I am a prehistory archaeology specialized in lithic technology and cognition evolution. My work has focused on Paleolithic sites, human evolution and learning knapping. I am also interesed in experimental archaoelogy and ethoarchaeology to solve different methodological issues palimpsest dissection, settelment patterns, laterality and human evolution learning ...
Short-Term Occupations in Paleolithic Archaeology, 2020
After deconstructing the palimpsest of level O, we present a cross-disciplinary study on a short ... more After deconstructing the palimpsest of level O, we present a cross-disciplinary study on a short occupation of the Abric Romani rock shelter conducted by means of an analysis of the record of archaeo-level Oa, a Middle Palaeolithic assemblage dated to ca. 54 Ka BP by U/Th series.
This paper presents the limestone reduction sequences documented in levels M and Ob at Abric Roma... more This paper presents the limestone reduction sequences documented in levels M and Ob at Abric Romaní from a technological point of view. At level M, a recurrent knapping system has been identified, resulting in the frequency of pseudo-Levallois blanks. At archaeolevel Ob, the presence of Levallois methods are observed in association with this knapping system. In both cases, retouched tools are rare and dominated by notches and denticulates. Although it is not well-known the degree of similarity and difference between the two levels in relation to occupational patterns is not well understood, Neanderthals employed more opportunistic knapping strategies, investing less time and energy in the procurement of raw materials including for chert. In level Ob, although limestone is still collected in the local fluvial deposits, differences in raw material procurement have been identified for chert. Results show the plasticity and versality that Neanderthals had and how they took advantage of ...
Abstract The phenomenon of microlithism continues to be one of the most interesting topics in the... more Abstract The phenomenon of microlithism continues to be one of the most interesting topics in the prehistoric archaeology of the Middle Palaeolithic period because it is key to understanding the technology and cultural and economic organisation of Neanderthal societies. The aim of this research is to characterise small-flake industries based on two archaeological levels from the Abric Romani which present different occupation patterns. Level L is characterised by a shorter and more opportunistic occupational pattern, while the occupations found at archaeolevel Ob were longer and more complex, indicating a greater degree of planning involved in subsistence activities. The analysis was conducted using a technological approach to assess the different operating chains used; particular attention was devoted to the typometric analysis and the production objectives for obtaining small supports. The results indicate that a wide variety of procedures were used to produce microliths, some of an expedient nature and others which were much more complex, such as the different Levallois methods. The data obtained are discussed in the context of the Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula, which is compared to the rest of the sites located in this area in order to reveal the possible similarities and differences between them.
Abstract This paper expands upon the preliminary refit analysis of the NW area of unit TD10.1 at ... more Abstract This paper expands upon the preliminary refit analysis of the NW area of unit TD10.1 at Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) (Lopez-Ortega et al., 2011). The refit study described here has been conducted on the quartz and quartzite assemblage recovered from unit TD10.1, consisting of a total of 4302 artefacts (709 quartz and 3593 quartzite pieces). Following the previously established methodological protocol, we found additional elements associated with already known connections as well as new refits in quartz and quartzite. The association between refits and raw material units (RMUs) has allowed us to distinguish specific concentrations and spatial clusters that could correspond to singular knapping events, and to identify the movements of pieces within the same raw material unit outside of their clusters, which could point to the use of these artefacts. These results, together with the presence of artefacts of every phase of the chaine operatoire, point to developed knapping activities carried in the settlement and the areas where they took place. A new interdisciplinary study will identify the role played by intentionally moved pieces.
