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Origin and history

Pincevent is a prehistoric outdoor site located in the Seine Valley, in the commune of La Grande-Paroisse (Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France). It was discovered in 1964 in a sandblast that had been in operation since 1926 and is the largest Magdalenian deposit in Europe, about 12,300 years before the present. The remains, exceptionally preserved under flood silts, reveal a seasonal reindeer hunting camp occupied between September and November. The excavations, led by André Leroi-Gourhan until 1985, allowed for major advances in the understanding of the Magdalenian and archaeological methods.

The site extends over at least 1 hectare and has circular activity areas, interpreted as demountable skin-like dwellings similar to tipis. Fifteen levels of occupancy were identified, showing regular reuse of the site. The bone remains indicate that the reindeer, driven in large numbers, were taken whole to the camp before being shared. The lack of fish remains suggests that they were either treated elsewhere or consumed poorly on site.

Pucevent marked archaeology by its innovative methodology: systematic 3D recordings, lithic and bone rewinding, and spatial analyses. These techniques, which have been developed on site, have helped to reconstruct the daily life of Magdalenians, including their social organization and their varied flint size skills. The site, classified as a historical monument in 1988, remains a reference for the study of European Prehistory.

Local geology, with a chalky base covered with fluvial sediments and clay silts, helped preserve the remains. The site, crossed by the Paris-Marseille railway line, is accessible by the D606 and close to the Departmental Museum of Prehistory of Île-de-France in Nemours. A Paleolithic tent was reconstructed at Asnapio Archaeological Park, inspired by the excavations of Pinchvent.

The surrounding area is full of other prehistoric sites, including the Middle Neolithic and Hallstatt culture, reflecting a dense human occupation in the Seine Valley. The discovery of Pucevent was made possible thanks to the alert of Isabelle Roux-Rath, a local researcher, who contacted the team of André Leroi-Gourhan to organize rescue searches prior to the total destruction of the site by the exploitation of the sandstone.

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