The Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in southern Iberia

Abstract

New data and a review of historiographic information from Neolithic sites of the Malaga and Algarve coasts (southern Iberian Peninsula) and from the Maghreb (North Africa) reveal the existence of a Neolithic settlement at least from 7.5 cal ka BP. The agricultural and pastoralist food producing economy of that population rapidly replaced the coastal economies of the Mesolithic populations. The timing of this population and economic turnover coincided with major changes in the continental and marine ecosystems, including upwelling intensity, sea-level changes and increased aridity in the Sahara and along the Iberian coast. These changes likely impacted the subsistence strategies of the Mesolithic populations along the Iberian seascapes and resulted in abandonments manifested as sedimentary hiatuses in some areas during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. The rapid expansion and area of dispersal of the early Neolithic traits suggest the use of marine technology. Different evidences for a Maghrebian origin for the first colonists have been summarized. The recognition of an early North-African Neolithic influence in Southern Iberia and the Maghreb is vital for understanding the appearance and development of the Neolithic in Western Europe. Our review suggests links between climate change, resource allocation, and population turnover.

Are There Arid Land Soilscapes in Southwestern Europe?

“…However, millenary human land use appears to have caused intense erosion, something that is a major problem worldwide (Zhao et al ., ; Brevik et al ., ). Agriculture, livestock husbandry and mining (especially lead) have been practiced in the province of Almería at least from 5,000 to 6,000 years ago (Carrión et al ., ; Cortés‐Sánchez et al ., ; García‐Alix et al ., ). Possibly, a historical analysis of old archives could shed light on this topic in the line briefly addressed by Simón and coworkers (Simón, ).…”

“…This again clearly demonstrates the aridic nature of the soilscapes of Almería. These results indicate that the soils of Almería have formed due a combination of natural climate changes, tectonic uplift, earthquakes (and associated erosive events) and human action over more than 8,000–9,000 years (Espinar‐Moreno, ; Mather et al ., ; Harvey et al ., ; Reinhardt, ; Briassoulis, ; García‐Alix et al ., ; Cortés‐Sánchez et al ., ).…”

“…Soil temperature and moisture regimes according to the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 1999) are thermic and aridic, respectively, over large areas, while mesic and xeric regimes appear only above 800-1,000 m. In the more humid areas, potential vegetation (Simón, 2005, and references therein) includes patches of the typical dry Mediterranean forests and mountain top shrubs, which only remain in small sites as a consequence of natural and manmade forest fires, earthquakes as well as millenary land use that it goes back to at least 9,000 years ago (Cortés-Sánchez et al, 2012). Near the coast, plant communities are shrubs and bushes typical of arid/desertic regions.…”

“…Many studies have been carried out in this area concerning soil erosion and land degradation (Mairota et al, 1997;Puigdefábregas, 1998;Barbero-Sierra et al, 2015). Land aridity results from the natural conditions as well as from millenary land use (Brandt & Thornes, 1996;Symeonakis et al, 2007Symeonakis et al, , 2015Cortés-Sánchez et al, 2012). The role of soil erosion (Martínez-Fernández & Esteve, 2005;Cerdà et al, 2013) and that of past and present land use in causing land degradation are still a matter of debate (Carrión et al, 2007).…”

Análisis funcional del utillaje laminar del Neolítico antiguo de Castillejos de Montefrío (Granada)

“…Es más, de los escasos yacimientos al aire libre de tales fechas excavados en las áreas cercanas de la península ibérica (Ramos y Lazarich 2002;Fernández et al 2006;Esquembre et al 2008;García Puchol et al 2008;Vijande 2009;Díez et al 2010;Torregrosa et al 2011;Cortés et al 2012), ninguno presenta tal característica y todos comparten, en general, la presencia de diversos tipos de fosas y evidencias aisladas de ocupación, aunque existan también algunas estructuras monumentales de delimitación como en el caso de Mas d'Is (Penàguila, Alicante) .…”