Barranco León (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) provides the oldest case of knapping and percussive activi... more Barranco León (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) provides the oldest case of knapping and percussive activities on an ancient raw material reservoir deposit. This site has already proven to be one of the oldest and most significant Oldowan open-air sites in Europe (1.4 Ma), with an exceptionally rich flint and limestone lithic assemblage, in association with large and small faunal remains, including a tooth fragment attributed to Homo sp. All of these finds have been discovered after years of excavations from a clear stratigraphic succession, complimented by multidisciplinary analyses of environmental proxies. The analysis of the entire lithic collection presented here describes a tool kit composed of cores flakes and debris, hammerstones, and other macro-tools like heavy-duty scrapers and sub-spheroidal morphologies. This paper combines geological and sedimentological data with archeology, providing a new interpretation of site formation processes and how they shaped hominin activities at Barranco León. We examine the dynamics forming the depositional sequence and document taphonomic alterations of the archeological finds, while also analyzing their distribution over the excavation area. This information is key to understanding the nature of post-depositional phenomena and to evaluate primary versus secondary deposition. The positioning of the refitting items in the site highlights in situ action, reaffirming the importance of the Barranco León site as a raw material repository. The observation of a refitted lithic set provides information about knapping strategies and hominin behavior in this European Oldowan site.
Situated in southern Spain’s Guadix-Baza basin, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia... more Situated in southern Spain’s Guadix-Baza basin, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) are two of the most important western European Oldowan archeological sites. After 30 years of quasi-uninterrupted excavations, these two occurrences have yielded exceptional lithic and faunal records in precisely dated stratigraphic situations, providing a wealth of information about the oldest presence of hominins outside of Africa (1.4 and 1.3 Ma, respectively). Recently, excavations and multidisciplinary research have allowed to discern new patterns of lithic raw material procurement and use patterns practiced by the Orce hominins that enable us to clearly distinguish different behavioral schemes between these two sites; in spite of their spatial proximity. This paper explores new data from the lithic collections in relation to hominin technical and economic behavior, highlighting subtle but significant differences in their exploitation of local limestone and flint clasts mor...
Short-Term Occupations in Paleolithic Archaeology, 2020
After deconstructing the palimpsest of level O, we present a cross-disciplinary study on a short ... more After deconstructing the palimpsest of level O, we present a cross-disciplinary study on a short occupation of the Abric Romani rock shelter conducted by means of an analysis of the record of archaeo-level Oa, a Middle Palaeolithic assemblage dated to ca. 54 Ka BP by U/Th series.
This paper presents the limestone reduction sequences documented in levels M and Ob at Abric Roma... more This paper presents the limestone reduction sequences documented in levels M and Ob at Abric Romaní from a technological point of view. At level M, a recurrent knapping system has been identified, resulting in the frequency of pseudo-Levallois blanks. At archaeolevel Ob, the presence of Levallois methods are observed in association with this knapping system. In both cases, retouched tools are rare and dominated by notches and denticulates. Although it is not well-known the degree of similarity and difference between the two levels in relation to occupational patterns is not well understood, Neanderthals employed more opportunistic knapping strategies, investing less time and energy in the procurement of raw materials including for chert. In level Ob, although limestone is still collected in the local fluvial deposits, differences in raw material procurement have been identified for chert. Results show the plasticity and versality that Neanderthals had and how they took advantage of ...
Abstract The phenomenon of microlithism continues to be one of the most interesting topics in the... more Abstract The phenomenon of microlithism continues to be one of the most interesting topics in the prehistoric archaeology of the Middle Palaeolithic period because it is key to understanding the technology and cultural and economic organisation of Neanderthal societies. The aim of this research is to characterise small-flake industries based on two archaeological levels from the Abric Romani which present different occupation patterns. Level L is characterised by a shorter and more opportunistic occupational pattern, while the occupations found at archaeolevel Ob were longer and more complex, indicating a greater degree of planning involved in subsistence activities. The analysis was conducted using a technological approach to assess the different operating chains used; particular attention was devoted to the typometric analysis and the production objectives for obtaining small supports. The results indicate that a wide variety of procedures were used to produce microliths, some of an expedient nature and others which were much more complex, such as the different Levallois methods. The data obtained are discussed in the context of the Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula, which is compared to the rest of the sites located in this area in order to reveal the possible similarities and differences between them.
