Subsistence strategies of Gravettian hunter–gatherers in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula: the case of level E of Arbreda Cave (Serinyà)

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

Lloveras

Soler

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Arbreda Cave is one of the most important sites in the Reclau Caves complex (Serinyà, north‐east Iberian Peninsula). Its stratigraphy reveals that the cave was intensively occupied during the Upper Palaeolithic. As in other archaeological sites in the western Mediterranean regions, a shift towards an intensification in small prey exploitation has been observed over the course of this period. This trend is indicated by the presence of large quantities of small mammal remains, mainly rabbits, in the archaeofaunal assemblages. However, the anthropogenic origin of these bone accumulations requires to be proved through the detailed taphonomic analysis because their presence in the archaeological record may be consequence of the activity of different agents. On this question, neotaphonomic studies have become a valuable tool with which to distinguish the taphonomic signatures produced by terrestrial carnivores, birds of prey, and humans. Although most researchers agree on the importance of small prey in the human diet during this period, this issue has not yet been resolved. Because data are still scarce, subsistence in some Upper Palaeolithic episodes, such as the final Gravettian, is not well understood. The aim of this paper is to establish the origin of the small mammal prey assemblages from Level D of Arbreda Cave and to assess the importance of these animals for the subsistence of humans in western Mediterranean regions. This level has been dated to ca. 25–20 kyr 14C BP and is mainly contemporary with the palaeoenvironmental cold conditions derived from the Greenland Stadial 3. The results of this study indicate that Level D small mammal prey assemblages have a remarkable anthropogenic footprint. Rabbits were intensively exploited, but other small mammals, such as hedgehogs, were also part of the human diet. The animal carcasses were brought whole to the cave, where they were butchered, cooked, and consumed. In addition, marrow exploitation was also practiced in the case of the rabbits. Although at Arbreda Cave, ungulates were a primary resource in the subsistence of hunter–gatherers; small prey also played an important role in human diet during the final Gravettian.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small prey exploitation during the final Gravettian in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula: The case of Level D from Arbreda Cave

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

Lloveras

Soler

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…2015), which is chronologically the closest to the age of the muskox remain and also belongs to the latest MIS 3 (Rufí et al . 2019).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With regard to macromammals, level E contains a Mediterranean faunal assemblage dominated by rabbit and a notable presence of red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), and there is also a lower presence of other temperate species such as wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) (Rufí et al . 2019). Nonetheless, amongst ungulates, a higher percentage of horse in respect to red deer can be used as a proxy to infer a predominance of open landscapes and subsequently colder conditions in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula close to the LGM (Nadal et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Revision of the occurrence of muskox (Ovibos moschatus Zimmermann 1780) from the Gravettian of Arbreda Cave (Serinyà, northeastern Iberian Peninsula): new insights for the study of Iberian cold‐adapted faunas

Drucker

Bocherens

et al. 2020

Boreas

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During the Last Glacial cycle (MIS 4 to MIS 2), the isthmic Pyrenees mountain range acted as a biogeographical barrier, effectively restricting faunal exchanges to its western and eastern terminations. The study of the composition of megaherbivore communities has revealed the transitional character of the Cantabrian region (northwest Iberian Peninsula) during the MIS 3, between western European cold faunas and southern Iberian temperate faunas. In the Catalan area (northeastern Iberian Peninsula), cold‐adapted faunas are frequently recorded during the cold pulses of MIS 3 and MIS 2, albeit to a lesser extent. In the present paper, we provide the first direct evidence of a muskox record in the Iberian Peninsula, together with a morphometric study and the results of collagen δ13C and δ15N analysis. The results reveal that the Arbreda specimen fits biometrically within the Late Holocene Umingmak specimens (Banks Island, Canada). Moreover, its isotopic values fall into the range of Late Pleistocene Mammoth steppe muskoxen, which indicates a typical ecological behaviour for muskox. Indeed, it suggests a niche partitioning of this cold‐adapted specimen in relation to other Gravettian Iberian fauna. Chronologically, this occurrence is interpreted as an isolated southward expansion of the biogeographical limits of muskox during the Greenland Stadial 4, in the latest MIS 3.

Subsistence practices in western Mediterranean Europe during the Final Gravettian. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of faunal remains from level D of Arbreda Cave (Serinyà, NE Iberian Peninsula)

Lloveras

Soler

et al. 2021

J Quaternary Science

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During the Final Gravettian, the Reclau Caves (northeast Iberia) were intensively occupied by hunter‐gatherer communities. The study of residential level D (c. 25.4–19.7 kyr bp) of Arbreda Cave offers a new view of subsistence strategies of communities which inhabited the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, a transition region between the steppe‐tundra and the Iberian wooded steppe biomes, during Greenland Stadial 3. Presented here are the results of the zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of ungulate and carnivore remains recovered from level D. The study confirms that the faunal assemblage of this level was mainly brought there by humans. The zooarchaeological analysis indicates selective hunting based on the exploitation of familial groups of horses and deer, while other ungulate taxa appear to be infrequent. Hunter‐gatherers frequented the site throughout the year, but more intensive use in spring is indicated by subadult sensu lato horses. There was extensive exploitation of ungulate carcasses: various butchery activities, marrow extraction, the use of bone as fuel and ‘less elaborate tools’ are documented. Carnivore canines were exploited to produce ornaments. The great dominance of horses reveals cold conditions and the expansion of open environments related to the chronology span of Greenland Stadial 3.