New insights into La Pastora tholos from the archaeological analysis of its construction

El tholos de La Pastora representa la construcción más importante del “megasitio” de la Edad del Cobre de Valencia de la Concepción (Sevilla). El presente trabajo aborda su estudio desde el análisis de la información que la propia construcción en su conjunto y la de sus elementos conformantes podía contener tanto en la situación actual como en la pasada reflejadas en las fuentes antiguas. Con ello se persigue la caracterización del proceso edilicio, la reconstrucción del registro conservado y las implicaciones histórico-arqueológicas que de ello se derivan. Se ha podido caracterizar el monumento como una construcción homogénea levantada de manera uniforme, sin faseado ni distinciones formales reconocibles. La única salvedad a lo anterior, son las interfaces recientes, fundamentalmente la asociada a la hornacina de la cámara que se realizó en época contemporánea y la referida al lugar concreto por donde se accedió en 1860. En el tramo inicial, peor conservado, se ha podido definir el sistema constructivo empleado, proponiendo una restitución de este ámbito, así como señalando el posible lugar de localización de las puntas de jabalinasThe tholos of La Pastora represents the most remarkable construction of the Copper Age megasite of Valencia de la Concepción (Seville). The present work addresses its study from the analysis of the information that the construction as a whole and its elements conform could contain both in the current situation and in the past reflected in the old sources. With this, the characterization of the building process, the reconstruction of the record that was preserved and the historical-archaeological implications derived from it are pursued. It has been possible to characterize the monument as a homogenous construction raised in a uniform manner, without formal recognizable phase or distinctions with the exception of recent interfaces, basically associated with the niche of the chamber that was made in contemporary times or the specific place where it was accessed in 1860. In the initial section, which is the worst preserved, it has been possible to define the constructive system used, proposing a restitution of this area, as well as pointing out the possible location of the javelin tip

Choosing the site, getting the stones, building the dolmens: local sourcing of andesites at the El Pozuelo megalithic complex (Huelva, Spain)

The geoarchaeological study focuses on the lithological characterization and provenance determination of the rocks of the El Pozuelo dolmens. The difficulty of identifying volcanic rocks in the intensely altered and deformed environment of the Iberian Pyrite Belt has required the implementation of a research methodology combining the archaeological and geological analysis of the megaliths and the area surrounding the Los Llanetes group. A total of 29 thin sections and 14 geochemical analyses (ICP-AES, ICP-MS and REE) have been carried out on samples from the dolmens and potential source areas, focusing on the chemical elements considered immobile during alteration processes. The petrological analyses confirm the identification of different andesite lithotypes and enable us to correlate the rocks used in the construction of the megaliths with source areas and quarries located within a 50–350 m radius. Several patterns are observed in the selection of the rocks, based on the material, visual and symbolic properties of the different lithologies. Foliated andesite is the most common stone used in the monuments, due to its excellent physical properties and technological suitability for extraction and transformation into megalithic supports. Other types of andesite (sheared, massive and amphibole-phyric), white quartz, ferruginous agglomerate and gabbro were also used for different architectural purposes. The results confirm the importance of locally available suitable rocks in determining site location, raw material procurement and monument construction during the Late Neolithic.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This study was funded by the ERDF Operational Programme and the Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía (2014-2020), and has been developed within the R+D+i Project "MEGA-LITHOS. Geo-archaeological study methods for the investigation of the Huelva megalithisms" (UHU-1263153), University of Huelva. The funding of the Open Access charge has been assumed by the Complutense University of Madrid, thanks to the agreement established by CRUE-CSIC with Springer Nature