Abstract This paper expands upon the preliminary refit analysis of the NW area of unit TD10.1 at ... more Abstract This paper expands upon the preliminary refit analysis of the NW area of unit TD10.1 at Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain) (Lopez-Ortega et al., 2011). The refit study described here has been conducted on the quartz and quartzite assemblage recovered from unit TD10.1, consisting of a total of 4302 artefacts (709 quartz and 3593 quartzite pieces). Following the previously established methodological protocol, we found additional elements associated with already known connections as well as new refits in quartz and quartzite. The association between refits and raw material units (RMUs) has allowed us to distinguish specific concentrations and spatial clusters that could correspond to singular knapping events, and to identify the movements of pieces within the same raw material unit outside of their clusters, which could point to the use of these artefacts. These results, together with the presence of artefacts of every phase of the chaine operatoire, point to developed knapping activities carried in the settlement and the areas where they took place. A new interdisciplinary study will identify the role played by intentionally moved pieces.
Barranco León (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) provides the oldest case of knapping and percussive activi... more Barranco León (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) provides the oldest case of knapping and percussive activities on an ancient raw material reservoir deposit. This site has already proven to be one of the oldest and most significant Oldowan open-air sites in Europe (1.4 Ma), with an exceptionally rich flint and limestone lithic assemblage, in association with large and small faunal remains, including a tooth fragment attributed to Homo sp. All of these finds have been discovered after years of excavations from a clear stratigraphic succession, complimented by multidisciplinary analyses of environmental proxies. The analysis of the entire lithic collection presented here describes a tool kit composed of cores flakes and debris, hammerstones, and other macro-tools like heavy-duty scrapers and sub-spheroidal morphologies. This paper combines geological and sedimentological data with archeology, providing a new interpretation of site formation processes and how they shaped hominin activities at Barranco León. We examine the dynamics forming the depositional sequence and document taphonomic alterations of the archeological finds, while also analyzing their distribution over the excavation area. This information is key to understanding the nature of post-depositional phenomena and to evaluate primary versus secondary deposition. The positioning of the refitting items in the site highlights in situ action, reaffirming the importance of the Barranco León site as a raw material repository. The observation of a refitted lithic set provides information about knapping strategies and hominin behavior in this European Oldowan site.
Situated in southern Spain’s Guadix-Baza basin, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia... more Situated in southern Spain’s Guadix-Baza basin, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) are two of the most important western European Oldowan archeological sites. After 30 years of quasi-uninterrupted excavations, these two occurrences have yielded exceptional lithic and faunal records in precisely dated stratigraphic situations, providing a wealth of information about the oldest presence of hominins outside of Africa (1.4 and 1.3 Ma, respectively). Recently, excavations and multidisciplinary research have allowed to discern new patterns of lithic raw material procurement and use patterns practiced by the Orce hominins that enable us to clearly distinguish different behavioral schemes between these two sites; in spite of their spatial proximity. This paper explores new data from the lithic collections in relation to hominin technical and economic behavior, highlighting subtle but significant differences in their exploitation of local limestone and flint clasts mor...
