Since 2007, excavations at Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain) have revealed three... more Since 2007, excavations at Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain) have revealed three localities with rich archaeo-paleontological assemblages: La Mina, El Forn and Pit 1. Palaeontology, palae-omagnetism and cosmogenic analyses have dated these localities to close to 1 Ma. The presence of Mammuthus meridionalis, Hippopotamus antiquus, Stephanorhinus cf. hundsheimensis, Mimomys savini and Victoriamys chalinei stand out in the sample of macro and micro-mammals. The lithic assemblages from the three sites are made up of percussion cobbles, choppers, chopper-cores, cores, simple flakes, and some retouched flakes: mainly denticulates and notches. In the case of the El Forn and Pit 1 localities, two large cutting tools have been recovered: a cleaver-like tool and a pick made of hard-wearing schist. The lithic assemblage of Pit 1, which includes several refitting lithic sets, is closely associated with the remains of a young-adult Mammuthus meridionalis, in a clear butchering site context. This evidence suggests that Barranc de la Boella is the oldest European Early Acheulean site, and one of the oldest butchering site on the subcontinent during the late Early Pleistocene. The study of the variability among these three localities in similar environmental conditions, together with information from other sites, are discussed in order to gain further knowledge about the appearance of the Acheulean in Europe, and its continuity or discontinuity in relation to pre-existing technologies.
Evidence of late Early Pleistocene elephant butchery activity has been excavated in the Pit 1 loc... more Evidence of late Early Pleistocene elephant butchery activity has been excavated in the Pit 1 locality at Barranc de la Boella (Catalonia, Spain). The fossil assemblage mainly comprises the remains of one prime adult individual of Mammuthus meridionalis, together with 125 lithic artefacts, among which several refitting groups of chert have been identified. The lithic assemblage from the Pit 1 locality is composed of cobbles, cores, simple and retouched flakes, together with a large, well-fashioned pick of hard-wearing schist. Spatial, zooarchaeological, taphonomic, technical and use-wear analyses confirm that the occupation was devoted to butchery of the mammoth carcass. The activity zone is in a fluvio-deltaic area that incises the terrace T+60 of the lower Francolı river basin, 50 m a.s.l. Palaeomagnetic and cosmogenic analyses, as well as microfaunal (Mimomys savini, Victoriamys chalinei) and macrofaunal biostratigraphy (Mammuthus meridionalis), support the timing of the occupation to the late Matuyama chron. These various lines of evidence point to Barranc de la Boella being the oldest Early Acheulean butchering site in Europe. Ongoing excavations at several localities at Barranc de la Boella are yielding new data on the palaeoenvironmental, geochronological and technological framework of these occupations. Finally, the evidence is integrated into current understanding of the subsistence strategies practised by Early Pleistocene hominins.
This paper presents the lithic assemblages documented at Sima del Elefante (TE) and their importa... more This paper presents the lithic assemblages documented at Sima del Elefante (TE) and their importance in the context of the Early and Middle Pleistocene human occupation of Europe. We also study changes in human behaviour within the context of the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Sierra de Atapuerca. This site has characteristics that are of great value for the study of human evolution. The lower levels of TE (Units TE7eTE14) are an essential reference for understanding the early stages of the colonization of Europe. The TE9c level has provided stone tools (Mode 1), faunal remains, and human fossils dated to 1.22 Ma (millions of years ago). Moreover, this is one of the few European sites with a stratigraphic sequence that includes remains of human occupations predating the Jaramillo subchron (Early Pleistocene) and from the Late Middle Pleistocene (Units TE18eTE19). Despite this, the presence of archaeologically sterile units (TE15e17) prevents us from establishing a continuous relationship between the Early and Middle Pleistocene human settlements and, consequently, between their technological and behavioural differences. We can, however compare the technological and palaeoeconomic strategies adopted by different species of hominins during two key phases of the occupation of Europe.
