Sols et structures d’habitat du Paléolithique supérieur, nouvelles données depuis les Cantabres : la Galerie Inférieure de La Garma (Cantabrie, Espagne)

Under the Skin of a Lion: Unique Evidence of Upper Paleolithic Exploitation and Use of Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Spain)

“…Zone IV of the Lower Gallery of the site of La Garma is a unique archaeological assemblage due to its outstanding preservation and the lack of sedimentary processes affecting the material [34–36]. Therefore, its archaeological inferences, and especially those related to its spatial distribution and the presence of cultural objects (e.g., [32,34]), represent an important advance in the conception of human behavior during the Upper Paleolithic.…”

“…Specific site conservation standards required the analysis of the fossils in situ , with no permission granted to remove them from the site and with the stipulation that they be replaced in the same exact position after the analysis (S1 Fig). A better taphonomical characterization of the bone surfaces, not possible due to the working conditions in the cave (described in [34,36]), was achieved using the non-destructive technique of modeling and casting bones for the stereomicroscopic analysis described by Camarós et al [43]. Previous research has proven the potential for producing high-resolution transparent casts for the observation of taphonomic modifications on bone surfaces [23].…”

“…This study examines cave lion remains located in Zone IV, where three anthropic stone structures, inferred to be short-term occupied Paleolithic huts, are located [34–36] (Figs 2 and 3; S1 Video). These structures are placed 130 m from the original entrance.…”

“…[34]. It represents a single occupation, according the results of an archaeological test pit in the zone [34], and can be defined as an unmodified Paleolithic occupation floor (see discussion in [36]).…”

Efficient quantification procedures for data evaluation of portable X-ray fluorescence – Potential improvements for Palaeolithic cave art knowledge

“…This cave contains more than five hundred exceptional Palaeolithic graphical units, some of them linked to the Magdalenian floors. La Garma cave, located in the Cantabria region, has never been opened to the public and thus provides a closed karst system with untouched archaeological surfaces, conferring to it an exceptional position in the study of the Upper Palaeolithic in the North of Spain (Arias et al, 1996(Arias et al, , 2000(Arias et al, , 2011Ontañón, 2003;Arias and Ontañón, 2012). Two zones were analysed: one decorated panel of the southern part of zone IV in the Lower Gallery and one in the Intermediate Gallery (Gay et al, 2015).…”