The title of the research project that we present is: Variability of the levallois and discoide m... more The title of the research project that we present is: Variability of the levallois and discoide methods at the middle Paleolithic of north-east Catalonia: Puig Marí (Maçanet de la Selva) and Can Planiol (Santa Coloma de Farners). The project is framed within the research project The paleosettlers of the middle Plistocene: its technological evolution in the Selva depression and Puig Marí volcano. The main goal was to perform a technological analysis in order to characterise the exploitation methods of the Puig Marí site and its comparison with the exploitation methods of the Can Planiol site. Both sites are located in the middle Paleolithic, which introduce us in the technological variability of this period. Therefore, the following goal was to try to identify which morphotechnical characters of levallois method are different from discoide method. The analysis and interpretation of morphotechnical characters are the main points of the tecnocomplex study of middle Paleolithic since they contribute to understand the variability of the technical systems of this period. On the other side, we also contrasted the validity of the different levallois methods identified by Boëda, and we integrated them in our methodology to compare the obtained results. The analysis method used in this research is based in the Logic-Analytic System. The LAS is an open system and, thanks to this fact, we were able to make some variations to adapt it and better understand all the possible aspects of technological lithic of middle Paleolithic. Briefly, the variables used are the following: • Study core symmetry from two different points of view: - Symmetry of sagital edge, variable already present in LAS - Volumentriacal symmetry from the intervention plan, variable taken from the methodology developed in the study by Boëda. • Identify the location of flakes in the core • Note if there is hierarchical surface in the core or not • Note if there are negatives of predetermined flakes or not • Identify the exploitation status in which each core would be • Identify the different exploitation methods defined by Boëda, in the case that cores were exploited with levallois method. These new variables were a key fact to interpret and understand the explotation methods and their variability in Puig Marí and Can Planiol site. Both Puig Marí and Can Planiol sites are located in the Selva depression (northeast Catalonia). In Puig Marí site, the hegemonic raw material used to obtain flakes is basalt; meanwhile in Can Planiol site, the hegemonic raw material is quartz. The sourcing of these raw materials is in both sites. On the other hand, in Puig Marí we identified sporadic inclusions of alocton raw materials like quartz (mainly), and flint, porfir, granite, hyaline quartz and chert (occasionally). From the technological study performed in Puig Marí site, we documented all operative systems. The exploitation methods identified are levallois and discoide methods. As for the levallois method, we identified all exploitation strategies developed throughout all production phases. On the contrary, the discoide method was only documented on the last exploitation phase with a biconical morphology of the core. The need to widely document the technological complex of discoide method forced us to look for another site. This is the reason why we included Can Planiol site, where discoide method was the only one documented. From the results obtained in both morphotechnical analyses of technological complexes, we reached the following conclusions: • Faciality character: it does not show different exploitation methods, but informs us about the appropriate exploitation according to volumetry and/or morphology of the natural base. This character informs us about the exploitation time of the core. • Obliquity character: in levallois method is SP/S. The SP angle corresponds to the exploited surface and the S angle is the result of the negative flakes performed to prepare platforms butt as well as to correct the exploited face angle. On the other hand, in discoid method, this character is S/S, which shows us that both faces are exploited with the same angle and intensity. • The negative flakes orientation character in the core shows us the method used. At the same time, it gives us information about the order of the different exploitation strategies according to each exploitation status. The study of lithic industry understood within the operative field enabled us to document the internal variability of the studied technological complexes. We identified that they belong to different knapping time. In this way and from the study performed, we documented that the different levallois types identified by Boëda are better represented in the middle and last exploitation methods. To us, these types did not correspond to different levallois modalities, but to different phases of levallois methods. We supported this hypothesis with the results obtained from the identified morphotechnical characters in the levallois cores from Puig Marí site, since no morphotechnical difference was observed. This fact proves that it is the same exploitation method. The diachronical location of exploitation strategies in each knapping method enabled us to contrast the hypothesis stated by Boëda. This hypothesis is based in different levallois types. We reached the conclusion that these types can not be identified as exploitation entities on their own. These types are the result of different knapping times of the core. As far as the middle Paleolithic hominid cognition is concerned, there are many researchers that believe that they had a clear mental image of the exploitation procedures of raw material. This means that hominids followed mental patterns when executing a certain knapping. The conclusion that we reached is that the lithic material analysed does not follow this hypothesis. We believe that hominids perfectly knew the object that they wanted to obtain. What they did not know were the manufacturing process because they adapted it to the