ABSTRACT There is currently much debate about the nature of the social learning in chimpanzees (P... more ABSTRACT There is currently much debate about the nature of the social learning in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The main question is whether they possess the ability to copy the actions of others, by imitation, or by reproducing the environmental effects of these actions, by emulation. This study explores the social learning abilities in 12 chimpanzees housed at Mona Foundation (Girona, Spain), Using the Two actions task design, the subjects observed a human demonstrator carrying out one of the two techniques of how to retrieve a reward from a box by using a tool. The demonstration involved both causally relevant actions and irrelevant actions, and, in addition, to assess the possible effects of the causal information, the box was presented in each of two conditions, opaque and clear. The subjects were divided into five experimental groups according to (1) The actions method demonstrated; (2) the order of presentation of a clear and opaque box. Subjects’ behaviours were assessed for how often they resolved the box solution, how often they copied the demonstrator method of actions and the latency. There were no differences in the latency and the successfulness of the task among experimental groups and in the clear and opaque condition. Although there was a higher proportion of an irrelevant action in the opaque condition, no significant differences were detected. However, differences in detailed actions among experimental groups according to the actions method demonstrated were found. At the level of copying the overall structure of the task, the subjects did not benefit from the demonstrations, both in the clear condition as well as in the opaque condition, and they ignored the irrelevant actions in favour of the emulative technique. However, at the level of copying the detailed actions, the subjects copied the relevant actions in favour of the imitative technique.
Since 2007, excavations at Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain) have revealed three... more Since 2007, excavations at Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain) have revealed three localities with rich archaeo-paleontological assemblages: La Mina, El Forn and Pit 1. Palaeontology, palae-omagnetism and cosmogenic analyses have dated these localities to close to 1 Ma. The presence of Mammuthus meridionalis, Hippopotamus antiquus, Stephanorhinus cf. hundsheimensis, Mimomys savini and Victoriamys chalinei stand out in the sample of macro and micro-mammals. The lithic assemblages from the three sites are made up of percussion cobbles, choppers, chopper-cores, cores, simple flakes, and some retouched flakes: mainly denticulates and notches. In the case of the El Forn and Pit 1 localities, two large cutting tools have been recovered: a cleaver-like tool and a pick made of hard-wearing schist. The lithic assemblage of Pit 1, which includes several refitting lithic sets, is closely associated with the remains of a young-adult Mammuthus meridionalis, in a clear butchering site context. This evidence suggests that Barranc de la Boella is the oldest European Early Acheulean site, and one of the oldest butchering site on the subcontinent during the late Early Pleistocene. The study of the variability among these three localities in similar environmental conditions, together with information from other sites, are discussed in order to gain further knowledge about the appearance of the Acheulean in Europe, and its continuity or discontinuity in relation to pre-existing technologies.
Evidence of late Early Pleistocene elephant butchery activity has been excavated in the Pit 1 loc... more Evidence of late Early Pleistocene elephant butchery activity has been excavated in the Pit 1 locality at Barranc de la Boella (Catalonia, Spain). The fossil assemblage mainly comprises the remains of one prime adult individual of Mammuthus meridionalis, together with 125 lithic artefacts, among which several refitting groups of chert have been identified. The lithic assemblage from the Pit 1 locality is composed of cobbles, cores, simple and retouched flakes, together with a large, well-fashioned pick of hard-wearing schist. Spatial, zooarchaeological, taphonomic, technical and use-wear analyses confirm that the occupation was devoted to butchery of the mammoth carcass. The activity zone is in a fluvio-deltaic area that incises the terrace T+60 of the lower Francolı river basin, 50 m a.s.l. Palaeomagnetic and cosmogenic analyses, as well as microfaunal (Mimomys savini, Victoriamys chalinei) and macrofaunal biostratigraphy (Mammuthus meridionalis), support the timing of the occupation to the late Matuyama chron. These various lines of evidence point to Barranc de la Boella being the oldest Early Acheulean butchering site in Europe. Ongoing excavations at several localities at Barranc de la Boella are yielding new data on the palaeoenvironmental, geochronological and technological framework of these occupations. Finally, the evidence is integrated into current understanding of the subsistence strategies practised by Early Pleistocene hominins.
