Cova del Rinoceront (Castelldefels, Barcelona): a terrestrial record for the Last Interglacial period (MIS 5) in the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula

The Anthropogenic Use of Firewood During the European Middle Pleistocene: Charcoal Evidence from Levels XIII and XI of Bolomor Cave, Eastern Iberia (230–160 ka)

“…sylvestris wood fragments, although these non-charred material have no evidence of had been anthropically manipulated and, therefore, are not directly related with human practices (Postigo-Mijarra, Gómez-Manzaneque, and Morla 2017). According to current ecological and biogeographical data, Pinus nigra could probably have grown at low altitudes in coastal areas, as other Mediterranean sites have shown (Badal and Martínez 2017), while its presence at this site supports the descent of supramediterranean conditions by about 700-1000 m, since it has been observed at many later Mediterranean Palaeolithic sites in Iberia (Allué, Solé, and Burguet-Coca 2016; Allué et al, in press;Aura et al 2005;Badal and Carrión 2001;Badal, Villaverde, and Zilhão 2012b;Daura et al 2015;Esteban et al 2017;Vidal-Matutano 2017;Vidal-Matutano et al 2015;Zilhão et al 2016), which implies a general decrease of 5°C in the MAT. Relatedly, further information obtained from other identified woody taxa would help to nuance the palaeoecological data derived from these levels.…”

“…Indeed, anthracological data from Terra Amata and Torralba (ca. 400 ka) and many Middle Palaeolithic sites belonging to MIS 5-3 show the dominance of this taxon, indicating the widespread presence of cryophilous pine woodlands during the MiddleUpper Pleistocene (Allué et al, in press;Allué, Solé, and Burguet-Coca 2016;Arsuaga et al 2012;Badal and Carrión 2001;Badal and Martínez 2017;Badal, Villaverde, and Zilhão 2012b;Daura et al 2015; PostigoMijarra, Gómez-Manzaneque, and Morla 2017; Uzquiano et al 2012Uzquiano et al , 2008Vidal-Matutano 2017;Vidal-Matutano et al 2015;Vidal-Matutano, Henry, and Théry-Parisot 2017;Zilhão et al 2016). While scarce anthracological data is available for MIS 7-6 chronologies in Iberia, the black pine and / or scots pine record from Bolomor Cave constitutes the earliest evidence of its presence in Eastern Iberia based on humans' collection of firewood (charcoal fragments).…”

“…Additionally, charcoal analyses from the sites of Terra Amata (Nice, France) and Torralba (Soria, Iberia) have also provided early data concerning firewood use among human groups (de Lumley et al 2016;PostigoMijarra, Gómez-Manzaneque, and Morla 2017). Following anthracological data belonging to the MIS 5-4 chronologies have been conducted, wherein a few Middle Palaeolithic sites have provided new insights into past landscapes and human firewood management (Allué 2016;Arsuaga et al 2012;Daura et al 2015;Ntinou and Kyparissi-Apostolika 2016;Ronchitelli et al 2011;Théry-Parisot 2001;Vidal-Matutano 2015;Vidal-Matutano et al 2015;Zilhão et al 2016), with a wider generalisation of charcoal analyses performed at MIS 3 sites (Allué, Solé, and Burguet-Coca 2016;Badal, Villaverde, and Zilhão 2012b;Théry-Parisot and Meignen 2000;Théry-Parisot and Texier 2006;Théry-Parisot et al 1996;Uzquiano et al 2012;VidalMatutano 2017;Vidal-Matutano, Henry, and Théry-Parisot 2017;Yravedra and Uzquiano 2013).…”

Anthracological data from Middle Palaeolithic contexts in Iberia: What do we know?

“…Recently, other research approaches have been applied to charcoal analysis from a palaeoeconomical point of view based on experimentation, observation of microanatomical features due to biological or mechanical processes, dendrological studies or spatial analysis of anthracological remains (Carrión, 2007;Caruso et al, 2014;Henry and Théry-Parisot, 2014;Marguerie and Hunot, 2007;Théry-Parisot and Costamagno, 2005;Théry-Parisot and Henry, 2012;Vidal-Matutano, 2017;Vidal-Matutano et al, 2017a;Vidal-Matutano et al, 2017b). Nevertheless, despite the great advances made in anthracology, there are still very few published studies in Middle Palaeolithic contexts from Iberia (Allué et al, 2017;Allué et al, 2018;Badal et al, 2012a;Daura et al, 2015;Gale and Garruthers, 2000;Ros, 1985;Uzquiano, 1992Uzquiano, , 2005Uzquiano et al, 2008;Uzquiano et al, 2012;Vidal-Matutano, 2017;Vidal-Matutano et al, 2015;Vidal-Matutano et al, 2017a;Vidal-Matutano et al, 2017b;Vidal-Matutano et al, 2018;Zilhao et al, 2016) (Badal and Heinz, 1991;Chabal, 1992Chabal, , 1997, many wood charcoal assemblages are recovered still today by hand-picking sampling leading to biased results. In addition, another difficulty found in some published charcoal analyses has been the non-mention of the recovery method applied, which may hinder interpretation of data.…”

Neanderthal Spatial Patterns and Occupation Dynamics: A Focus on the Central Region in Mediterranean Iberia

“…These contexts are composed of small lithic assemblages associated with faunal assemblages formed mainly by natural processes (animals falling into natural traps, carnivorous activity). These are generally cave sites located in the steep landscapes of the Coastal or Pre-coastal Cordillera (Cova del Rinoceront, Cova dels Ermitons, Cova 120, Cova de Coll Verdaguer, Cova del Gegant, Cueva de Mollet) (Daura et al 2010(Daura et al , 2015Maroto et al 1996Maroto et al , 2012Sanz et al 2016;Terradas and Rueda 1998). The human activity would be related with short visits to exploit naturally-occurring resources, or for occasional use of the sites for shelter.…”