On Physical Anthropological Aspects of the Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition in the Iberian Peninsula

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/20467

The identification of the sample dated as Wk-26796: what that tells us about Cabeço da Amoreira, Muge, Portugal

The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Portugal is complex, involving a cultural mosaic and probable overlap of the two ways of life for at least half a millennium. Much can hinge on a single radiocarbon date and the dating of specifc sites. A major question relates to Late Mesolithic sites along the Muge and Sado rivers in central Portugal, and the suggestion that both act as Mesolithic enclaves between ca. 7500 and 6900 cal BP, parallel to the earliest Neolithic sites on the Atlantic coast of Portugal. We look at the youngest dates on human remains from Cabeço da Amoreira in discussing the nature and afliation of the uppermost levels of the site, with some emphasis on one sample that has been dated but not identifed. We identify the material dated and diferentiate it from adjacent human remains, providing basic information on one of the two youngest dated human skeletal elements recovered in the Mesolithic context at Muge, making it central to any full understanding of the transition

Du Mésolithique au Néolithique en Méditerranée occidentale: l’impact africain - MeNeMOIA

[EN] Between the 8th and 5th millennia BC, the human societies of the Western Mediterranean underwent several major changes. The first occurred during the 7th millennium with the appearance of the ‘Second Mesolithic’. It can be seen mainly in the material productions of these populations, in particular their stone tool industries, by a fundamental change in production, operating sequences and technical procedures. Deeper changes in the social organization of these societies are also perceptible, in particular through changes in rites and funeral practices. The precise origin of these changes escapes us at present, but they seem to occur initially in North Africa before spreading rapidly along the Mediterranean shores and reaching Western Europe. A second major upheaval took place a few centuries later, with the appearance of the Neolithic. In this extensive process, the southern shores of the Mediterranean should not be ignored. Recent data suggest that, during the 6th millennium before our era, human communities practicing hunting and gathering and having acquired ceramic technology, occupied parts of the Maghreb. Interactions with spheres of the Impresso / Cardial complex occurred in southern Italy and, at the other end, southern Spain. This seems to be indicated by some traits of the technical systems of the first Neolithic communities of Andalusia. These hypotheses should now be tested by close examination of timelines and technical systems which if confirmed may offer a possible alternative to the strictly European scenarios. The international program of research, MeNeMOIA, financed for 2016 and 2017, will attempt to estimate the importance of a North African impact on European societies of recent prehistory (Second Mesolithic, Early Neolithic), a scenario breaking with the traditional scenario which, since decolonization, has recognized in Europe only movements of east-west diffusion and completely ignored any that might indicate movement from the south northward (or from the north southward) on both shores of the western Mediterranean.[FR] Entre les viiie et ve millénaires avant notre ère, les sociétés humaines du Bassin occidental de la Méditerranée connaissent plusieurs évolutions majeures. La première d’entre elles se déroule durant le viie millénaire avec l’apparition du «Second Mésolithique». Elle se matérialise principalement dans les productions matérielles de ces populations, et notamment dans leurs industries lithiques par un bouleversement des modes de production, des séquences opératoires et des gestes techniques. Des évolutions plus profondes, dans l’organisation sociale même de ces sociétés, sont également sensibles, notamment au travers de l’évolution des rites et pratiques funéraires. L’origine précise de ces évolutions nous échappe encore actuellement, mais elles semblent se produire initialement en Afrique du Nord avant de diffuser ensuite le long des rivages méditerranéens de manière rapide, et gagner ensuite l’ensemble de l’Europe occidentale. Un second bouleversement majeur se déroule quelques siècles après le précédent, avec l’apparition du Néolithique. Dans ce vaste processus, les rives sud de la Méditerranée ne doivent pas être ignorées. De récentes données suggèrent en effet que, durant le vie millénaire avant notre ère, des communautés humaines pratiquant chasse et cueillette et ayant acquis la technologie céramique occupaient certaines parties du Maghreb. Des interactions avec les sphères du complexe Impresso / Cardial ont ainsi pu voir le jour dans le Sud italien et, à l’autre extrémité, dans le sud de l’Espagne. C’est d’ailleurs ce que semblent montrer certains caractères des systèmes techniques des premières communautés néolithiques d’Andalousie. Ces hypothèses qu’il faut désormais confirmer par la confrontation étroite des chronologies et des systèmes techniques offrent donc une alternative possible aux scénarios classiques strictement européens. Le programme international de recherche MeNeMOIA, financé par l’IDEX toulousain pour 2016 et 2017, va donc s’attacher à évaluer l’importance des impacts nord-africains sur les sociétés européennes de la Préhistoire récente (Second Mésolithique, Néolithique ancien), scénario rompant avec les schémas traditionnels qui, depuis la décolonisation, se cantonnent à ne reconnaitre en Europe que des mouvements de diffusion est-ouest et ignorent complètement ceux allant du sud vers le nord (ou du nord vers le sud) de part et d’autre du Bassin occidental de la Méditerranée.Peer Reviewe

