Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar—The persistence of a Neanderthal population

Finlayson, Clive; Fa, Darren A.; Jiménez‐Espejo, Francisco J.; Carrión, José S.; Finlayson, Geraldine; Pacheco, Francisco Giles; Vidal, Joaquin Rodrı́guez; Stringer, Christopher B.; Ruíz, Francisca C. Martínez

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.11.016

Cited by 106 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Fig. 1 shows a chronostratigraphic interpretative section of Gorham's Cave, based on the work of Jiménez-Espejo et al (33) previous publications (29,34,(36)(37)(38), and new data. The nature and sedimentary features of the fill of the cave differ between the entrance and the inner sector.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar

Rodriguez‐Vidal

d’Errico

Pacheco

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

233

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The production of purposely made painted or engraved designs on cave walls-a means of recording and transmitting symbolic codes in a durable manner-is recognized as a major cognitive step in human evolution. Considered exclusive to modern humans, this behavior has been used to argue in favor of significant cognitive differences between our direct ancestors and contemporary archaic hominins, including the Neanderthals. Here we present the first known example of an abstract pattern engraved by Neanderthals, from Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar. It consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into the bedrock of the cave that has remained covered by an undisturbed archaeological level containing Mousterian artifacts made by Neanderthals and is older than 39 cal kyr BP. Geochemical analysis of the epigenetic coating over the engravings and experimental replication show that the engraving was made before accumulation of the archaeological layers, and that most of the lines composing the design were made by repeatedly and carefully passing a pointed lithic tool into the grooves, excluding the possibility of an unintentional or utilitarian origin (e.g., food or fur processing). This discovery demonstrates the capacity of the Neanderthals for abstract thought and expression through the use of geometric forms.Middle Paleolithic | symbolism | art | Iberia | cognition

show abstract

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar

Rodriguez‐Vidal

d’Errico

Pacheco

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

233

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…60e40 ka BP. The Iberian Peninsula is considered one of the last refugia of Neandertal populations (Zilhão, 2006;Finlayson et al, 2008;Higham et al, 2011). Recently some of the late dates of Mousterian assemblages in this region have been discussed (Wood et al, 2013) but, roughly, it can be said that there is some persistence of Neandertal groups after ca.…”

Section: Iberian Peninsula Late Middle Paleolithicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ramification of lithic production and the search of small tools in Iberian Peninsula Middle Paleolithic

Garaizar

Eixea

Bonilla

2015

Quaternary International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

a b s t r a c tThe notion of recycling and it relationship with ramified productions and small tool production in Late Middle Paleolithic from the Iberian Peninsula are investigated. Results from Amalda, Axlor, Peña Miel, and Quebrada show that the production of small tools is one of the principal objectives of lithic provisioning in these sites. Whereas in Axlor and Amalda, this is achieved through the ramification of production, due to the remoteness of flint sources, in Quebrada, where raw material sources are closer, small flakes are obtained at the end of Levallois production. The implications for Neandertal society organization of this small tool production is discussed, and its evolution is observed from a diachronic perspective.

show abstract

“…35.5 ka) did they spread south. Others (2,12,20) have envisaged a gradual retreat of Neanderthals into the extreme southwestern region around Gibraltar and southern Portugal, with an extinction date of less than 30 ka BP (34.9-34.5 ka calBP). A minority (16,17,21) regard the evidence as too weak, and have entirely rejected the late survival of Neanderthals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocarbon dating casts doubt on the late chronology of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in southern Iberia

Wood

Barroso-Ruíz²,

Caparrós

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

202

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is commonly accepted that some of the latest dates for Neanderthal fossils and Mousterian industries are found south of the Ebro valley in Iberia at ca. 36 ka calBP (calibrated radiocarbon date ranges). In contrast, to the north of the valley the Mousterian disappears shortly before the Proto-Aurignacian appears at ca. 42 ka calBP. The latter is most likely produced by anatomically modern humans. However, two-thirds of dates from the south are radiocarbon dates, a technique that is particularly sensitive to carbon contaminants of a younger age that can be difficult to remove using routine pretreatment protocols. We have attempted to test the reliability of chronologies of 11 southern Iberian Middle and early Upper Paleolithic sites. Only two, Jarama VI and Zafarraya, were found to contain material that could be reliably dated. In both sites, Middle Paleolithic contexts were previously dated by radiocarbon to less than 42 ka calBP. Using ultrafiltration to purify faunal bone collagen before radiocarbon dating, we obtain ages at least 10 ka 14 C years older, close to or beyond the limit of the radiocarbon method for the Mousterian at Jarama VI and Neanderthal fossils at Zafarraya. Unless rigorous pretreatment protocols have been used, radiocarbon dates should be assumed to be inaccurate until proven otherwise in this region. Evidence for the late survival of Neanderthals in southern Iberia is limited to one possible site, Cueva Antón, and alternative models of human occupation of the region should be considered.

show abstract

Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar—The persistence of a Neanderthal population

Cited by 106 publications

References 21 publications

A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar

A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar

Ramification of lithic production and the search of small tools in Iberian Peninsula Middle Paleolithic

Radiocarbon dating casts doubt on the late chronology of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in southern Iberia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About