This paper presents the lithic assemblages documented at Sima del Elefante (TE) and their importa... more This paper presents the lithic assemblages documented at Sima del Elefante (TE) and their importance in the context of the Early and Middle Pleistocene human occupation of Europe. We also study changes in human behaviour within the context of the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Sierra de Atapuerca. This site has characteristics that are of great value for the study of human evolution. The lower levels of TE (Units TE7eTE14) are an essential reference for understanding the early stages of the colonization of Europe. The TE9c level has provided stone tools (Mode 1), faunal remains, and human fossils dated to 1.22 Ma (millions of years ago). Moreover, this is one of the few European sites with a stratigraphic sequence that includes remains of human occupations predating the Jaramillo subchron (Early Pleistocene) and from the Late Middle Pleistocene (Units TE18eTE19). Despite this, the presence of archaeologically sterile units (TE15e17) prevents us from establishing a continuous relationship between the Early and Middle Pleistocene human settlements and, consequently, between their technological and behavioural differences. We can, however compare the technological and palaeoeconomic strategies adopted by different species of hominins during two key phases of the occupation of Europe.
ABSTRACT There is currently much debate about the nature of the social learning in chimpanzees (P... more ABSTRACT There is currently much debate about the nature of the social learning in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The main question is whether they possess the ability to copy the actions of others, by imitation, or by reproducing the environmental effects of these actions, by emulation. This study explores the social learning abilities in 12 chimpanzees housed at Mona Foundation (Girona, Spain), Using the Two actions task design, the subjects observed a human demonstrator carrying out one of the two techniques of how to retrieve a reward from a box by using a tool. The demonstration involved both causally relevant actions and irrelevant actions, and, in addition, to assess the possible effects of the causal information, the box was presented in each of two conditions, opaque and clear. The subjects were divided into five experimental groups according to (1) The actions method demonstrated; (2) the order of presentation of a clear and opaque box. Subjects’ behaviours were assessed for how often they resolved the box solution, how often they copied the demonstrator method of actions and the latency. There were no differences in the latency and the successfulness of the task among experimental groups and in the clear and opaque condition. Although there was a higher proportion of an irrelevant action in the opaque condition, no significant differences were detected. However, differences in detailed actions among experimental groups according to the actions method demonstrated were found. At the level of copying the overall structure of the task, the subjects did not benefit from the demonstrations, both in the clear condition as well as in the opaque condition, and they ignored the irrelevant actions in favour of the emulative technique. However, at the level of copying the detailed actions, the subjects copied the relevant actions in favour of the imitative technique.
The Sierra de Atapuerca sites offer a chronological sequence that allows the evolution of technol... more The Sierra de Atapuerca sites offer a chronological sequence that allows the evolution of technology at a local scale during the Early and Middle Pleistocene to be reconstructed. This paper presents updated information on the main lithic assemblages recovered from the various levels of the Sima del Elefante, Gran Dolina, Galería, and Sima de los Huesos sites. The ultimate goal is to look for technological features on the pieces that make up these assemblages that carry evolutionary significance. Other archaeological data will be cross- referenced with the technical features documented in these artefacts in order to better understand the peopling that took place at Atapuerca during the Pleistocene.The first peopling of Atapuerca occurred at 1.2 Ma, and is represented in level TE9 and probably at the top of level TD3-TD4 by Homo sp. and a Mode 1 technology, which is very poor in terms of diversity and energy invested in tool production. This technology is related to opportunistic subsistence strategies that focused on taking advantage of carcasses that had fallen into the cavities. A second cultural phase has been revealed in level TD6, dating to before 800 ka: a phase characterised by new subsistence and technological strategies, although still belonging to Mode 1 and carried out by Homo antecessor. In TD6, the lithic assemblage is rich and diversified. Intensive occupations with well organised subsistence strategies have been documented, including hunting activities and the earliest trace of cannibalism in prehistory. After a hiatus of approximately 300 ky without evidence of hominin presence, the occupations of Galería and TD10 correspond to a third cultural phase, ranging from between 500 ka and 300 ka. They are represented by a Mode 2 technology associated with systematic and directional carcass processing, including hunting events in TD10. Homo heidelbergensis appears instead of H. antecessor, and is extraordinarily represented at the Sima de los Huesos site in the form of an intentional accumulation of numerous individuals. Finally, TD10.1 may represent the local evolution from Mode 2 to Mode 3 assemblages.After comparing these assemblages, it is clear that several technological features have either been retained or changed over the span of the Atapuerca sequence. The following are considered to have evolutionary significance due to the technological trends described: a) raw material selection (use of local varieties of rock, with the progressive increasing selection of the most workable materials through the Middle Pleistocene); b) production sequences (coexistence of several knapping methods, with a clear increase in centripetal strategies and techniques for flake predetermination, which ultimately lead to Levallois-like methods); c) scarce and insignificant presence of choppers and chopping tools; d) tools on flakes (recorded only from the end of the Early Pleistocene, increasing in number, complexity and standardisation throughout the Middle Pleistocene); and e) large cutting tools (which appear ca 500 ka, and progressively decrease in number, standardisation and intensity of shaping throughout Gran Dolina TD10).
