Human occupations palaeoenvironmental context of Coímbre Cave (Peñamellera Alta, Asturias) during the Upper Pleistocene

[ES] En este capítulo presentamos la síntesis paleoecológica y paleoambiental de la cueva de Coímbre obtenido a partir de las diferentes evidencias proporcionadas paleovegetales y paleofaunísticas y siguiendo los resultados de los estudios polínicos, antracológicas, macro- y micofaunísticos. Los resultados muestran un medio con paisajes abiertos y unas condiciones frías más o menos rigurosas según el momento bajo las cuales tuvieron lugar las ocupaciones humanas del Gravetiense y Magdaleniense inferior y medio. La secuencia arqueológica culmina con una fase más húmeda y una mayor diversidad del ecosistema durante el Magdaleniense superior.[ES] In this chapter we offer a paleoecological and paleoenvironmental synthesis of the Coímbre cave using the evidence provided by plant and animal remains, as well as the results of the studies on pollen, wood charcoal, and microfauna. The result shows a milieu characterized by open landscapes and cold conditions of varying degrees of severity, depending on the time when the Gravettian and Lower and Middle Magdalenian human occupations took place. The archaeological sequence culminates in a more humid phase with a greater diversity of ecosystems during the Upper Magdalenian.Peer reviewe

Under the Skin of a Lion: Unique Evidence of Upper Paleolithic Exploitation and Use of Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Spain)

ABSTRACT: Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly sustained by the archaeological record. In the present paper, we analyze unique evidence of patterned anthropic modification and skeletal representation of fossil remains of cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain). This site is one of the few that provides Pleistocene examples of lion exploitation by humans. Our archaeozoological study suggests that lion-specialized pelt exploitation and use might have been related to ritual activities during the Middle Magdalenian period (ca. 14800 cal BC). Moreover, the specimens also represent the southernmost European and the latest evidence of cave lion exploitation in Iberia. Therefore, the study seeks to provide alternative explanations for lion extinction in Eurasia and argues for a role of hunting as a factor to take into account

Geoarqueología de los procesos de vertiente holocenos en la cueva de Torca l’Arroyu (Llanera, Asturias, España)

Torca l’Arroyu fue descubierta durante la construcción de la nueva red de saneamiento de Llanera (Asturias, España). Es una pequeña cueva desarrollada en las calizas y margas del Cretácico superior rellena por sedimentos cuyo techo presenta una abertura tipo torca. El depósito tiene forma de cono cuyo vértice se encuentra bajo la torca y está formado por capas inclinadas depositadas a partir de los arrastres producidos en la ladera exterior. En estos niveles se recogieron materiales arqueológicos, restos óseos y fragmentos carbonosos. Para situar los depósitos en el tiempo se dataron mediante 14C dos muestras óseas y varios carbones. Las fechas ofrecidas por las muestras óseas del nivel inferior son: UBAR-803 4.930±70 BP y UBAR-804 4.240±60 BP; las obtenidas de los carbones son: nivel inferior, UBAR-745 3.190±150 BP, y nivel superior UBAR-746 2.050±120 BP. Las dataciones de los huesos asociados a materiales arqueológicos nos indican la existencia en la ladera exterior de un asentamiento humano holoceno, cuyos materiales fueron arrastrados por la ladera y depositados en la cueva en una fecha posterior, como consecuencia del desarrollo de un incendio, proceso este que se repitió años después como atestigua la fecha más reciente. Las fechas 14C fueron sometidas a calibración dendrocronológica y comparadas con las de otros yacimientos cantábricos de similar cronologí

Non-funerary Bell Beakers in the province of Toledo: the site of Las Vegas (the valley of Huecas once again)

[ES] Presentamos los resultados de los sondeos del yaci-miento de Las Vegas, Huecas (Toledo). Se trata de un área abierta, junto al arroyo y al pie de la necrópolis de Valle de las Higueras. Un fuerte depósito de coluvión sepulta el yacimiento. Sin evidencias en superficie, su detección se realizó mediante prospección geofísica. Carece de es-tructuras y está formado por un único estrato, un depósito secundario que contiene campaniforme Ciempozuelos y metal, con una fecha C14 de la 2ª mitad del III milenio a.C. La cerámica es el material más abundante. Su estudio macroscópico y mediante fluorescencia de rayos X (FRX) avala su producción local, la rápida formación del depósito y su larga exposición en superficie. Planteamos que el depósito procede de la limpieza y mantenimiento de un área de ocupación anexa. El patrón de poblamiento parece seguir las tierras bajas del valle con ocupaciones cuyas producciones cerámicas difieren de las de los con-textos funerarios.[EN] This article presents the latest results of the exca-vations at the site of Las Vegas in Huecas (Toledo). The site is located in an open area, near a stream and at the foot of the Valle de las Higueras necropolis. It is buried by a considerable colluvial deposition and was detected by geophysical survey. The site lacks structures and is made up of a single archaeological layer: it is a secondary deposit, containing Bell Beaker pottery and metal. A 14C sample has dated it to the second half of the 3rd millennium BC. Ceramics are the most abun-dant remain from this deposit. Macroscopic and X-ray Fluorescence (FRX) analysis of the ceramics indicates a local production, the fast formation of this deposit, and its long-term exposure on the surface. We suggest that it was formed by cleaning and maintenance activities carried out in a nearby occupational area. We suggest that settlement occurred in the valley bottom, with occu-pations whose ceramic productions differ from the ones found in funerary contexts

Flint and Quartzite: Distinguishing Raw Material Through Bone Cut Marks

Since the 1980s, several experimental analyses have been able to differentiate some lithic tool types and some of their raw materials according to the morphology of cut marks imprinted by such tools when used for butchering activities. Thus, metal tool use has been differentiated in contexts with an abundance of lithic tools, or even the use of hand axes has been documented in carcass processing, in contrast with simple unretouched or retouched flakes. As important as this information is, there are still other important aspects to be analysed. Can cut marks produced with different lithic raw material types be differentiated? Can cut marks made with different types of the same raw material type be characterized and differentiated? The objective of this study is to evaluate if cut marks resulting from the use of different flints and different quartzites are distinguishable from each other. In the present work, an experimental analysis of hundreds of cut marks produced by five types of flint and five varieties of quartzite was carried out. Microphotogrammetry and geometric–morphometric techniques were applied to analyse these cut marks. The results show that flint cut marks and quartzite cut marks can be characterized at the assemblage level. Different types of flint produced cut marks that were not significantly different from each other. Cut marks made with Olduvai Gorge quartzite were significantly different from those produced with a set comprising several other types of quartzites. Crystal size, which is larger in Olduvai Gorge quartzites (0.5 mm) than Spanish quartzites (177–250 μm), is discussed as being the main reason for these statistically significant differences. This documented intra‐sample and inter‐sample variance does not hinder the resolution of the approach to differentiate between these two generic raw material types and opens the door for the application of this method in archaeological contexts