specific needs of each moment. We interpreted that hominids had a technological background acquired from learning and experience. This background enabled them to adequate knapping to the different unforeseen events that could arise. This is one of the factors that produced technological variability. As for the different management of raw materials, we observed that the cores exploited though discoide method (knapping documented both in quartz and basalt) show a high control of this method, which is not determined by the raw material quality. On the contrary, levallois method can somehow be determined by a different stone type management, since it was just documented in basalt and chert but not in quartz. This fact gives us information about a different raw material management, indicating the complexity of the conceptual and operative outline. As technique control increased, it could not produce a different stone management. This hypothesis is supported on the documentation found in Avellaners site, in the Selva depression, where levallois knapped quartz were documented. In conclusion, we identified the following facts that have an influence on the choice of one method or the other: • Pebble volumentry, since it can initially determine the obliquity character of the exploitation • Raw material crystalline construction • Obliquity angle of the negative flakes in the core • Volumetric conception during core exploitation • Hierarchy of faces Furthermore, we widely documented the internal variability of both methods, being able to identify the different knapping strategies that can be used during the exploitation. This interpretation was done thanks to operative systems, which enabled us to understand lithics artefacts through an interconnections network. In this way, we have been able to identify the different hominid decision phases when using one exploitation method
This PhD thesis is focused on the study of level O of Romani rock-shelter with two
main objective... more This PhD thesis is focused on the study of level O of Romani rock-shelter with two main objectives: to interpret the lithic assemblages and, overall, to define the types of Neanderthal occupation of this level. Romani rock-shelter is one of the most important Middle Palaeolithic sites of Europe where the reconstruction of spatial organisation strategies is possible. Moreover, the particular characteristics of this site, such as good sedimentation, well preservation of combustion structures and wood negatives, make it ideal for this kind of studies. The development of this thesis is based on three different studies: - An archaeostratigraphic analysis to decompose the palimpsest of level O - A technological analysis to identify the artefact’s variability - A spatial analysis of lithic artefacts due to the refitting, which allowed to reconstruct the spatial organisation of technical strategies and to understand the spatial behaviour of Neanderthals’ groups. The results provided from each study are the followings: The level O is formed by three archaeolevels. The first archaeolevel Oa is the result of a short-term residential settlement. This settlement is composed by 6 accumulations, being each accumulation of particular functionality within the archaeolevel. We interpreted these accumulations in the following way: two accumulations corresponding to the remains of two domestic areas, one accumulation resulting from remains of a bedroom or a resting room, two accumulations corresponding to the remains of knapping and configuration areas, and one finale one resulting from an area with different material affected by post-depositional processes as it was situated in an unprotected by rockshelter’s cornice area and it was difficult to identify any specific functionality for this area. The second archaeolevel Ob is the result of various long-term settlements repeated during the time and alternated by some short-term settlements. In this archaeolevel 6 accumulations were identified and an area with fewer remains. The analysis of refits and their spatial distribution demonstrated the articulation of these accumulations and the synchrony and diachrony between them. In one of these long-term settlements four accumulations were identified that synchronically worked as three domestic areas with clear evidence for interchange of lithic artefacts. One accumulation or main part of it was, possibly, the result of hematite pebble fracturing event. Another accumulation and a possible bedroom area were covered by successive settlements. Finally, the area with fewer lithic remains and with a big number of hearths, allowed us to interpret this area as being a specialised one related to cooking events. These results helped us to obtain information about how the Neanderthals organised and assembled these settlements and which kind of functionality they developed in each of them. These data demonstrates the complexity of Neanderthal’s behaviour, allowing to compare it with the behaviour of actual hunter-gatherers or with those identified in the Upper Palaeolithic settlements of Homo Sapiens.
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).
The site of Balma de la Massana is located in the town of Sant Esteve de la Sarga, in Pallars Jus... more The site of Balma de la Massana is located in the town of Sant Esteve de la Sarga, in Pallars Jussà. The archaeological research conducted at this site was carried out in three excavation campaigns conducted in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The reason for this excavation project was based on establishing the cronocultural framework of the occupation and assessing the potential of the site. Three archaeological levels were documented during the project. In addition, the presence of four structures were also documented that we have interpreted as silos, which provide the profile of these archaeological levels. These silos were excavated by removing all the filling that corresponded basically to sediment and debris from level 1. Datings carried out in the oldest level (level 3) situate the occupation during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition.
