Early use of marine resources by Middle/Upper Pleistocene human societies: The case of Benzú rockshelter (northern Africa)

Abstract

This article examines the role played by marine resources for hunter-gatherer groups of the Middle/ Upper Pleistocene in the geohistorical region around the Straits of Gibraltar, on the basis of new evidence collected at the rock shelter of Benzú (North Africa). The stratigraphic sequence at Benzú has been dated to between 254 and 70 ka. The excavations have revealed the exploitation of marine gastropods and bivalves, alongside fish. The most common taxon in the sequence is the genus Patella. The analysis of the molluscs and their spatial distribution shows that these animals were purposely collected by humans, probably as a food source. In order to contribute to the debate about the origins and scale of the exploitation of marine resources during the Middle and Upper Pleistocene, the evidence collected at Benzú is interpreted within the broader context of North Africa and southern Europe. The similarity of groups of Homo sapiens sapiens in North Africa and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis in southern Europe in terms of lifestyle and subsistence strategies is interpreted as reflecting equally similar social and economic practices, in spite of the diversity of anthropological perspectives on the relationship between humans and the environment currently in vogue.

Similarities and differences in the lifestyles of populations using mode 3 technology in North Africa and the south of the Iberian Peninsula

“…A similar pattern of retouching is attested in Benzú, where sidescrapers are deep but do not penetrate the piece excessively; notches and denticulation are also shallow (Ramos-Muñoz et al, 2016 a).…”

“…The dates recorded range between -(OSL) Shfd 020135: 254 ± 17 ka-in stratum 2 and -(Th/U) IGM: ± 70 ka-in stratum 10. In sum, the most recent episodes in the sedimentary and archaeological sequence can be dated to before 70,000 BP, whereas the record of the earliest human occupation of the rock-shelter stretches back approximately 250.000 years (Ramos et al, 2016(Ramos et al, a: 21, 2017.…”

“…Concerning Benzú, (Domínguez-Bella et al, 2006Ramos-Muñoz et al, 2016 a), the most common raw materials are sandstones, flint, and flint variants, such as radiolarite. Most of the stones used are local, and can be found within 10 km of the site.…”

“…These industries, which are variously referred to as Mode 3, Mousterian or MSA, in the Maghreb are dated prior to 300 ky B.P (Richter et al, 2017;Bouzouggar et al, 2016;Ramos-Muñoz et al, 2016a, 2016. This situation stands in sharp contrast to the more recent chronologies from Southern Iberia (Finlayson et al, 2006;Wood et al, 2013;Shipton et al, 2013).…”

“…However, the similarity and differences between Mode 3 technology, as attested in Southern Iberia (Barroso, De Lumley, 2006;Finlayson et al, 2006;Cortés et al, 2011Cortés et al, , 2011Cortés et al, -2012Torre et al, 2013;Shipton et al, 2013;Bernal Gómez, 2015;Barrena-Tocino, 2015), and that recorded in Benzú, which is regarded as North African MSA-Mode 3, should be taken into consideration (Ramos-Muñoz et al, eds., 2013;Ramos-Muñoz et al, 2016 a). (Cantillo, 2015;Fa et al, 2016;Stringer et al, 2008;Colonese et al, 2011;Erlandson and Moss, 2001;Cortés et al, 2011).…”