Chris – Well you are certainly entering more deeply into yourself. The basement is often showing the things that are semi unconscious, our personal unconscious which is just beneath our normal awareness, where we keep things that are sometimes difficult to acknowledge or deal with.
The dark figures are aspects of your own person that you are just becoming aware of. A modern view of the personality says that our mind is made up of many modules which are quite distinct. These modules, such as the sexual drive and the ability to speak, usually function in a way which is reasonably integrated. But many areas of dissimilarity are evident if we closely observe the workings of our own responses to life. But as we become more aware of ourselves these start to become known.
The prehistoric fish are also a sign that you are going beyond your usual boundaries of what you are aware of. It is not in water because it is swimming in your mind. It represents a level of yourself that functions in a basic way and often works to being to your awareness basic body functions. So do you have any things you note about your being able to support yourself?
You then explore the cleaning function which reveals a baby/chicken. The green mud suggest an even deeper level that you are clearing off – maybe it connects with France through forbears or in other ways. It is the fundamental primordial, sensual, slimy basis of life and how we relate to it; emotions which cause us to feel bogged down; past experience which may hold us back, but has enormous growth potential in it; the healing possibilities of our body and its minerals.
As for the baby/chicken the only feeling I get is that it is a vulnerable part of you being uncovered. But why not find out for yourself, using
http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPersonTony