Cultural deposits, especially those accumulated in caves and rock shelters, are usually the results of several occupational events in the same space, forming palimpsests. In addition, the materials ...of these occupational events tend to be deposited along with remains of natural origin and may be altered, partially destroyed or reworked due to the process of superimposition.
The work presented here focuses on dissecting the palimpsest of level O at Abric Romaní through an interdisciplinary analysis. We analyzed a particular area, located in the northeastern corner of the site. This work is based on the study of the lithic and faunal remains recovered in this area, with the aim of dissecting the palimpsest into the smallest possible units. To do this, we used different methods and techniques including archaeostratigraphy, intra-site spatial archaeology, zooarchaeology, tooth microwear, taphonomy, lithic technology, and faunal and lithic refits.
These methods allowed us to identify two archaeolevels in this area (Oa and Ob). Oa comprises a maximum of three accumulations and Ob holds two accumulations of archaeological remains. These accumulations are generally related to combustion structures. Based on the results obtained from zooarchaeological, taphonomic and lithic technology analyses, we characterized each accumulation. The analysis of the lithic and faunal refits helped to identify synchronic and diachronic links. After having processed all of the results, we were able to interpret the intra-area organization and its role in relation to the rest of the site.
Our results have shown that it is possible to obtain high-resolution data for dissecting a palimpsest using different methodologies. It is, however, important to remember that although we were able to distinguish these finer units, we were still working with palimpsests. Nevertheless, the study of these finer units makes it possible to work with time scales that are closer to ethnographic time, thereby facilitating further ethno-archaeological interpretation.
Zooarchaeological and palaeontological assemblages, especially those located in karst cavities, are usually the product of the activity of several taphonomic biological agents. This is also the case ...of the Upper Pleistocene site of Cova del Coll Verdaguer (Barcelona, Iberian Peninsula), where hyenas accumulated most of the ungulates, bears used the cave to hibernate and for birthing cubs, and humans occasionally visited the cave. The main aim of this study is to investigate the role played by medium-sized mammalian carnivores in the formation of Unit 3 (the Sala Sal de Llop chamber). For this purpose, we analysed Lynx pardinus and Vulpes vulpes remains, on the one hand, and leporid remains, on the other, applying different taphonomic (breakage and surface modifications) zooarchaeological (skeletal parts frequencies, age at death) and spatial methods (GIS, geostatistics, refits). Regarding medium-sized carnivores, the results indicate a predominance of adult individuals, a fairly complete anatomical representation (especially in the case of the lynx), the refitting of several elements (in the case of the lynx, many of them clustered in the same area), and the presence of tooth marks on some remains. This data points to the natural death of these animals inside the cave, and suggests they were subsequently scavenged by other carnivores. With respect to leporids, adult individuals predominate, the most abundant elements are innominate bones and those from the distal segment of the appendicular skeleton, and there is evidence of carnivore damage on several remains. In accordance with these results, the leporid assemblage is interpreted mainly as a non-ingested assemblage caused by the feeding activity of the Iberian lynx and, to a lesser extent, the red fox. Thus, the combination of all these analyses indicates that the medium-sized terrestrial carnivores did not play a merely passive role, but were also accumulators and modifying agents, at least in terms of the leporid remains. Although ungulates are not the focus of this study, we have also discussed the potential role of Iberian lynx and red fox in accumulating and modifying them. This work adds to previously published studies indicating that Cova del Coll Verdaguer is the product of mixed occupations of different carnivore taxa, suggesting that lynxes and foxes used the cave as a safe place to rest, transport their prey and consume it. Therefore, this study will shed more light on the relationships between human groups and different carnivore taxa at Cova del Coll Verdaguer and, by extension, in the European Upper Pleistocene, demonstrating that the study of fossil collections can contribute significantly towards extending our knowledge on past carnivore and human behaviour.
•Zooarchaeological, taphonomic, and spatial analysis of lynxes, foxes, and leporids.•The leporids are related to the feeding behaviours of the Iberian lynx and red fox.•Iberian lynx and red fox used the cave as a shelter, and not as a birthing den.•Neanderthals, large and medium carnivores are actively involved in site formation.
