The Study Area (Ecrins National Park) in the Southern French Alps

The Ecrins Study Area - 2007 excavations took place at Grand Fond and Haut Fournel

Grand Fond Excavation Area

The enclosure before excavation

One of numerous other structures in the excavation area at Grand Fond

One of those days when you don't want to get out of your sleeping bag...

although Kylie, the "expert" on things pastoral, thinks differently!

Project directors, Florence Mocci (CNRS/Aix-en-Provence) and Kevin Walsh (University of York) having a think...

Vincent Dumas (CNRS/Aix-en-Provence) recording site features

Berengere Perez and Maee Le Hir (postgraduate students, Aix-en-Provence) avoiding a spider and digging the Grand Fond rock helter

The Grand Fond site during excavation

Some "interesting" rocks forming a "feature" - we await the 14C dates

Returning back to camp at the end of the day

Barbecue time

The Grand Fond "enclosure" and rock shelter during excavation

The Grand Fond site produced large quantities of charcoal, plus geoarchaeological samples were taken.

The charcoal will be identified, and the species composition of the different samples will compliment the resulsts of the palynological evidence from the area (research undertaken by Suzi Richer from York).

Virtual image of the two valleys from the north-east

Hiking up to the second study area, Serre de l'Homme, at the very end of the Fournel Valley

Andy Needham (York) developing his mountain goat skills on the way up to Serre de l'Homme

The Serre de l'Homme area - excavations took place on the lateral moraine just to the left of centre (above the lake) in this photograph

Setting up camp at Serre de l'Homme

This sub-circular structure was the object of the main sondage at Serre de l'Homme

This site is similar in form to the late Neolithic and Bronze Age sites that we have excavated elsewhere in the Ecrins.

Serre de l'Homme XI is just one element in a complex series of enclosures and other sites spread along this moraine