Micromorphological analyses

A series of analyses of architectural fragments that were conducted at the Geophen Laboratory in Caen, confirmed what had already been suggested by macroscopic observation and experiments : specific strategies existed for the sampling, mixing, and use of building clay. These strategies concerned the choice of clay, the preparation of the mixture by means of purification or addition of non-plastic materials, and the shaping and arrangement of the different construction elements. It became clear that the operational sequence was not only complex but also relatively standardised, especially for combustion structures, as early as the Late Neolithic period.