The coexistence of Acheulean and Ancient Middle Palaeolithic techno-complexes in the Middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Peninsula

Grimaldi

et al. 2017

JLS

Abstract:The lithic assemblage of Ribeira da Ponte da Pedra site (OIS8-9) was produced, almost exclusively, through the exploitation of good quality quartzite fluvial pebbles with a regular morphology. Quartzite fluvial pebbles are the most common raw material found in the Middle Pleistocene occupation sites in Portugal. Such feature results from the easy availability of these pebbles in the valleys where the great majority of the archaeological sites within this chronology are located, and also because of the quartzite's physical properties and suitability for knapping.In a techno-typological point of view, its lithic assemblage is characterized by the application of two main reduction sequences that result in abundant worked pebbles, retouched pebbles, cortical and semi-cortical flakes, retouched flakes, a few cores and rare bifacial artefacts. Some artefacts present irregular and variable edge modifications described as 'atypical' edge modifications that could edge damage resultant from their utilization. From a strictly technical point of view the assemblage can be described as quite simple, however we can envisage an inherent complexity starting in an accurate selection and exploitation of the quartzite pebbles, whose regular morphology allows a 'predetermined' production of regular blanks through simple actions.In order to better understand patterns of raw material selection and technical schemes adopted in the exploitation of the quartzite pebbles we compared a sample of pebbles collected in the same deposits identified in the site (t4 fluvial terrace deposits) with worked pebbles that have 1 or 2 removals that had not altered significantly the original morpho-volumetry of the pebbles. The goal of this comparison was to verify if there was a selection of the fluvial pebbles based on texture and morpho-volumetry and if so, relate such selection with the technical schemes identified by technological study of the assemblage.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quartzite pebble technology in the final Middle Pleistocene of the Ribeira da Ponte da Pedra site (High Ribatejo, Central Portugal)

Grimaldi

et al. 2017

JLS

Munibe, Antropol.-Arkeol.

“…The time before though has gained only minor interest. The sites of the Gran Dolina/ Atapuerca, Cuesta de la Bajada and Bolomor both mark an early occurrence of the Middle Palaeolithic dating to MIS 9 respectively (Fernández Peris, 2007;Santonja et al, 2016), with Bolomor indicating human presence until MIS 5. Other sites comprise Middle Palaeolithic stratigraphies reaching from MIS 5 at least until MIS 3 such as Bajondillo (Cortés Sánchez, 2007b) or Carihuela (Vega Toscano, 1988;Carrión García et al, 1998;Fernández et al, 2007) in southern Spain.…”

Section: Southern Iberiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the term Mousterian is commonly used in the descriptions of the archaeological assemblages from the Iberian Peninsula. Bifacial technology is mainly constrained, per definition, to the Acheulean which is said to be a technological entity besides the Middle Palaeolithic (or Mousterian) respectively (Santonja Gómez et al, 2016) Differences are rather of quantitative than of qualitative nature. The Levallois concept is present with its different production methods (preferential, recurrent uni-, bidirectional and centripetal) as well as the discoid and the Kombewa concept.…”

Section: Lithic Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For different time periods models of cultural contact between the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula and northern Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar have been discussed (Straus, 2001;Garcea, 2004;Santonja Gómez & Villa, 2006;Alcaraz Castaño, 2007;Sharon, 2011;Linstä-dter et al, 2012;Otte, 2013;Ramos-Muñoz, 2013;Santonja Gómez, et al 2016). According to Ramos-Muñoz the explanations behind the proposed models are based on diffusion ideas, a movement from one area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Cultural contact over the Strait of Gibraltar during the Middle Palaeolithic? Evaluating the visibility of cultural exchange

Tafelmaier¹,

Pastoors²,

Weniger³

2018

Possible contacts between hunter-gatherers of Northern Africa and Europe via the Strait of Gibraltar during the Pleistocene are still object to discussions. In the absence of significant fossil remains, debates are mainly based on similarities and differences of singular aspects of material culture. However, a theoretical framework for these discussions was lacking. The first aim of this study thus has been the development of a theoretical base. We therein included Maslow´s pyramid of basic needs. The idea of our approach is that the presence or absence of so-called cultural tracers identify either contact or disparity. A large database on archaeological sites of Morocco and Southern Iberia dating between 160 ka and 40 ka years ago has been compiled, containing information about lithic technology and typology, lithic raw material acquisition, subsistence patterns and symbolic behaviour. We formulated three potential contact scenarios between the two regions. The presence and/ or absence of so-called cultural tracers within the data set, that covered all levels of Maslow´s pyramid, led us to conclude that -based on the present archaeological and anthropological data -no contact took place between Iberian and North African populations across the Strait of Gibraltar in the given time frame. RESUMENContactos entre grupos humanos del Pleistoceno superior entre África del Norte y la Península Ibérica cruzando el Estrecho de Gibraltar están siendo objeto de debates. Por la falta de fósiles humanos significativos el debate se centra básicamente en similitudes y diferencias en la cultura material. Pero todavía falta un marco metodológico para la discusión. Este trabajo intenta la presentación de una base teórica preliminar. La pirámide de Maslow con necesidades básicas forma parte de estas reflexiones. La ausencia o presencia de marcadores culturales indica según nuestro enfoque contactos o disparidades. En un banco de datos de yacimientos arqueológicos entre 160 ka y 40 ka de Marruecos y del sur de España hemos compilado información sobre tecnología de inventarios líticos, aprovisionamiento de materias primas, patrones de asentamiento y comportamiento simbólico. Se pueden formular tres escenarios de contacto entre ambas regiones. La aplicación de marcadores culturales in relación con la pirámide entera de Maslow indica que según la información actual no se pueden demostrar contactos entre ambos continentes. LABURPENAIparraldeko Afrikaren eta Iberiar penintsularen artean, Gibraltargo itsasartea zeharkatuta, Goi-pleistozenoan giza taldeen artean izan ziren harremanak eztabaidagai bihurtu dira. Gizakiaren fosil esanguratsurik ez dagoenez, eztabaidaren gai nagusia, batez ere, kultura materialean dauden antzekotasunak eta aldeak dira. Baina oraindik eztabaidarako testuinguru metodologikoa falta da. Lan honen helburua da aurretiazko oinarri teorikoa aurkeztea. Oinarrizko beharrak dituen Maslow piramidea gogoeta horien baitan dago. Gure ustez, markatzaile kulturalik ez izateak edo halakoak izateak harremanak edo desber...

Technological adaptation and the emergence of Levallois in Central Europe: new insight from the Markkleeberg and Zwochau open‐air sites in Germany

Picin

2017

J Quaternary Science

The introduction of the Levallois method in Europe is considered the technological innovation that marked the beginning of the Middle Palaeolithic. In North‐Central Europe, early evidence of this new concept of flake production is dated at the junction between Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 9 and MIS 8, a period that showed a deterioration of climatic conditions, i.e. a change from forested to cold tundra–steppe vegetation and dispersal of the Mammuthus–Coelodonta faunal complex from artic territories. This study aims to contribute new data to the current debate by exploring the lithic assemblages of the Markkleeberg and Zwochau open‐air sites in Germany. Technological analysis reveals the introduction of the Levallois method in association with the development of the local unidirectional core technology. This pattern is common in other sites of North‐Central Europe. This modification in the technical behaviour of hunter‐gatherers is interpreted as a technological adaptation in response to the new faunal complex composed of seasonal migratory animals.