervise several master&#8217;s and doctoral students, both French and Angolan. Furthermore, for several years, the Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of Sumbe (Cuanza Sul province) has offered second-year history students courses on archaeological methodology paired with <strong>field school at the rock art <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/uncategorized\/dernier-episode-de-la-serie-arqueologia-angolana-arqueologia-angolana-last-episode\/\">cave of Ndalambiri<\/a><\/strong>, also directed by Isis Mesfin and Maria-Helena Benjamim. Several students from this program, now in their fourth year of study, also participate in the Benguela excavation and are considering pursuing a master\u2019s degree in archaeology in France. Indeed, one of the ambitions of this program is to enable the mobility of Angolan students to France to pursue a master\u2019s or doctoral degree in archaeology, a program that currently does not exist in Angola. Following the same perspective, the mission team and the <\/em>Museu de Arqueologia de Benguela<em> are leading an archaeological rescue operation as part of the construction of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/374674489_Os_sitios_arqueologicos_monoliticos_da_Barragem_de_Caculo_Cabaca\">Caculo Caba\u00e7a Dam<\/a> <\/strong>(Cuanza Sul Province). This site has yielded a significant Iron Age burial site, with over 200 structures, such as tumuli, dolmens, and walls.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sur le plan de la diffusion des savoirs<\/strong>, le <em><strong>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/strong><\/em> a b\u00e9n\u00e9fici\u00e9 d\u2019importants travaux de r\u00e9novation du b\u00e2timent et la mus\u00e9ographie a \u00e9t\u00e9 repens\u00e9e. Le d\u00e9veloppement des collections et de l\u2019exposition permanente est en cours, en collaboration avec l\u2019\u00e9quipe de la mission. Enfin, le <strong>projet DIG-ARQ<\/strong> faisant l\u2019objet d\u2019un FEF-R (ao\u00fbt 2024-avril 2025), financ\u00e9 par le minist\u00e8re fran\u00e7ais de l\u2019Europe et des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res, vise \u00e0 num\u00e9riser et \u00e0 diffuser en libre acc\u00e8s le patrimoine arch\u00e9ologique angolais par le biais de la mod\u00e9lisation 3D de sites d\u2019art rupestres (grotte de Ndalambiri, Province Cuanza Sul), de collections lithiques (<em>Museo de Dundo<\/em>, <em>Museo de Benguela<\/em>) ou encore via la num\u00e9risation de fonds d\u2019archives anciens et le scan a\u00e9rien des sites fun\u00e9raires du barrage de Caculo Caba\u00e7a (Province Cuanza Sul) gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 la m\u00e9thode Lidar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>In terms of <strong>knowledge dissemination<\/strong>, the <\/em><strong>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/strong><em> has undergone significant renovation work, and the museography has been rethought. The development of the collections and the permanent exhibition is underway, in collaboration with the mission team. Finally, the <strong>DIG-ARQ project<\/strong>, supported by a FEF-R grant (August 2024 &#8211; April 2025) funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to digitize and provide free access to Angola&#8217;s archaeological heritage through 3D modeling of rock art sites (Ndalambiri rock art cave, Cuanza Sul Province<\/em><em>), lithic collections (<\/em>Museo de Dundo, Museo de Benguela<em>), the digitization of archival materials, and the aerial scanning of burial sites at the Caculo Caba\u00e7a dam (Cuanza Sul Province<\/em><em>) using Lidar technology<\/em><em>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-524f8de7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1560_1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6928\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1560_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1560_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1560_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1560_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1560_1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Salle d\u2019exposition r\u00e9cemment r\u00e9nov\u00e9es. | <em>Renovated permanent exhibition<\/em>. (Credits : IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"739\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1532_1-1024x739.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6929\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1532_1-1024x739.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1532_1-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1532_1-768x554.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1532_1-1536x1108.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1532_1-2048x1477.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Squelette de baleine de la p\u00e9riode du Pl\u00e9istoc\u00e8ne expos\u00e9 tel qu\u2019il a \u00e9t\u00e9 trouv\u00e9 \u00e0 Dungo V. | <em>Fossil whale skeleton dated from the Pleistocene, exhibited as is was found at Dungo V.<\/em> (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00068_1-1024x795.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00068_1-1024x795.