0000000000211177

AUTHOR

Manuel Pérez Ripoll

Evidencias de interacción Homo-Cuon en diversos yacimientos del Pleistoceno superior de la zona central del Mediterráneo ibérico

Los nuevos restos óseos del género Cuon determinados en varios yacimientos arqueológicos del Pleistoceno superior de la zona central del Mediterráneo ibérico prueban la existencia de diversas formas de interacción entre estos carnívoros y los grupos humanos prehistóricos. Se pone de manifiesto, por un lado, la capacidad del cuón para acumular los restos de sus presas (caza y/o carroñeo) durante fases de competencia con los grupos humanos por la ocupación de las cavidades, como puede ser el caso de los niveles basales de la Cova del Parpalló, y por otro, la existencia de acciones antrópicas de predación y/o procesado sobre las carcasas de estos cánidos (Cova Negra y Coves de Santa Maira). La…

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The Solutrean - Magdalenian Transition: a view from Iberia

The paper examines the Upper SolutreaneArchaic Magdalenian/Badegoulian succession on the base of lithic and bone tool production, chrono-stratigraphic data and radiocarbon dates from the Cantabrian and Mediterranean regions of Iberia, mainly the areas of Asturias and Valencia (Spain). The discussion considers a reduced number of variables (characteristic stone tools, bone points and decoration techniques) and highlights the elements in common. The analysis concerning the transformation of lithic production at Cova del Parpallo provides new data for the Upper SolutreaneArchaic Magdalenian/ Badegoulian transition.

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Neanderthal and carnivore activities at Llonin Cave, Asturias, northern Iberian Peninsula: Faunal study of Mousterian levels (MIS 3)

Abstract This paper presents a study of the macromammalian fauna recovered from Mousterian levels of Llonin Cave. The sample is highly heterogeneous and comprises six species of ungulates, including Rupicapra pyrenaica, Capra pyrenaica, and Cervus elaphus, and seven species of carnivores, predominantly Ursus spelaeus, Crocuta spelaea, Canis/Cuon and Panthera pardus. The archaeozoological and taphonomic study of the remains shows preferential use of basal levels of the cave as a den for hyenas and leopards. Neanderthals were also present during this phase and they would have acted mainly on deer and some caprines, while the action of hyenas would mainly have been linked to scavenging of elem…

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Evidences of Interaction Homo-Cuon in three Upper Pleistocene Sites of the Iberian Mediterranean Central Region

Several cuon bones were discovered recently in three Upper Pleistocene archeological sites in the central area of the Iberian Mediterranean. This has proved that there were different types of interactions between dholes and prehistoric human groups. Firstly, evidence found in the archeological sites of Cova Negra and Coves de Santa Maira shows the use of carcasses of dholes by human hunter-gatherers. Secondly, the dhole remains recovered in Cova del Parpalló shows the dholes and humans could occupy the same habitat. In this case, the dhole died by natural causes in a small and isolated gallery before the human groups occupied the cave during the gravettian period. Associated with the dhole …

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Taphonomic processes inconsistent with indigenous Mesolithic acculturation during the transition to the Neolithic in the Western Mediterranean

Abstract We applied taphonomic analysis combined with geostatistical approaches to investigate the hypothesis that Cocina cave (Eastern Iberia) represents an acculturation context for the appearance of Neolithic Cardial pottery. In the 1970s, Fortea suggested that this important site was a prime example of acculturation because of the presence of early Neolithic pottery in late Mesolithic contexts. Since that time Cocina cave has been heralded as an example of indigenous hunter-gatherers incorporating Neolithic cultural elements into their lifeways. We analyzed the area excavated by Fortea in the 1970s by digitizing archaeological records and testing the spatial distribution of artifacts us…

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El registro paleobiológico cuaternario del yacimiento arqueológico de la Cueva de Nerja (Málaga, España)

Entre los 24.000-4.000 años B.P. (Pleistoceno superior final - Holoceno) se depositó en la entrada de la Cueva de Nerja una potente serie estratigráfica caracterizada por la presencia a lo largo de toda su extensión vertical de importantes manifestaciones de actividad antrópica, que constituyen uno de los registros arqueológicos más amplios de esa cronología en el Mediterráneo occidental. Corresponden a los restos tecnológicos propios de los diferentes complejos culturales que se suceden a lo largo de la secuencia (Paleolítico superior inicial, Solutrense, Magdaleniense, Epipaleolítico, Neolítico y Calcolítico), que aparecen acompañados por numerosos restos vegetales y animales relacionados…