Uploads
Papers by Marina Mosquera
mammoth carcass. The activity zone is in a fluvio-deltaic area that incises the terrace T+60 of the lower Francolı river basin, 50 m a.s.l. Palaeomagnetic and cosmogenic analyses, as well as microfaunal (Mimomys savini, Victoriamys chalinei) and macrofaunal biostratigraphy (Mammuthus meridionalis), support the timing of the occupation to the late Matuyama chron. These various lines of evidence point to Barranc de la Boella being the oldest Early Acheulean butchering site in Europe. Ongoing excavations at several localities at Barranc de la Boella are yielding new data on the palaeoenvironmental, geochronological and technological framework of these
occupations. Finally, the evidence is integrated into current understanding of the subsistence strategies practised by
Early Pleistocene hominins.
the context of the Early and Middle Pleistocene human occupation of Europe. We also study changes in
human behaviour within the context of the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Sierra de Atapuerca.
This site has characteristics that are of great value for the study of human evolution. The lower levels of
TE (Units TE7eTE14) are an essential reference for understanding the early stages of the colonization of
Europe. The TE9c level has provided stone tools (Mode 1), faunal remains, and human fossils dated to
1.22 Ma (millions of years ago). Moreover, this is one of the few European sites with a stratigraphic
sequence that includes remains of human occupations predating the Jaramillo subchron (Early Pleistocene)
and from the Late Middle Pleistocene (Units TE18eTE19). Despite this, the presence of archaeologically
sterile units (TE15e17) prevents us from establishing a continuous relationship between the
Early and Middle Pleistocene human settlements and, consequently, between their technological and
behavioural differences. We can, however compare the technological and palaeoeconomic strategies
adopted by different species of hominins during two key phases of the occupation of Europe.
mammoth carcass. The activity zone is in a fluvio-deltaic area that incises the terrace T+60 of the lower Francolı river basin, 50 m a.s.l. Palaeomagnetic and cosmogenic analyses, as well as microfaunal (Mimomys savini, Victoriamys chalinei) and macrofaunal biostratigraphy (Mammuthus meridionalis), support the timing of the occupation to the late Matuyama chron. These various lines of evidence point to Barranc de la Boella being the oldest Early Acheulean butchering site in Europe. Ongoing excavations at several localities at Barranc de la Boella are yielding new data on the palaeoenvironmental, geochronological and technological framework of these
occupations. Finally, the evidence is integrated into current understanding of the subsistence strategies practised by
Early Pleistocene hominins.
the context of the Early and Middle Pleistocene human occupation of Europe. We also study changes in
human behaviour within the context of the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Sierra de Atapuerca.
This site has characteristics that are of great value for the study of human evolution. The lower levels of
TE (Units TE7eTE14) are an essential reference for understanding the early stages of the colonization of
Europe. The TE9c level has provided stone tools (Mode 1), faunal remains, and human fossils dated to
1.22 Ma (millions of years ago). Moreover, this is one of the few European sites with a stratigraphic
sequence that includes remains of human occupations predating the Jaramillo subchron (Early Pleistocene)
and from the Late Middle Pleistocene (Units TE18eTE19). Despite this, the presence of archaeologically
sterile units (TE15e17) prevents us from establishing a continuous relationship between the
Early and Middle Pleistocene human settlements and, consequently, between their technological and
behavioural differences. We can, however compare the technological and palaeoeconomic strategies
adopted by different species of hominins during two key phases of the occupation of Europe.