From site formation processes to human behaviour: Towards a constructive approach to depict palimpsests in Roca dels Bous

Martínez-Moreno, Jorge; Torcal, Rafael Mora; Sunyer, Miquel Roy; Benito‐Calvo, Alfonso

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.09.038

Cited by 32 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Although the isolation of archaeological contexts representing "ethnographic time" remains a difficult obstacle for Palaeolithic archaeologists to overcome, defining high-resolution analytical units within palimpsest deposits such as those present at El Salt allow researchers to obtain a finegrained time-scale with much smaller temporal resolution than the stratigraphic unit, which may incorporate multiple distinct occupations with potentially different settlement and subsistence strategies (Vaquero and Past o, 2001;Vallverdú et al, 2005;Aldeias et al, 2012;Rosell et al, 2012;Gabucio et al, 2014;Bargall o et al, 2015;Machado and P erez, 2015;Martínez-Moreno et al, 2015;Polo-Díaz et al, 2015;Modolo and Rosell, 2016). Although these analytical units may reflect "micro-palimpsests" still resulting from several occupation episodes, they can contribute to a more accurate temporal framework suitable for the recognition of firewood spatial patterns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notwithstanding, spatial approaches to settlement analysis highlighting the time-averaged nature of the formation of material assemblages are increasingly abundant. Three-dimensional plotting of faunal and lithics using GIS software has become an essential tool to isolate anthropogenic assemblages stratigraphically synchronic within a single archaeological deposit (Vaquero et al, 2004Marín Arroyo, 2009;Rosell et al, 2012;Vallverdú et al, 2012, 2005, Bargall o et al, 2015Geiling and Marín-Arroyo, 2015;Machado and P erez, 2015;Martínez-Moreno et al, 2015;Machado et al, 2016;Modolo and Rosell, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Firewood and hearths: Middle Palaeolithic woody taxa distribution from El Salt, stratigraphic unit Xb (Eastern Iberia)

Vidal-Matutano

2017

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tSpatial analyses of Palaeolithic sites typically defined by hearth-related assemblages have been mostly based on lithic and faunal remains. By using spatial analysis methods in conjunction with analytical units with higher temporal resolution than typical stratigraphic units, synchronic and diachronic relationships between artifacts deposited during successive occupation events have been elucidated. Spatial analyses applied to archaeobotanical remains are scarce, and when available, are typically focused on carpological remains (seeds and fruits). The lack of spatial indicators among anthracological remains hampers obtaining significant data linked to the relationships established between the combustion features and scattered charcoal fragments recovered from excavated occupation surfaces. To address this problem, the charcoal assemblage from El Salt Stratigraphic Unit (SU) Xb (Archaeosedimentary Facies Association 2 [AFA 2]) is analyzed using spatial analysis methods. Results suggest that the integration of anthracological remains into a palimpsest dissection analyses is vital to better understand the relationship between combustion structures and activity areas. These results highlight the utility of spatial and statistical methods as important tools for future anthracological analyses to provide meaningful information related to taxa distribution and the last firewood used in combustion structures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Firewood and hearths: Middle Palaeolithic woody taxa distribution from El Salt, stratigraphic unit Xb (Eastern Iberia)

Vidal-Matutano

2017

Quaternary International

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“…The repeated occupation of a specific site has a deeper reading than a purely archaeological one, i. e. it indicates a recurrence that may be related to interest in the site from the point of view of regional networks of resource use. The Navalmaíllo site could have been used as a point in the landscape within a regional network of settlements and resource provisioning in a mountain environment, as can be seen at other sites, such as La Roca dels Bous (Martínez-Moreno et al 2004;Martínez-Moreno et al 2010;Martínez-Moreno et al 2015) and Abric Romaní (Carbonell 2012). The Valle del Lozoya offers a great number of resources that would have allowed for comfortable survival in the environment: nearby water resources; the morphology of the valley itself, which facilitates monitoring of animal migrations; open but controlled spaces; a karstic system for refuge; and the river as a source of lithic resources for knapping, among other benefits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This information enables us to observe the degree of vertical alteration (such as bioturbation) affecting the layers, horizontal information about the characteristics of the dispersion of materials inside the layer ( 1 ; Cziesla et al 1990;2 ; Bleed 2002) and information about possible disturbances, stratigraphic transfers or other phenomena that may alter the original composition of the archaeological deposit. Refitting of tools provides information on space/time associations and facilitates the study of synchronic associations (Cziesla et al 1990;Martínez-Moreno et al 2015). Additionally, they allow us to verify whether the observed archae- .…”