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Concheros del sur de Iberia en el límite Pleistoceno-Holoceno

El núcleo de yacimientos costeros pleistocenos de la costa de Málaga permite valorar los cambios técnicos y económicos ocurridos en el tránsito Pleistoceno-Holoceno, lo que actualiza una discusión abierta por F. J. Fortea: la relación entre el Magdaleniense y el Epipaleolítico en la región mediterránea ibérica. Estos yacimientos constituyen una documentación decisiva para el conocimiento del uso de los recursos marinos durante el Paleolítico europeo. The concentration of coastal Pleistocene sites along Malaga’s coast allows us to study the technical and economical changes which occurred during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and thereby to update an open discussion begun by…

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Tardiglaciar y Postglaciar en la región mediterránea de la Península Ibérica (13500-8500 B.P.): transformaciones industriales y económicas

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Car d'hom cert era: Pràctiques de canibalisme en el Mesolític de les Coves de Santa Maira (Castell de Castells, la Marina Alta, Alacant)

Es presenten evidències de pràctiques antropofàgiques en un grup del Mesolític mediterrani. S'han documentat trenta restes humanes en el nivell mesolític de les coves de Santa Maira. A més de la descripció de les marques antropogèniques identificades, també se situa la troballa en el seu context regional dins les pautes de subsistència dels grups mesolítics de la zona, i es plantegen hipòtesis sobre la seua intencionalitat. Se presentan evidencias de prácticas antropofágicas en un grupo del Mesolítico mediterráneo. Se han documentado treinta restos humanos en el nivel mesolítico de Coves de Santa Maira. Además de la descripción de las marcas antropogénicas identificadas, también se sitúa el…

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A Taphonomic Perspective on Neolithic Beginnings: Theory, Interpretation, and Empirical Data in the Western Mediterranean

The fills of caves and rockshelters generally comprise complex depositional palimpsests, making fine scale chronological resolution extremely difficult. Nevertheless, these settings remain very important in archaeology because they often preserve long records of cultural change. This is true for the initial appearance of food producing economies in the western Mediterranean. The chronologically ambiguous nature of cave and shelter deposits is one of the reasons for the continued debate over the processes responsible for the beginning of the Neolithic in this region. We employ taphonomic studies of the archeofaunal record from Mesolithic and early Neolithic cave and shelter sites in Mediterr…

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Presence of the genus Cuon in upper Pleistocene and initial Holocene sites of the Iberian Peninsula: new remains identified in archaeological contexts of the Mediterranean region

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) has been documented on the Iberian Peninsula throughout the Middle and Upper Pleistocene in archaeological and palaeontological contexts. However, this is an uncommon species among the Iberian quaternary faunae as a whole. This paper focuses on the remains of the genus Cuon recovered in three different sites of the Iberian Mediterranean region and their morphological and osteometrical study. By comparing these with fourteen complete skeletons of Canis lupus, as well as with other remains of C. alpinus, we intend to highlight some anatomical and metrical differences between Cuon and Canis that, added to those already published, could be a functional base-line for the…

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Evolución paleogeográfica, paleoclimática y paleoambiental de la costa meridional de la Península Ibérica durante el Pleistoceno superior. El caso de la Cueva de Nerja (Málaga, Andalucía, España).

Presentamos los cambios paleogeográficos, paleoclimáticos y paleoambientales acontecidos en la costa mediterránea meridional de la Península Ibérica durante el Pleistoceno superior y comienzos del Holoceno, analizados a partir de la cartografía batimétrica y geomorfológica de la franja costera submarina del este de Málaga, del registro de la temperatura de la superficie del mar de Alborán obtenido en el sondeo MD95-2043 y de los datos radiométricos, paleobiológicos y arqueológicos proporcionados por el registro estratigráfico del yacimiento de la Cueva de Nerja (Nerja, Málaga, España). Este registro sedimentario, con doce etapas de erosión y sedimentación, se emplazó en las salas más exteri…

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Towards the identification of a new taphonomic agent: An analysis of bone accumulations obtained from modern Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) nests

