Le fonctionnement de la cellule domestique d'après l'étude des restes osseux d'animaux : le cas d'un village néolithique du lac de Chalain (Jura, France)

This contribution deals with the spatial distribution of animal bones in two neolithic lakeshore villages of Chalain (Jura, France) within the framework of a more extensive analysis encompassing ail archaeological remains (rubbish and tools). Using some 1500 distribution maps of an area 330 m2 and study of 11,000 identified bones, this analysis was conducted to shed light on the organisation and functioning of architectural units within the context of two successive settlements dated to 3200 BC (Horgen Culture). Study ofthe spatial distribution of bones of primary species has shown that they are discarded outside or under (houses with raised floors) the architectural units; they may be integrated into the scheme of spatial organization for ail the other archaeological remains. In this way, their study can help determine: - the nature of those architectural units which can be defined as houses through the presence ofhearths and other remains; - the repetition of the assemblages with the goal of testing the hypothesis of spatial organization into households functioning in a System of domestic economy, - the functioning of these domestic units from the point of view of their integration within the village space and their relationship to each other, - possible specificities which could be linked to development of economie hierarchies, technical specialization or social differentiation ofthe households.