Herve Cortot (Scientific Director of the Ecrins National Park) in front of the lake at Serre de l'Homme

View from Serre de l'Homme XI towards Serre de l'Homme XIX and the lake in the left background

Aperatif time

A culinary disaster - saucisse lentilles all over the place!

Larix decidua is starting to colonize the higher altitudes (2,300m)

The combination of climate change, and rigorous management of grazing is leading to the recolonization of certain species in the sub-alpine and alpine altitudes.

Serre de l'Homme XIX towards the end of its excavation

Hopefully a late third/second millennia 14C date will be provided by the charcoal from this site

Baby marmottes taking a risk...

Baptiste's "Stonehenge on a spoil-heap"

Kevin augering for charoal

Washing up in water at 4 degrees

The lac at Serre de l'Homme

A core from this lake was taken in 2006, and studied by Suzi Richer (University of York) for part of her PhD research.

A view from the east across the morraine with Serre de l'Homme XIX in the middle area, and Serre de l'Homme XI in the distance

Another enclosure on the break in slope just above what would have been a marshy area during the Bronze Age

Florence Mocci off to her special place...

The central zone of Serre de l'Homme XI

One of a series of small "fire places" on the site

The central area of Serre de l'Homme XI at the end of the excavation

Serre de l'Homme XI during the final hours before backfilling

Drawing the final section at Serre de l'Homme XI

Low-angled sunlight highlighting two circular enclosure structures that are probably Bronze Age in date

Kevin off to greet the Gendarme Mountain rescue team having acted as the landing zone target - a mule driver was badly hurt by Carolin the mule

Gendarmerie rescue helicopter taking off

Starting the hike down

The Mesolithic & Bronze Age site dug in 2006 gradually being recolonized by fir trees