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SignificanceThe gene pool of modern Europeans was shaped through prehistoric migrations that reached the Western Mediterranean last. Obtaining biomolecular data has been challenging due to poor preservation related to adverse climatic conditions in this region. Here, we study the impact of prehistoric (Neolithic–Bronze Age) migrations in Iberia by analyzing genomic and dietary data, demonstrating that farming practices were introduced by a population genetically distinct from the first farmers in central and northern Europe. After recovering from a founder bottleneck, these first farmers mixed with local hunter-gatherers. Finally, post-Neolithic migrations had a much smaller impact on the Iberian gene pool than they had in other parts of Europe. Stable isotope analysis reveals a homogenous terrestrial diet throughout this period.

The Ebro Basin constitutes one of the most representative territories in SW Europe for the study of prehistoric societies during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. The correlation of palaeoenvironmental and geomorphological proxies obtained from sedimentary records with chronologically well-constrained reference archaeological sites has allowed defining this time frame precisely, such that three main pilot areas haven been broadly depicted: the Alavese region, the Pre-Pyrenees and the Bajo Aragón. Overall, the human imprint in the Ebro Basin was rare during the Upper Palaeolithic, but more visible from the Upper Magdalenian (14500 to 13500 cal BP) to Neolithic times (up to 5500 cal BP). Local environmental resources were continuously managed by the prehistoric communities in the different areas of study. In fact, the Ebro Basin acted during those millennia as a whole, developing the same cultural trends, industrial techniques and settlement patterns in parallel throughout the territory. However, some gaps exist in the 14 C frequency curve (SCDPD curve). This is partially related to prehistoric sites in particular lithologies and geological structures that could have partly been lost by erosional processes, especially during the Early Holocene. In addition, this gap also parallels the reconstructed climate trend for the Pre-Pyrenean and the Bajo Aragón areas, which are defined by high frequencies of xerophilous flora until ca. 9500 cal BP, suggesting that continental climate features could have hampered the presence of well-established human communities in inland regions. The interdisciplinary research (archaeology, geomorphology and palaeoclimatology) discussed in this paper offers clues to understand the existence of fills and gaps in the archaeological record of the Ebro Basin, and can be applied in other territories with similar geographic and climate patterns.

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RESUMENSe analiza la evolución industrial del Epipaleolítico y Mesolítico de la vertiente sur de los Pirineos, ofreciéndose el estado actual de conocimiento sobre las distintas tradiciones industriales que se suceden: Epimagdaleniense y Aziliense; Sauveterroide; Mesolítico de muescas y denticulados y Mesolítico geométrico. Ello permite definir los distintos intereses productivos y las diferentes estrategias desarrolladas en cada fase, destacándose, a pesar de lógicos particularismos regionales, la notable homogeneidad cultural del territorio analizado. Finalmente, se exponen los principales interrogantes existentes. LABURPENAPirinioen hegoaldeko isurialdean Epipaleolitoan eta Mesolitoan izandako industria-bilakaera aztertu dugu eta han izandako tradizio industrialei buruz gaur egun dakiguna eskaintzen dugu. Hauek dira hiru tradizio horiek: Epimagdaleniarra eta Aziliarra; Sauveterroidea; Mesolitikoa hozka eta dentikulatuekin eta Mesolitiko geometrikoa. Horrek aukera ematen du aldi bakoitzean izandako ekoizpen-interesak eta garatutako estrategiak zehazteko eta eremu bakoitzari berezitasunak badiren arren, aipagarria da aztertutako lurraldeko homogeneotasun kulturala. Azkenik, gaiari lotuta argitzeke dauden zalantza nagusiak azaldu ditugu. ABSTRACTIn this paper we analyze the evolution of lithic industries in the Epipaleolithic and Mesolithic period in southern slopes of the Pyrenees, offering a current state of knowledge about the different industrial traditions developed: the Epimagdalenian and Azilian; Sauveterroid; Notches and denticulate Mesolithic and Geometric Mesolithic. The first technological tradition is characterized by blade production and the predominance of backed points and end-scrapers. In this phase raw material´s supply take place in a more restricted territory, continuing with the regionalization process started at the end of Upper Magdalenian. Also, it is noticeable the continuity of simplification and microlithisation tendencies in production dynamics. The Sauveterroid ensembles continue with similar strategies, but new types of projectiles appear: geometrics. By contrast, the Notches and denticulate Mesolithic implies a profound change in lithic system organization. Blades are replaced by flake productions, and lithic projectiles disappear. Retouched industry is now dominated by notches and denticulated pieces. Exploitation and management of lithic resources changes completely, developing new strategies like recycling. Finally, the development of Geometric Mesolithic means the recovery of regular and standardized blade production and the manufacture of stone projectiles, dominated by geometrics. This review allows us to define the different strategies developed in the production of lithic industry at every stage, remarking, although logical regional particularities, the cultural homogeneity of the analyzed territory.(1)