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00068_1-300x233.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00068_1-768x597.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00068_1-1536x1193.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00068_1-2048x1591.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maria-Helena Benjamim, directrice du Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela, et Katyana M. Ra\u00f9l, responsable du d\u00e9partement de recherche scientifique du mus\u00e9e, montrent \u00e0 Annael Le Poullennec, directrice de l&#8217;IFAS-Recherche, les r\u00e9serves du mus\u00e9e. | <em>Maria-Helena Benjamim, director of the <\/em>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<em>, and Katyana M. Ra\u00f9l, director of the scientific research department of the museum, showing the museum\u2019s reserves to Annael Le Poullennec, director of IFAS-Research.<\/em> (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"447\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Carte-mission-archeo-Angola-Isis-Mesfin-1024x447.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Carte-mission-archeo-Angola-Isis-Mesfin-1024x447.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Carte-mission-archeo-Angola-Isis-Mesfin-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Carte-mission-archeo-Angola-Isis-Mesfin-768x335.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Carte-mission-archeo-Angola-Isis-Mesfin-1536x670.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Carte-mission-archeo-Angola-Isis-Mesfin-2048x893.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carte des diff\u00e9rents projets arch\u00e9ologiques associant la mission arch\u00e9ologique franco-angolaise, le <em>Museo Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/em> et d&#8217;autres institutions locales. | <em>Map of the different projects associating the archaeological Franco-Angolan mission, the <\/em>Museo Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<em> and other local institutions<\/em>. (Credits: Isis Mesfin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quelques exemples concrets du quotidien de l\u2019\u00e9quipe de la mission sur le littoral de Benguela\u2026<\/strong> | <strong><em>Some concrete examples from the daily life of the mission team on the coast of Benguela\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Les pal\u00e9oplages \u00e9tant particuli\u00e8rement vastes, les arch\u00e9ologues commencent par s\u00e9lectionner des zones potentiellement plus propices \u00e0 la conservation d\u2019artefacts ou de fossiles et y m\u00e8nent des prospections. Au cours de celles-ci, les localit\u00e9s prometteuses sont rep\u00e9r\u00e9es puis font l\u2019objet d\u2019une v\u00e9ritable fouille. Voici quelques exemples de ces localit\u00e9s&nbsp;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Since the raised beaches are particularly vast, the archaeologists begin by selecting areas that are more likely to preserve artifacts or fossils and then conduct surveys in those areas. During these surveys, promising locations are identified and then excavated. Here are a few examples of these locations:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mormolo G6-1<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lors des prospections, un fossile de baleine a \u00e9t\u00e9 rep\u00e9r\u00e9 gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 plusieurs vert\u00e8bres qui affleuraient \u00e0 la surface. La position des vert\u00e8bres montre que l\u2019animal a probablement peu boug\u00e9 apr\u00e8s sa mort, ce qui laisse penser que son cr\u00e2ne, un des seuls os distinctifs entre esp\u00e8ces de baleine, serait aussi enfoui dans le sol. Le squelette du c\u00e9tac\u00e9 a \u00e9t\u00e9 pi\u00e9g\u00e9 durant la formation d\u2019un <em>beachrock<\/em> (roche s\u00e9dimentaire form\u00e9e en zone littorale) qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9rod\u00e9 par un sable rouge grossier comportant des industries lithiques \u00e9parses. Cette couche de sables rouges correspond au un niveau stratigraphique comportant des vestiges anthropiques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>During the surveys, a whale fossil was spotted thanks to several vertebrae that were exposed at the surface. The position of the vertebrae suggests that the animal likely moved little after its death, indicating that its skull\u2014one of the few distinguishing bones between whale species\u2014might be buried in the ground. The skeleton is trapped within the formation of a \u201cbeachrock\u201d (sedimentary rock formed along a shoreline) that has been eroded by coarse red sand containing scattered lithic industries corresponding to a stratigraphic level which includes anthropic remains.