Cobrante, grotte

Le siteLa grotte de Cobrante est située dans la localité de San Miguel de Aras sur la commune de Voto (Cantabrie, Espagne). Elle se trouve vers le fond de la vallée de la Clarín, à mi-hauteur du versant du Monte de Cobrante, à une altitude de 150 m au-dessus du niveau de la mer (fig. 1a). La cavité se développe, après un vaste vestibule renfermant un gisement archéologique, sur environ 500 m. Les gravures paléolithiques se situent dans deux zones intérieures. La première prend place sur la p..

El sílex en la cuenca vasco-cantábrica y el Pirineo occidental: materia prima lítica en la Prehistoria

The existence of thick sedimentary series in the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and the Western Pyrenees helps the outcropping of many and vary geological formations with important silicifications. The study of their different types and their host rocks allows knowing which the disponibility of this important mineral resource was in Prehistoric times. The petrological characterization also allows identifying the geological origin of the lithic remains from the archaeological sites. It has been possible to differentiate 5 Groups of flint depending on the formation environment, 14 Classes if the geological age is considered and more than 20 Types or geological formations. According to the ways rocks are used in prehistoric sites, in turn, they can be classified into: Not used, Local, Regional, Tracer and Super-Tracer flints. Since Neolithic periods a new type of flint appears: the Evaporítico del Ebro (Super-Tracer), with outcrops and workshops outside the geological environment under this study.La existencia de potentes series sedimentarias en la Cuenca Vasco-Cantábrica y Pirineo occidental favorece la aparición de multitud y variadas formaciones geológicas con importantes silicificaciones. El estudio de sus diferentes tipos y de sus rocas encajantes, permite conocer cuál ha sido la disponibilidad de este importante recurso mineral en la Prehistoria. La caracterización petrológica permite también conocer la procedencia geológica de los restos líticos encontrados en los yacimientos arqueológicos. Se ha conseguido diferenciar 5 Grupos de sílex en función de su ambiente de formación, 14 Clases si los cruzamos con su edad geológica y más de 20 Tipos o formaciones geológicas con silicificaciones. En función de su modo de gestión en los yacimientos prehistóricos, a su vez, se clasifican en: sílex No utilizados, Locales (próximos y lejanos), Regionales (próximos y lejanos), Trazadores y Súper-Trazadores. A partir del Neolítico aparece otro nuevo tipo: el Evaporítico del Ebro (Súper-Trazador), con afloramientos y talleres fuera del ámbito geológico objeto del trabajo

A chrono-cultural reassessment of El Cuco rock-shelter: a new sequence for the Late Middle Paleolithic in the Cantabrian Region (northern Iberia)

A large number of sites dated to the Late Middle Paleolithic and the Early Upper Paleolithic have been recorded in the Cantabrian region (northern Iberia), making this area a key location to investigate the lifeways of the last Neanderthals and the first anatomically modern humans. The stratigraphic sequence from El Cuco rock-shelter was originally attributed to the Early Upper Paleolithic based on radiocarbon dates performed on bone apatite. However, new radiocarbon dates on shell carbonates from the lower levels produced inconsistent dates with those previously published. In order to clarify this anomaly, a reassessment of the chronology of levels VI to XIV was undertaken. The review was based on new radiocarbon dates performed on bones and shells, and a re-evaluation of the lithic assemblages. Bone samples did not produce radiocarbon dates due to lack of collagen preservation but radiocarbon dating of shell carbonates provided dates ranging from 42.3 to 46.4 ka BP. These dates are significantly older than that previously obtained for level XIII using biogenic apatite from bones (~30 ka uncal BP), suggesting that the bone apatite used for radiocarbon dating was rejuvenated due to contamination with secondary carbonate. Lithic assemblages, defined in the first place as Evolved Aurignacian, have now been now confidently attributed to the Mousterian techno-complex. These results suggest a Middle Paleolithic chronology for this part of the sequence. The new chronology proposed for El Cuco rock-shelter has significant implications for the interpretation of Neanderthal subsistence strategies and settlement patterns, especially for coastal settlement and use of marine resources, not only in northern Iberia, but also in Atlantic Europe