Marine events and coastal settlements in Southwestern Iberia

La costa es una de las zonas más dinámicas del sistema terrestre, donde se produce la interacción de los procesos terrestres y marinos. Los cambios en el nivel relativo del mar, la evolución costera y los fenómenos extremos, como tormentas y tsunamis, son de gran interés local y global. La forma en que las culturas pasadas han hecho frente a los cambios ambientales y a los riesgos naturales proporciona importantes lecciones para la respuesta humana a los cambios futuros. Es frecuente que algunos estudio geoarqueológicos actuales, con enfoques geomorfológicos, paleoambientales y sedimentológicos, carezcan de la adecuada integración de datos arqueológicos e históricos. Este número especial de la revista Cuaternario y Geomorfología tiene como objetivo proporcionar una plataforma multidisciplinar que sirva para definir el estado actual de la ciencia geoarqueológica, en relación con los eventos marinos pasados de alta energía registrados en la costa ibérica del golfo de Cádiz. Confiamos que las contribuciones que aquí se presentan estimulen un fructífero debate sobre estos nuevos enfoques interdisciplinares y se mejore el conocimiento sobre la interacción entre los asentamientos humanos costeros y los riesgos geológicos pasadosOne of the most dynamic parts of the earth system is where terrestrial processes interact with marine processes on the coast. Changes in relative sea level, coastal evolution and extreme events such as storms and tsunamis are of local and global interest. Such events hinder individual well-being and intensify/enhance environmental degradation. In a changing world, in which climate and sea-level change impact on human habitats, geoarchaeological research is highly relevant. The way past cultures coped with environmental change and natural hazards provide important lessons for human responses to future environmental changes. Geomorphological, palaeoenvironmental and sedimentological approaches in geoarchaeological studies frequently lack the integration of archaeological and historical data. This special issue of the journal "Cuaternario y Geomorfología" therefore aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform to define the present state of geoarchaeological science throughout the Iberian coast of the Gulf of Cádiz. All the contributions will stimulate the debate on new approaches to study human-environmental interaction and address research themes such as 'palaeo-geohazards' (e.g. tsunami, earthquake and coastal and fluvial flooding

Neotectonics and shoreline history of the Rock of Gibraltar, southern Iberia

Several sets of staircased Quaternary marine deposits can be observed along the Gibraltar coast ranging from 1 to 210 m above the present mean sea level. Geomorphological mapping establishes, from the relationship between shore, scree and dune sedimentary formations, five main morphotectonic steps on the Rock: marine terraces between 1 and 25 m, 30–60 m, 80–130 m, 180– 210 m, and above. Each terrace level and its slope-aeolian linked sediments is backed by a steep relict sea cliff margin, so forming a composite cliff. The most recent coastal landforms and sediments are associated with the last 250 ka linked to Oxygen Isotope Stages (OIS) 1, 3, 5 and 7. These landforms determine a morphosedimentary highstand-lowstand sequence, with several staircased and offlapped episodes, comprising a major morphotectonic step. A well-developed palaeocliff usually separates the highstand marine terraces of OIS 9 from those of OIS 7. The Gibraltar mean tectonic uplift value of 0.0570.01 mm/yr is maintained from 200 ka to the present. Before this, at least to 250 ka, the mean uplift rate was higher (0.3370.05 mm/yr), possibly compatible with major tectonic events in response to a NNW–SSE compressive stress field between Africa and Iberia.European Union (UE) EU MEDOC Programme: 2002-02-4.1-U-04

El registro geológico holoceno de la ensenada de Palos de la Frontera y la evolución del paisaje de su puerto histórico : estado de la cuestión

24 páginas.Capítulo incluido en el libro: Actas de las Jornadas de Historia sobre el Descubrimiento de América. Tomo IV: Jornadas XI, XII, XIII y XIV, 2015, 2016, 2017 y 2018. Eduardo García Cruzado (Coordinación). Sevilla: Universidad Internacional de Andalucía, 2019. ISBN 978-84-7993-346-3. Enlace: http://hdl.handle.net/10334/3954

Paleobiología de Palos de la Frontera : una historia de millones de años

págs.: 293-306Capítulo incluido en el libro: Actas de las Jornadas de Historia sobre el Descubrimiento de América. Tomo V: Jornadas XV, XVI, XVII y XVIII, 2019, 2020, 2021 y 2022. Eduardo García Cruzado (Coordinación). Huelva: Universidad Internacional de Andalucía ; Ayuntamiento de Palos de la Frontera, 2023. ISBN: 978-84-7993-388-3 (versión PDF). Enlace: http://hdl.handle.net/10334/789