Formation processes through archaeobotanical remains: The case of the Bronze Age levels in El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Abstract

El Mirador site has a sequence formed by burnt dung resulting from pastoral activities during the Bronze Age and the Neolithic period. Because there is a high sediment variation in the profile, facies descriptions were used to guide the archaeologists in their work. Paleobotanical and mineralogical analyses were used to describe and understand the formation of the facies from the MIR 4 level. Furthermore, the paleobotanical results serve to reconstruct the landscape in Atapuerca during the Bronze Age. Most seeds recovered are from Triticum aestivum/durum, but other cereals and also Leguminoseae and fruits have been identified. Charcoal analysis has yielded mainly deciduous and evergreen Quercus. Pollen analysis has revealed a low arboreal cover, with Pinus, Quercus and riverside trees. Most of the pollen record corresponds to herbs, such as Poaceae and Asteraceae. All these results indicate a mosaic of different biota with forest, pastureland and cultivated fields near the site. Most of the phytoliths come from the leaves and stems of festucoid grasses. However, there are some differences in the phytolith type and number, the amount of faecal spherulites, the mineralogical composition and the percentage of multicellular structures that indicate that not all the facies in the site have been formed in the same way. Thus, the work carried out has demonstrated that some facies are related more to agricultural activities than to pastoralism activities, and that other facies have been affected by incipient diagenetic processes.

Rock-magnetic analyses as a tool to investigate archaeological fired sediments: a case study of Mirador cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

“…During fieldwork at Mirador a number of sedimentary lithofacies were distinguished in order to cope with the above-mentioned variability (see Cabanes et al 2009). In this paper, the facies were grouped taking into account the main features of the undisturbed sequences, which are typically arranged as follows (from top to bottom): (i) 2-10 cm thick layers of white to grey ash, more or less pure without evidence of post-depositional physical disturbance; (ii) thin reddened layers (∼2 cm) underlying the ash or the charcoal, related to the burning or 'rubefaction' and (iii) loamy-clay sediment of variable thickness, intercalated between each combustion episode, mainly unburnt (Fig.…”

Review of typologic and morphometric analysis of phytoliths produced by wheat and barley

“…Alam et al 2009, Barczi et al 2009, Boyd 2005, Bremond et al 2005, 2008a, 2008b, Delhon et al 2003, Evett et al 2007, Fernandez et al 2006, Gil et al 2007, Ghosh et al 2008, Gu et al 2008, Iriarte 2006, Iriarte and Paz 2009, Lu et al 2006, Lu and Liu 2005, Morris et al 2009, Neff et al 2006, Singh et al 2007, Thorn 2004, as indicators of ancient industrial and agricultural practices (e.g. Cabanes et al 2009, Horrocks and Rechtman 2009, Horrocks and Wozniak 2008, Petoe et al 2008, Tsartsidou et al 2008, to locate occupation surfaces and plant use at excavations (e.g. Albert et al 2003, Berna and Goldberg 2007 for tracing the origins and developments of cultigens (e.g.…”

The utility of livestock dung for reconstructing recent ethnological and environmental histories

“…Where sufficiently well preserved, coprolites (fossilised animal dung) have been used successfully for archaeological and vegetational reconstructions (e.g., Cabanes et al 2009;Carrión et al 2001Carrión et al , 2005Charles 1998;González-Sampétriz et al 2003;Scott 1987). This is because animal and plant micro-and macro-remains, having passed through an animal's gut, may survive as a consequence of natural desiccation, partial mineralisation, or both.…”

“…In Iberia, only a few unburnt dung remains have been unearthed in cave deposits (Cabanes et al 2009;Carrión et al 2001;González-Sampétriz et al, 2003). The French term fumier, referring to mixtures of dung and animal litter, is also applied to sedimentary layers of burnt or otherwise preserved dung in caves (e.g., Allué et al 2009;Badal 1999;Bergadà 1998).…”

“…The Bronze Age environment and agricultural practices have been reconstructed from pollen, phytolith and faecal spherulites from a fumier uncovered in a cave in the karst landscape of Atapuerca in central Iberia (Cabanes et al 2009). Phytolith and faecal spherulites remains depict a range of land uses, including forest, grazing pastures and cultivated fields, and the use of the cave for crop-processing and other agricultural activities.…”