Section: Lithic Refitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deshaciendo el palimpsesto: una aproximación a la secuencia cultural de la ocupación neandertal del abrigo de Navalmaíllo, Pinilla del Valle (España)

et al. 2017

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The Navalmaíllo site is a karstic rockshelter located in a mountain environment near the Lozoya river. The location of the site allows for the close monitoring of the surrounding area, for following the migrations of animals and for the temporary residence of human groups. The difficulties associated with estimating the time span of occupational processes at archaeological sites raise the problem of the synchrony and diachrony of occupations that form palimpsests. Archaeostratigraphy has revealed the integrity of the sedimentary deposit, how it has been affected by both natural agents (falling boulders and the conservation of the site) and human agents (the excavation method). The deformation of the plastic deposit is reflected in the archaeostratigraphy, but the two periods of occupation identified have been preserved and were not largely affected. The archaeostratigraphic approach has resulted in the identification of some of the taphosedimentary aspects of Layer F and in the deciphering of the cultural palimpsest, establishing the cultural sequence of occupations at the Navalmaíllo site. RESUMEN INTRODUCTIONThe problem of palimpsests (Bailey 2007) has been a considerable factor in the spatial/temporal considerations of intrasite studies. Understanding time in terms of distinct occupations is essential for establishing diachronic sequences characterized by synchronous assemblages of archaeological items (Vaquero et al . 2001a(Vaquero et al . , 2001b(Vaquero et al . , 2012. Archaeostratigraphic units constitute the best "picture" of an occupational episode and its technological, social and functional characteristics .The theoretical basis of archaeostratigraphy began with some publications in the 80s and referred to the sequences of sedimentation, their relation with distinguishing archaeological assemblages and their temporal significance, issues directly related to the problem of the temporal accumulation of cultural material at the same location, in terms of occupations and frequentation (archaeological palimpsests). Binford (1981: 197) made reference to this problematic issue, in relation with the rates of sedimentation and the creation of palimpsests: "Rates of deposition are much slower than the rapid sequencing of events which characterizes the daily lives of living peoples; even under the best of circumstances, the archaeological record represents a massive palimpsest of derivatives from many separate episodes". Later, Ferring (1986; Stein and Deo 2002) realized that rapid sedimentation allowed one to distinguish and have a clear view of the archaeological assemblages that have been superimposed over time; he also noticed that a slow sedimentation does not allow distinguishing different assemblages, and therefore different occupations.Since the 90s there has been a proliferation and diversification of theoretical discussions related to space-time concepts (Fruitet 1991).Research at the Navalmaíllo rockshelter began in 2002, and the excavations conducted there have yielded important archaeol...

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“…The anthropogenic control of fire resulted in substantial changes in human subsistence, for example, providing a source of warmth and light, leading to the emergence of cooking practices (smoking, drying) and providing protection against predators (Blasco et al 2016a;Carmody and Wrangham 2009;Clark and Harris 1985;Goldberg et al 2012;Gowlett 2006;Gowlett et al 1981;James et al 1989;Preece et al 2006;Wrangham 2009;Wrangham et al 1999), as well as in socialisation and spatial organisation (Blasco et al 2016a;Henry et al 2004;Hietala 2003;Machado and Pérez 2015;Martínez-Moreno et al 2016;Sañudo, Blasco, and Fernández Peris 2016;Vallverdú et al 2010Vallverdú et al , 2012Vaquero and Pastó 2001;Vaquero, Rando, and Chacón 2004;Vidal-Matutano 2017). The timing of human control of fire is one of the most widely debated topics in the field of Palaeolithic archaeology (Berna and Goldberg 2007;de Lumley 2006;Gowlett 2006;Gowlett et al 1981;James et al 1989;Karkanas et al 2007;Roebroeks and Villa 2011;Stahlschmidt et al 2015;Wrangham 2009), since such discussion is strongly related to the consideration of fire evidence as being of either natural or anthropogenic origin (Bellomo 1994;James et al 1989;Roebroeks and Villa 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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)

Vidal-Matutano

Blasco

Sañudo

et al. 2017

Environmental Archaeology

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Human control of fire is a widely debated issue in the field of Palaeolithic archaeology, since it involved significant technological innovations for human subsistence. Although fire evidence has been the subject of intense debate regarding its natural or anthropogenic nature, most authors agree that combustion structures represent the most direct evidence of human control of fire. Wood charcoal fragments from these contexts represent the fuel remains that result from humans' collection of firewood, which means they can reveal significant behavioural and palaeoenvironmental information relevant to our understanding of Middle Palaeolithic societies. In this work, we present anthracological data derived from combustion structure 2 (level XIII, ca. 230 ka, MIS 7) and combustion structure 4 (level XI, ca. 160 ka, MIS 6) from Bolomor Cave, which are chronologically among the earliest combustion structures found in Europe. The present work discusses how the presence of black pine and / or scots pine in both levels sheds light on the characterisation of the local landscape. Additional analyses focussing on the pre-and post-depositional processes affecting charcoal preservation point to biodegradation patterns. The aim of this work is to provide the first discussion concerning the anthracological data derived from Bolomor Cave in order to contribute to the general debate regarding the use of fire during the European Middle Pleistocene. ARTICLE HISTORY

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From site formation processes to human behaviour: Towards a constructive approach to depict palimpsests in Roca dels Bous

Cited by 32 publications

References 38 publications

Firewood and hearths: Middle Palaeolithic woody taxa distribution from El Salt, stratigraphic unit Xb (Eastern Iberia)

Firewood and hearths: Middle Palaeolithic woody taxa distribution from El Salt, stratigraphic unit Xb (Eastern Iberia)

Deshaciendo el palimpsesto: una aproximación a la secuencia cultural de la ocupación neandertal del abrigo de Navalmaíllo, Pinilla del Valle (España)

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)

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