ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the characteristic features of French Pleistocene faunas that lived between 1 My and 0.5 My ago. Most of the sites where these are found are located in the southern part of France, and their deposits generally contain species adapted to a temperate climate. Exceptionally at L’Escale cave some beds contain an archaic arctic type fauna. In general there is an absence of Villafranchian forms. Only Le Vallonet cave and at Saint-Prest show a remarkable abundance of Villafranchian forms. The reappearance of ancient species, perhaps of Pontian origin, and the presence of large deer, the Praemegaceridae, and of Felis (Panthern) gombaszögensis define the special character of these faunas. Most of the faunal assemblages are associated with archaeological deposits, and their history is thus linked to the onset of the Early Palaeolithic period in Europe. Enormous progress has been made over the past few years in identifying the main characteristics of this previously poorly known group of faunas, although it is still difficult to know the relative age of some sites. It is suggested that these faunas be referred to as “archaic-type Quaternary faunas”.