Building a method for the study of the Mesolithic Neolithic transition in Portugal

This paper focuses on the agricultural transition in Portugal and on demography across this transition, concentrating on two key skeletal samples, the Mesolithic shell midden of Cabeco da Arruda and the Neolithic burial cave of Casa da Moura. It extends our previous work on the demography of the transition and the methodology surrounding its determination. We explain our method for determination of the number of individuals in samples where whole skeletons cannot be used. We then concentrate on the estimation of fertility, placing it within limits of biological feasibility, sample inadequacies, and vagaries of age assessment. From our analysis, which includes an examination of historical issues with the sites, we argue for regional population continuity between 8000 and 6000 cal BP, and suggest that Neolithic life-ways slowly intensified, founded on important elements deriving from the late Mesolithic, with changes that included increased fertility through shortening of the birth intervalV članku se osredotočamo na prehod v kmetovanje na Portugalskem in na demografijo pri tem prehodu, še posebej na dva ključna vzorca skeletov – mezolitsko najdišče školčnih lupin Cabeço da Arruda in neolitska jama s pokopi Casa da Moura. To je nadaljevanje naših dosedanjih raziskav demografije prehoda in s tem povezano metodologijo. V članku razložimo našo metodo za določevanje števila posameznikov v vzorcih, kjer ni mogoče uporabiti celih skeletov. Nato se osredotočimo na oceno rodnosti glede na biološko zmožnost, neustreznost vzorcev in glede na omejitve pri ocenah starosti. Na osnovi naših analiz, ki vključujejo tudi zgodovinske vidike raziskav najdišč, zagovarjamo regionalno kontinuiteto prebivalstva med 8000 in 6000 calBP. Menimo, da se je neolitski način življenja počasi intenziviral na temelju pomembnih elementov iz poznega mezolitika, spremembe pa so vključevale naraščanje rodnosti in skrajševanje časovnega razmika med rojstvi

Meiklejohn C: The Paleodemography of Central Portugal and the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition

Abstract Newly available information on the excavation of the Portuguese Mesolithic shell middens, Cabeço da Arruda and Moita do Sebastião, has allowed reassessment of the paleodemography of the sites. Following the restudy of Arruda and an examination of Moita site structure, we now discuss the problem of arriving at a minimum number of individuals (MNI) for Moita and use the age distribution of the dead to estimate the total fertility rate (TFR). We confirm the difference between Moita and Arruda and note their divergence from the Neolithic site of Casa da Moura. Our method of estimating TFR, deriving from the use of West model tables, is explained and is tested by reference to historical data sets and by calculation of equivalent demographic values using the Brass relational table approach. Our focus is the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition and we establish the context of demographic change in the late Mesolithic and early Neolithic of central Portugal by reference to changing environmental, nutritional and disease conditions. The low level of population growth at Moita would have increased during the occupation of Arruda. However, subsequent changes in climate and sea levels led to unfavorable conditions and we hypothesize that the Tagus lowlands were abandoned in favor of healthier uplands where there was a rebound and an increase in population growth in response to changed lifeways

Veguillas (Cáceres): un nuevo núcleo de poblamiento neolítico en el interior de la península Ibérica