This paper presents the results of a study of bones recovered in various current Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) nests in a Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula. The Egyptian vulture, a diurnal, scavenging, rupicolous bird of prey, is one of four vulture species that currently inhabit the Iberian Peninsula. An analysis of the remains found in the nests confirms that it has a heterogeneous diet that includes remains from human activities (butchery and food production) and the carcasses of dead animals, although it is possible that they also prey on small-sized taxa. The taphonomic study determines these birds' capability of transporting, accumulating and altering bone remai…

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Funerary practices or food delicatessen? Human remains with anthropic marks from the Western Mediterranean Mesolithic

Abstract The identification of unarticulated human remains with anthropic marks in archaeological contexts normally involves solving two issues: a general one associated with the analysis and description of the anthropic manipulation marks, and another with regard to the interpretation of their purpose. In this paper we present new evidence of anthropophagic behaviour amongst hunter-gatherer groups of the Mediterranean Mesolithic. A total of 30 human remains with anthropic manipulation marks have been found in the Mesolithic layers of Coves de Santa Maira (Castell de Castells, Alicante, Spain), dating from ca. 10.2–9 cal ky BP. We describe the different marks identified on both human and fa…

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The end of the Upper Palaeolithic in the Mediterranean Basin of the Iberian Peninsula

This paper presents a synthesis of the Magdalenian in the Mediterranean Basin of the Iberian Peninsula, with special attention to the lithic and bone/antler assemblages, rock art, economy and radiocarbon dates. The data obtained in Cendres cave, situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula, permit articulation of the discussion about the Lower, Middle and Upper Magdalenian in this region. Furthermore, the paper discusses the end of the Magdalenian sequence with the Epimagdalenian industries.

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Palaeolithic – Epipalaeolithic Seapeople of the Southern Iberian coast (Spain): an overview

The significance of coastal areas to human survival and expansion on the planet is undeniable. Their ecological diversity and their use as communication routes are some of their most distinctive qualities. However, the evidence of exploitation of these resources has had an uneven preservation, which is limited to certain regions and more recent events, mainly sites with deposits from the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene. This paper analyses the data available on the use of marine resources between MIS 6 and MIS 1 (c. 150 – 9 ka BP) in Southern Iberia, one of the first regions in Europe where marine faunal remains were discovered, in archaeological deposits from Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. …

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Rabbit role in prehistoric human diet: a review from the Iberian Mediterranean central region

Los restos de conejo (Oryctolagus cuniculus) son muy abundantes en los conjuntos de fauna de los yacimientos arqueológicos del Pleistoceno y Holoceno inicial del Mediterráneo ibérico. En este sentido se presenta una revisión de los datos disponibles sobre el consumo humano de este lagomorfo desde el Paleolítico medio hasta el Mesolítico en la zona central del Mediterráneo ibérico. Se hace un repaso a los conjuntos de conejo y a los estudios tafonómicos desarrollados para definir su importancia en las dietas humanas. Aunque existen datos del consumo de estas presas desde el Paleolítico medio en este ámbito geográfico, es durante el Paleolítico superior y Epipaleolítico cuando este recurso es…

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The beginning of the Neolithic in Nerja cave and la Cova de la Sarsa. Archaeological context and radiocarbon dating

Las dataciones radiocarbónicas resultan una herramienta útil para establecer el marco cronológicode los contextos arqueológicos, aunque en ocasiones el adjetivo de «absoluto» se convierte en una categoría. En el caso del Neolítico antiguo, la selección de muestras singulares de vida corta de especies domésticas o restos de Homo sapiens en contextos neolíticos pretendía definir con mayor precisión la cronología de los momentos iniciales de su llegada a la península ibérica. Los casos documentados en las cuevas de Nerja y Sarsa son un buen ejemplo del debate que generan sus resultados, la problemática de sus secuencias y el contexto de discusión regional. Se muestran los resultados tras la va…

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A mediterranean perspective of the neolithization process. The cave of Nerja in the context of andalusia (Spain)

[EN] This paper offers an overview for the Early Neolithic of the southern coast of Andalusia (Spain). Analyses of materials recovered during the 1979-87 excavations in Nerja cave by professor Francisco Jordá Cerdá, including new radiocarbon dates on domestic taxa, allow us to examine the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. Paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic data (stratigraphy and bioarcheological data) combined with archaeological data (ornaments, bone tools, lithics, and ceramics were analysed) to provide a regional perspective on the neolithisation of the western Mediterranean. There is an apparent 500-year gap between occupations by the last coastal foragers and the earliest Neolithic fa…

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