Human subsistence and behaviour are closely related to climate and environment. Interpretation of zooarchaeological data should be done with a good knowledge of environment during the occupation. The cave “La Baume de Gigny” is located in the french Jura (eastern France). Its stratigraphic sequence covered a large timescale from MIS 6 to MIS 2. The middle complex, composed of 12 layers, constitute the reference for the Middle Palaeolithic of this region. Many of this layers delivered lithic tools and faunal remains. In order to understand human behaviour we undertake a pluridisciplinary study. The first analyse is based on the use of oxygen stable isotope from the phosphate of enamel from large mammal tooth in the way of past climate reconstruction. The second one is a zooarchaeological approach of the faunal assemblage.
The geochemical data indicate a slowly but regularly increase of cold conditions from layer XX to XV with more contrasted seasons that means a more continental climate. In a zooarchaeological point of view, we observed a decreased of the duration of cave occupation from a long occupation to a brief passage.
“La Baume de Gigny”, with its well stratified sequence, shows a variation of the occupation of the cavities by Neandertal. When the climate become colder, the duration of occupation decreased with a more opportunistic subsistence.