Rebuilding the daily scenario of Neanderthal settlement Bargalló, Amèlia; Gabucio, Maria Joana; Soler, Bruno Gómez de ...
Journal of archaeological science, reports,
February 2020, 2020-02-00, 2020-02, Volume:
29
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
•Transdisciplinary study: lithic and faunal analysis, spatial patterning of structures and faunal and lithic refits.•Identification of short-term occupation.•Settlement and movements intra-site of ...the Neanderthals in Abric Romani.
Isolating the various occupational events in the Palaeolithic record is hard work, because the remains from different occupations commonly overlap, creating archaeological palimpsests. We can differentiate two different types of palimpsest: vertical and horizontal ones. These two types are very important for identifying and defining short- or long-term human occupation. We present the different methods used in each case and their application in one of the archaeo-levels of the Abric Romaní rock shelter.
After deconstructing the vertical palimpsest of level O through archaeostratigraphy and a meticulous lithic analysis of the Oa archaeo-level, we present a transdisciplinary study (lithic and faunal analysis, spatial patterning of structures, and faunal and lithic refits) of this archaeo-level. The Oa archaeo-level is characterised by clear habitat organisation, with combustion structures and faunal/lithic remains produced by domestic activities.
In this study, the lithic and faunal analyses allow us to interpret the habitation unit. We first discuss the static perspective, determined from the distribution of remains, and we then look at the dynamic perspective, obtained from lithic and faunal refits. Using the two approaches we identify which activities were carried out in this settlement and the movements of the Neanderthals in Abric Romani, at around 54 ka BP. Archaeo-level Oa was defined as a short occupation organised into six accumulations. We have identified the function of three accumulations: “Accumulation A” results from a sleeping zone, while “Accumulation E” and “D” represent domestic areas.
Subsistence strategies are a set of actions and measures chosen by hominins in a specific place and at a specific time to obtain the means necessary to survive and reproduce as individuals and as a ...group. Choosing successful actions and measures increases the group's means of survival, which in turn gives rise to an increase in population, thereby ensuring the continuity of the group. Some authors believe that Early Pleistocene hominin settlements were marginal and discontinuous due to their lack of social networks and cultural acquirements. However, the faunal remains recovered in the caves of Gran Dolina (levels 3–4 and 6) and Sima del Elefante (levels 9–14) in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain) show that the subsistence strategies of Early Pleistocene hominins in Europe were successful enough to allow hominin groups to survive and reproduce in sufficient numbers. Therefore, these first humans would have the ability to maintain a continuous occupation of Europe.
The Abric Romaní site (Capellades, Barcelona, Spain) constitutes a key site for understanding the latest Neanderthal occupations in Western Europe. Here we present a comprehensive systematic and ...taphonomic analysis of a small-mammal assemblage from Level O of the Abric Romaní site, with the aim of reconstructing the paleoecological context in which the Neanderthals lived. The assemblage, which probably dates from a stadial episode between Interstadial 15 and Interstadial 14, contains fifteen small mammal species, including species uncommon for the northeast of Iberia, such as Sciurus vulgaris, Nyctalus lasiopterus and Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Taphonomic studies suggest a predatory origin for the assemblage, probably related to Strix aluco, and paleoecological inferences suggest lower temperatures (−3/−4 °C) and higher rainfall (+70/+170 mm) than at present and a landscape dominated by an open forest with watercourses. The new data improve our knowledge of trends associated with Marine Isotope Stage 3 that affected Neanderthal populations in the Iberian Peninsula, showing that the Neanderthals were well adapted to cooler and wetter conditions across Iberia.