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1407_2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6967\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1407_2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1407_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1407_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1407_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1407_2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Squelette de baleine en cours de fouille. | <em>A fossil whale skeleton is being excavated<\/em>. (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mormolo H8-3<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ce site a livr\u00e9 une accumulation de nombreux coquillages, dents de c\u00e9tac\u00e9s, restes de crustac\u00e9s et d\u2019outils lithiques, en position secondaire (pour de nombreuses raisons possibles, ces artefacts ne sont pas retrouv\u00e9s exactement l\u00e0 o\u00f9 ils ont \u00e9t\u00e9 abandonn\u00e9s par leurs utilisateur\u00b7ices). La typologie des outils lithiques indiquerait une industrie pr\u00e9-Acheul\u00e9enne, la plus ancienne retrouv\u00e9e dans la r\u00e9gion, mais le site reste encore un v\u00e9ritable challenge pour la g\u00e9ochronologie. Dans les m\u00eames couches stratigraphiques, la fouille a \u00e9galement mis au jour une mandibule presque compl\u00e8te de proboscidien, en passe d\u2019\u00eatre \u00e9tudi\u00e9e par Fanny Olivier, dans le cadre de son master au Museum national d\u2019Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), dirig\u00e9 par Rapha\u00ebl Hanon et Isis Mesfin. Apr\u00e8s identification de l\u2019esp\u00e8ce, Fanny proc\u00e8dera \u00e0 des analyses isotopiques \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9 de Cape Town qui permettront de conna\u00eetre le contexte climatique et environnemental dans lequel cet individu a v\u00e9cu. Ses analyses pr\u00e9ciseront ainsi la r\u00e9partition des esp\u00e8ces fossiles d\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9phants et le contexte pal\u00e9o-environnemental des hominin\u00e9s contemporains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This site yielded an accumulation of numerous shellfish, cetacean teeth, remains of crustaceans, and lithic tools in a secondary position (i.e., for various possible reasons, these artifacts are not found exactly where they were abandoned by their users). The typology of the lithic tools suggests a pre-Acheulean industry, the oldest found in the region, but the site remains a challenge in terms of geochronology. In the same stratigraphic layers, the excavation also uncovered an almost complete proboscidean jaw, which is set to be studied by Fanny Olivier as part of her master&#8217;s degree at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), supervised by Rapha\u00ebl Hanon and Isis Mesfin. After identifying the species, Fanny will conduct isotopic analyses, at the University of Cape Town, to determine the climatic and environmental context in which this individual lived. Her analyses will thus clarify the distribution of fossil elephant species and the paleo-environmental context of contemporary hominins.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1423_1-1024x610.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6938\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1423_1-1024x610.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1423_1-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1423_1-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1423_1-1536x916.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1423_1-2048x1221.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vue de la fouille du site Mormolo H8-3. | Views of the excavated site Mormolo H8-3. (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Site exp\u00e9rimental Mormolo EXP<\/strong> | <strong><em>Experimental Site Mormolo EXP<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-heading wp-block-paragraph\">Dans le cadre de son master de recherche au MNHN (dirig\u00e9 par Isis Mesfin et David Pleurdeau), Jean-Thomas Vi\u00e9 (allocataire 2024 de l\u2019IFAS-Recherche) interroge les processus taphonomiques, c\u2019est-\u00e0-dire les diverses alt\u00e9rations ayant affect\u00e9 les sites et les artefacts entre le moment de leur abandon par les individus \u00e0 leur origine et le moment o\u00f9 les arch\u00e9ologues les \u00e9tudient. Dans une zone vierge d\u2019artefacts arch\u00e9ologiques, Jean-Thomas a reproduit un atelier de taille, et observera \u00e0 intervalles r\u00e9guliers et sur plusieurs mois, les d\u00e9placements et les alt\u00e9rations subis par les pi\u00e8ces, ainsi que les \u00e9l\u00e9ments qui en sont \u00e0 l\u2019origine (vent, eau, effondrements de coupe, flux secs, pi\u00e9tinement, etc.). Ces observations permettront ainsi de limiter les biais lors de l\u2019interpr\u00e9tation des sites arch\u00e9ologiques en cr\u00e9ant un r\u00e9f\u00e9rentiel pour l\u2019\u00e9tude de la r\u00e9partition spatiale des vestiges arch\u00e9ologiques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>As part of his research master\u2019s at the MNHN (supervised by Isis Mesfin and David Pleurdeau), Jean-Thomas Vi\u00e9 (IFAS-Research 2024 grantee) is investigating taphonomic processes, meaning the various alterations that have affected sites and artifacts from the moment of their abandonment by individuals to the moment archaeologists study them. In an area devoid of archaeological artifacts, Jean-Thomas has replicated a knapping workshop and will regularly observe over several months the movements and alterations experienced by the pieces, as well as the factors responsible for them (wind, water, collapses, dry flows, trampling, etc.). These observations will help limit biases in the interpretation of archaeological sites by creating a frame of reference for studying the spatial distribution of archaeological remains.