6533b86cfe1ef96bd12c7f1e

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The gastropod fauna of the Epipalaeolithic shell midden in the Vestibulo chamber of Nerja Cave (Málaga, southern Spain)

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The sedimentary record of the Vestibulo, Mina and Torca chambers in the ancient entrance of Nerja Cave (Malaga, southern Spain) developed between around 30 and 3.6 ka cal BP. The long record of human occupation shows a dominance of terrestrial snails associated with the Gravettian, with a continuation of these types in the Solutrean when marine shells begin to be introduced. During the Magdalenian, marine bivalves are dominant. Marine molluscs reach a maximum during the Epipalaeolithic, giving rise to a shell midden formed primarily by Mytilus edulis and diverse species of Patella. The Epipalaeolithic shell midden occurs in Unit 4 and can be dated to the PleistoceneeHolocene boundary. This paper focuses on the terrestrial, marine and freshwater gastropods present in the Epipalaeolithic. Among these remains were specimens carried in by humans for both food and ornamental purposes. Others were introduced accidentally by humans, and finally, other specimens entered the cave by natural processes.