•MIS 3 is characterized by large climatic oscillations within a global warm context.•Environmental reconstruction and taphonomic analysis of small mammals•The results enable to identify a stadial climatic episode between IS15 and IS14.•Landscape dominated by open woodland and climate cooler and wetter than nowadays•Data in accordance with environmental pattern of MIS3 in Iberia Peninsula
The most common prey of humans during the European Middle Palaeolithic was large and medium-sized ungulates. In contrast, evidence of human processing of small animals and carnivores is very scarce ...in this chronology. In Level O of the Abric Romaní site, dated to 55 ka, various evidence of human activity has been identified in Cervus elaphus, Bos primigenius and Equus ferus, but also in Felis silvestris. The present paper focuses on the specific case of this felid. The main aim is to explain the anthropogenic use of the wildcat, taking into account actualistic and archaeological studies. An analysis is undertaken of skeletal part representation, surface modifications (cutmarks), bone breakage pattern (one or both epiphyses missing from certain limb bones) and the spatial dispersion of the remains (clustered and unevenly distributed). The results indicate that all the remains belong to a nearly complete individual that was processed and consumed by Neanderthals inside the rock shelter. This case is compared with the other taxa identified in Level O, with other carnivores recovered from the Abric Romaní site and with other sites with a similar chronology. It is suggested that Neanderthals had a more diverse diet and more variable subsistence strategies than previously thought.
Practically all archeological assemblages are palimpsests. In spite of the high temporal resolution of Abric Romaní site, level O, dated to around 55 ka, is not an exception. This paper focuses on a ...zooarcheological and taphonomic analysis of this level, paying special attention to spatial and temporal approaches. The main goal is to unravel the palimpsest at the finest possible level by using different methods and techniques, such as archeostratigraphy, anatomical and taxonomical identification, taphonomic analysis, faunal refits and tooth wear analysis. The results obtained are compared to ethnoarcheological data so as to interpret site structure. In addition, activities carried out over different time spans (from individual episodes to long-term behaviors) are detected, and their spatial extent is explored, allowing to do inferences on settlement dynamics. This leads us to discuss the temporal and spatial scales over which Neanderthals carried out different activities within the site, and how they can be studied through the archeological record.
Bone refits can be a useful tool to understand the archaeological assemblages. From a taphonomic point of view, they have been used to reinforce some aspects related to the formation processes of the ...sites. However, they can be used to check some palaeoeconomic and social interpretations of the assemblages as well, providing accurate temporal relationships between the objects. For all these reasons, bone refits are relevant to study the settlement dynamics and the intra-site behaviour of past human groups. The main aim of this work is to present the faunal refits data obtained from two different archaeological assemblages (M and O) of the Abric Romaní site (Capellades, Spain), dated around 55 ka. The study also includes taxonomic, anatomical, taphonomic and spatial analyses. The spatio-temporal proxy allows us to interpret the activities carried out by the Neanderthal groups in different areas during different moments. From here, it is possible to interpret site structure, using ethnoarchaeological data as a referent. The comparison between these two archaeological layers, and between them and other assemblages, both from Abric Romaní and from other sites, can contribute significantly to the knowledge of the intra-site behaviour and settlement patterns at the end of the Middle Palaeolithic.
Although intra-site spatial approaches are considered a key factor when interpreting archaeological assemblages, these are often based on descriptive, qualitative, and subjective observations. ...Currently, within the framework of research into spatial taphonomy and palimpsest dissection, several studies have begun to employ more quantitative and objective techniques, implementing tools such as geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS) methods. This is precisely the approach that the Abric Romaní team is following. In this work, we present GIS and geostatistics methods applied to the faunal and lithic assemblages from archaeolevel Ob, including an analysis of the spatial structure, the identification of clusters and sectors, size and fabric analyses, the projection of vertical profiles, and the reconstruction of a digital elevation model of the paleosurface. The results obtained indicate a clustered distribution, primarily concentrated into four dense accumulations. The predominance of remains < 3 cm in length and the absence of preferential orientations make it possible to rule out a generalised postdepositional movement affecting most of the site, although some local movement has been identified. The horizontal and vertical spatial analyses allow us to identify accumulations of a single material (lithic or faunal) in addition to mixed accumulations (lithic and faunal). Integrating all this data with the results of previous studies (zooarchaeological, refits, combustion structures, and partial lithic technological analyses), we evaluate and combine the interpretations proposed previously using different approaches, thereby improving the overall interpretation of the archaeolevel Ob. Finally, we also develop a preliminary comparison between Ob and some other levels at the same site (in particular M and P).
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