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1451-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6939\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1451-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1451-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1451-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1451-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1451-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jean-Thomas Vi\u00e9 explique son protocole exp\u00e9rimental. | <em>Jean-Thomas Vi\u00e9 explaining his experimental protocole.<\/em> (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dungo 18<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-heading wp-block-paragraph\">Ce site pal\u00e9ontologique livre les plus anciens fossiles du Mioc\u00e8ne, estim\u00e9s entre 23 et 5 millions d\u2019ann\u00e9es&nbsp;: squelettes de baleines, vert\u00e8bres de poissons, dents de m\u00e9galodon, etc. Ce site permet ainsi d\u2019enrichir la compr\u00e9hension de la faune marine de cette \u00e9poque, mais pourrait \u00e9galement nous en apprendre sur la faune terrestre&nbsp;: lors de prospections cette ann\u00e9e, dirig\u00e9es par Gr\u00e9goire M\u00e9tais (laboratoire CR2P du MNHN\/CNRS), un cr\u00e2ne de suid\u00e9 (famille des cochons) a \u00e9t\u00e9 retrouv\u00e9, provenant certainement d\u2019un individu d\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9 \u00e0 proximit\u00e9 du rivage et charri\u00e9 par les courants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This paleontological site yields the oldest Miocene fossils, estimated to be around 23 and 5 million years old: whale skeletons, fish vertebrae, megalodon teeth, etc. This site thus enriches our understanding of the marine fauna of that era, but it could also provide insights into terrestrial fauna: during surveys this year, directed by Gr\u00e9goire M\u00e9tais (MNHN\/CNRS CR2P laboratory), a skull of a suid (pig family) was found, likely from an individual that died near the shore and was carried by the currents.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1468-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6940\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1468-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1468-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1468-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1468-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1468-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maria-Helena Benjamim sur le site Dungo 18, au milieu d\u2019anciens fonds marins de l\u2019\u00e9poque du Mioc\u00e8ne. | <em>Maria-Helena Benjamim in the site Dungo 18, in the middle of ancient seabeds from the Miocene<\/em>. (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d05cb3ef wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00003-edited-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6943\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:357px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00003-edited-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00003-edited-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00003-edited-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00003-edited-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00003-edited-1-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dent de megalodon. | <em>Megalodon tooth.<\/em> (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00018-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6944\" style=\"width:470px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00018-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00018-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00018-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00018-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image00018.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Les visiteur\u00b7ses tentent d\u2019en trouver d&#8217;autres\u2026 | <em>The visitors trying to find new ones\u2026<\/em> (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Abri Dungo 16<\/strong> | <strong><em>Dungo 16 Shelter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-heading wp-block-paragraph\">Les prospections ont permis de rep\u00e9rer cet abri perch\u00e9 \u00e0 40 \u00e0 50m d\u2019altitude devant lequel de nombreux coquillages et outils lithiques \u00e9taient visibles en surface. Les fouilleur\u00b7ses ont ainsi mis au jour un d\u00e9p\u00f4t arch\u00e9ologique qui t\u00e9moigne de deux occupations \u00e0 deux p\u00e9riodes diff\u00e9rentes, globalement dat\u00e9es entre environ 45000 et 3500 ans&nbsp;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol style=\"list-style-type:lower-alpha\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>La plus ancienne emploie le d\u00e9bitage Levallois et le d\u00e9bitage lamino-lamellaire pour la fabrication de ses outils lithiques, mais produit \u00e9galement des perles en coquilles d\u2019\u0153ufs d\u2019autruche. Les restes fauniques indiquent un r\u00e9gime alimentaire tourn\u00e9 vers les mammif\u00e8res terrestres, avec quelques traces de consommation de fruits de mer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>La plus r\u00e9cente s\u2019est tourn\u00e9e plut\u00f4t vers un outillage microlithique sur quartz semblable \u00e0 celui de la chrono-culture du Wilton retrouv\u00e9 en Afrique australe. Cette couche livre aussi de nombreuses perles en coquille d\u2019\u0153uf d\u2019autruche, mais montre un r\u00e9gime alimentaire bien plus tourn\u00e9 vers les produits de la mer, avec des restes de tortues, de crabes et de nombreux coquillages, et bien moins d\u2019os de mammif\u00e8res terrestres.