Trabajo presentado al 5º Congresso do Neolítico Peninsular (CNP), celebrado en Lisboa (Portugal) del 7 al 9 de abril de 2011.[ES]: Uno de los factores clave en el estudio de la neolitización del interior de la península Ibérica es la cuestión, aún no resuelta, del poblamiento anterior a la llegada a la región de la agricultura. Mientras que algunos investigadores defienden que las primeras comunidades neolíticas habrían colonizado un territorio desierto, otros consideran que existen indicios de que la ocupación humana de la Iberia interior por parte de grupos de cazadores-recolectores, bien constatada en el Paleolítico Superior, se habría prolongado hasta el VI milenio cal BC. Nos hallamos ante un problema arqueológico que, sin perjuicio de un análisis crítico de la información obtenida hasta el presente, se debe abordar a partir de nuevas investigaciones de campo. Con este objeto, en el marco de un proyecto multinacional sobre la neolitización de la fachada atlántica europea, se ha iniciado la exploración intensiva de algunas zonas del interior peninsular. El propósito de este trabajo era doble: por una parte detectar núcleos de poblamiento mesolítico; por otra, evaluar modos de explotación del paisaje y cómo estos han variado con la llegada de los sistemas de producción. En esta comunicación se presentan los resultados de los trabajos desarrollados en 2010 en la comarca de La Vera (Cáceres), en particular la documentación de una estructura de hábitat neolítica en el sitio de Veguillas 4.[EN]: The preliminary results of an archaeological survey program in the region of La Vera (Cáceres, Spain), aiming to the study of the Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement in the Tagus basin, are presented. This research lead to the detection of a new concentration of Neolithic open-air sites in the area known as Veguillas (Jarandilla de la Vera). The sites were poorly preserved due to recent erosion processes. Yet it was possible to find a Neolithic structure (Veguillas), to delimite precisely the settlements, and to characterize their industries. These were mainly defined by the presence of geometric microliths knapped with the microburin technique.Esta investigación se ha realizado en el marco del Proyecto Coordinado «La implantación de las especies domésticas en la Europa atlántica» (DOMATLAN) (HAR2008-06477-C03-00/HIST) del VI Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica 2008-2011.Peer Reviewe

Use-wear analysis of the Capsian lithic industry of Kez Zoura D (Algeria): Preliminary results

International audienceKef Zoura D is a Capsian rockshelter, located in the Telidjene Basin to the south of Cheria in the Tebessa region of eastern Algeria. It was excavated in 1976 and 1978 by D. Lubell and M. Jackes. The site contains a stratigraphic succession from Capsien typique to Capsien supérieur, with abundant lithic and bone artifacts and extensive documentation of the palaeoecology and subsistence patterns of the Capsian occupants from c. 10,000 to 6500 cal BP as established by numerous radiocarbon dates. A preliminary use-wear analysis of a sample of the lithic assemblage has been undertaken by B. Gassin and J. F. Gibaja, focussing on the main typological categories of the Capsian: geometrics and backed pieces, burins, notched/denticulated bladelets and endscrapers. This preliminary study has provided data on the technology of projectile inserts, the ways in which burins and notched/denticulated bladelets were used to shape organic materials, on butchery and on hide-working. Prior to the completion of a more in depth study of the lithic industry and its temporal changes, these preliminary results provide insights into Capsian lifeways and how they relate to the Second Mesolithic of western Europe.Kef Zoura D est un abri sous roche capsien, situé dans le Bahiret Télidjène (région de Chéria, wilaya de Tébessa, Est de l’Algérie), fouillé entre 1976 et 1978 par D. Lubell et M. Jackes. La stratigraphie du site permet d’étudier le passage du Capsien typique au Capsien supérieur, avec une abondante industrie lithique et osseuse ainsi qu’une riche documentation sur le milieu naturel et son exploitation par les Capsiens, daté par plusieurs analyses radiocarbones de 10 000 à 6500 cal BP. Une analyse tracéologique partielle de l’industrie lithique a été réalisée par B. Gassin et J. F. Gibaja, portant sur un échantillon des principales catégories typologiques du Capsien typique et du Capsien supérieur : géométriques et bords abattus, burins, lames à coches, grattoirs. Cette étude préliminaire a apporté des informations sur la technologie des armatures de projectiles, sur l’utilisation des burins et des lames à coches dans des tâches de façonnage et d’entretien d’objets en matières organiques, sur la boucherie et le travail des peaux. Dans l’attente d’une étude plus approfondie et plus représentative de l’ensemble des industries lithiques et de leur évolution, ces premiers résultats sont présentés dans le contexte des industries lithiques du Capsien et, au-delà, du second Mésolithique d’Europe occidentale