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Thanks to their surveys, the archaeologists identified this shelter, located at an altitude of 40 to 50 meters, where numerous shellfish and lithic tools were visible on the surface. The excavation uncovered an archaeological deposit with two occupations at two different periods, dated between approximately 45,000 and 3,500 years ago:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol style=\"list-style-type:lower-alpha\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>The oldest layer employed the Levallois technique to produce lithic tools, as well as lamino-lamellar knapping, and also produced beads made from ostrich eggshells. The faunal remains indicate a diet focused on terrestrial mammals, with some evidence of seafood consumption.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The more recent layer shifted towards microlithic tools made from quartz, like those of the Wilton chrono-culture found in Southern Africa. This layer also yields numerous beads made from ostrich eggshells but shows a diet much more oriented towards marine products, with remains of turtles, crabs, and many types of shellfish, and significantly fewer bones from terrestrial mammals.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Une fois le cadre chronologique solidifi\u00e9, l\u2019\u00e9tude de ce site permettra de mieux conna\u00eetre la pr\u00e9histoire plus r\u00e9cente (le Later Stone Age) du littoral atlantique aride de l\u2019Afrique australe et de comprendre les dynamiques chrono-culturelles \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9chelle continentale, notamment les liens avec les sites du <em>Middle<\/em> et <em>Late Stone Age<\/em> des pays voisins (Namibie, Zambie, R.D.Congo).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Once the chronological framework is solidified, the study of this site will enhance our understanding of the more recent prehistory (the Later Stone Age) of the arid Atlantic coast of southern Africa and chrono-cultural dynamics on a continental scale, particularly the connections with Middle and Late Stone Age sites in neighbouring countries (Namibie, Zambie, RDC).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"6945\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1508_1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1508_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1508_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1508_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1508_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1508_1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vues de l\u2019abri Dungo 16. | <em>Views of Dungo 16 shelter<\/em>. (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"6946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1488_1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1488_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1488_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1488_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1488_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_1488_1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vues de l\u2019abri Dungo 16. | <em>Views of Dungo 16 shelter<\/em>. (Credits: IFAS-Recherche)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quelle est la suite envisag\u00e9e des projets de la Mission Pr\u00e9historique Franco-Angolaise&nbsp;?<\/strong> | <strong><em>What are the future plans for the Franco-Angolan Prehistoric Archaeologic Mission?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sur le plan scientifique, la mission se concentre d\u00e9sormais sur le <strong>programme de datation<\/strong> des localit\u00e9s pr\u00e9sent\u00e9es ci-dessus, ce qui permettra de proposer une s\u00e9quence chrono-culturelle de r\u00e9f\u00e9rence pour la r\u00e9gion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Scientifically, the mission is now focusing on the dating program of the locations presented above, which will help establish a reference chrono-cultural sequence for the region.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La <strong>r\u00e9novation de l\u2019exposition permanente du <em>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/em><\/strong> se poursuit, tout comme le travail de num\u00e9risation du patrimoine arch\u00e9ologique angolais. L\u2019\u00e9quipe s\u2019attelle notamment \u00e0 la cr\u00e9ation d\u2019un prototype de mus\u00e9e virtuel afin de rendre ce riche patrimoine accessible \u00e0 tous et toutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The <strong>renovation of the permanent exhibition at the <\/strong><\/em><strong>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/strong><em> continues, as does the digitization of Angola&#8217;s archaeological heritage. The team is particularly working on creating a prototype of a virtual museum to make this rich heritage accessible to everyone.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Au-del\u00e0 du littoral de Benguela, la collaboration des chercheur\u00b7ses fran\u00e7ais\u00b7es et du <em>Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela<\/em> se prolonge par le biais d\u2019autres projets, comme la mise en place d\u2019un chantier-\u00e9cole dans la grotte de Ndalambiri ou le sauvetage d\u2019un site fun\u00e9raire de l\u2019\u00c2ge du Fer dans le cadre de la construction du barrage de Calculo Caba\u00e7a, Province de Cuanza Norte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Beyond the coast of Benguela, the collaboration between French researchers and the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia de Benguela extends through other projects, such as the establishment of a field school in the Ndalambiri cave and the rescue of an Iron Age burial site due to the construction of the Calculo Caba\u00e7a dam, Cuanza Norte province.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Et bien s\u00fbr, les \u00e9tudiant\u00b7es en master, doctorant\u00b7es et chercheur\u00b7ses poursuivent leurs diff\u00e9rents travaux de recherche. On leur souhaite bon courage et de belles trouvailles&nbsp;!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>And of course, master&#8217;s students, doctoral students, and researchers continue their various research projects. We wish them good luck and great discoveries!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pour en savoir plus&nbsp;<\/strong>| <strong><em>To learn more<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Retrouvez <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLca21v0MS9v_YWkaf_5aVvIltoD38D8oc&amp;feature=shared\">la s\u00e9rie \u00ab&nbsp;Arqueologia Angolana&nbsp;\u00bb<\/a> r\u00e9alis\u00e9e par L\u00e9o Bohn et Isis Mesfin et diffus\u00e9e sur notre cha\u00eene YouTube.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suivez les aventures scientifiques et l\u2019actualit\u00e9 des membres de l\u2019\u00e9quipe sur le <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/centralafricanarchaeology\/\">compte Instagram @centralafricanarchaeology<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Check out the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLca21v0MS9v_YWkaf_5aVvIltoD38D8oc&amp;feature=shared\">Arqueologia Angolana&#8221; series<\/a> produced by L\u00e9o Bohn and Isis Mesfin, available on our YouTube channel.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Follow the scientific adventures and news of team members on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/centralafricanarchaeology\/\">Instagram @centralafricanarchaeology<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">R\u00e9f\u00e9rences&nbsp;| <em>References<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LEBATARD A.-E., BOURL\u00c8S D. L., BRAUCHER R., TEAM A. (2019) \u2013 Absolute dating of an Early Paleolithic site in Western Africa based on the radioactive decay of in situ-produced 10Be and 26Al. <em>Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MESFIN I., BENJAMIM M.-H., LEBATARD A.-E., SAOS T., PLEURDEAU D., MATOS J., LOTTER M. (2023) \u2012 Evidence for Earlier Stone Age \u2018coastal use\u2019: The site of Dungo IV, Benguela Province, Angola. <em>PLOS ONE<\/em>, 18, 2 [URL : <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0278775\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0278775<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>MESFIN I., HANON R.,PAVEI D., LEBATARD A.-E., BEN AROUS E., SAOS T., VIE J.-T., GALLAND A., BENJAMIM M.-H. (2024) \u2012 First results on the Earlier Stone Age coastal sites of Mormolo, Benguela Province, Angola. International Erasmus Mundus master in Quaternary and Prehistory joint course [URL : <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ojh1xFg6T08\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ojh1xFg6T08<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>La derni\u00e8re semaine d\u2019ao\u00fbt 2024, l\u2019IFAS-Recherche a effectu\u00e9 une mission en Angola, pour rencontrer le Service de Coop\u00e9ration et d\u2019Action Culturelle (SCAC) \u00e0 Luanda, pour \u00e9voquer avec R\u00e9n\u00e9 Quirin, Conseiller de Coop\u00e9ration et d&#8217;Action Culturelle (COCAC) sortant, et Manuela Ferreira Pinto, COCAC entrante, les missions de l&#8217;IFAS-Recherche en Angola et les collaborations \u00e0 venir entre [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":6958,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,21,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-news","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6924"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9405,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6924\/revisions\/9405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ifas.org.za\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}