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Papers by amelia bargallo
The main goal was to perform a technological analysis in order to characterise the exploitation methods of the Puig Marí site and its comparison with the exploitation methods of the Can Planiol site. Both sites are located in the middle Paleolithic, which introduce us in the technological variability of this period. Therefore, the following goal was to try to identify which morphotechnical characters of levallois method are different from discoide method. The analysis and interpretation of morphotechnical characters are the main points of the tecnocomplex study of middle Paleolithic since they contribute to understand the variability of the technical systems of this period.
On the other side, we also contrasted the validity of the different levallois methods identified by Boëda, and we integrated them in our methodology to compare the obtained results.
The analysis method used in this research is based in the Logic-Analytic System.
The LAS is an open system and, thanks to this fact, we were able to make some variations to adapt it and better understand all the possible aspects of technological lithic of middle Paleolithic. Briefly, the variables used are the following:
• Study core symmetry from two different points of view:
- Symmetry of sagital edge, variable already present in LAS
- Volumentriacal symmetry from the intervention plan, variable taken from the methodology developed in the study by Boëda.
• Identify the location of flakes in the core
• Note if there is hierarchical surface in the core or not
• Note if there are negatives of predetermined flakes or not
• Identify the exploitation status in which each core would be
• Identify the different exploitation methods defined by Boëda, in the case that cores were exploited with levallois method.
These new variables were a key fact to interpret and understand the explotation methods and their variability in Puig Marí and Can Planiol site.
Both Puig Marí and Can Planiol sites are located in the Selva depression (northeast Catalonia). In Puig Marí site, the hegemonic raw material used to obtain flakes is basalt; meanwhile in Can Planiol site, the hegemonic raw material is quartz. The sourcing of these raw materials is in both sites. On the other hand, in Puig Marí we identified sporadic inclusions of alocton raw materials like quartz (mainly), and flint, porfir, granite, hyaline quartz and chert (occasionally).
From the technological study performed in Puig Marí site, we documented all operative systems. The exploitation methods identified are levallois and discoide methods. As for the levallois method, we identified all exploitation strategies developed throughout all production phases. On the contrary, the discoide method was only documented on the last exploitation phase with a biconical morphology of the core. The need to widely document the technological complex of discoide method forced us to look for another site. This is the reason why we included Can Planiol site, where discoide method was the only one documented. From the results obtained in both morphotechnical analyses of technological complexes, we reached the following conclusions:
• Faciality character: it does not show different exploitation methods, but informs us about the appropriate exploitation according to volumetry and/or morphology of the natural base. This character informs us about the exploitation time of the core.
• Obliquity character: in levallois method is SP/S. The SP angle corresponds to the exploited surface and the S angle is the result of the negative flakes performed to prepare platforms butt as well as to correct the exploited face angle. On the other hand, in discoid method, this character is S/S, which shows us that both faces are exploited with the same angle and intensity.
• The negative flakes orientation character in the core shows us the method used.
At the same time, it gives us information about the order of the different exploitation strategies according to each exploitation status.
The study of lithic industry understood within the operative field enabled us to document the internal variability of the studied technological complexes. We identified that they belong to different knapping time. In this way and from the study performed, we documented that the different levallois types identified by Boëda are better represented in the middle and last exploitation methods. To us, these types did not correspond to different levallois modalities, but to different phases of levallois methods.
We supported this hypothesis with the results obtained from the identified morphotechnical characters in the levallois cores from Puig Marí site, since no morphotechnical difference was observed. This fact proves that it is the same exploitation method. The diachronical location of exploitation strategies in each knapping method enabled us to contrast the hypothesis stated by Boëda. This hypothesis is based in different levallois types. We reached the conclusion that these types can not be identified as exploitation entities on their own. These types are the result of different knapping times of the core.
As far as the middle Paleolithic hominid cognition is concerned, there are many researchers that believe that they had a clear mental image of the exploitation procedures of raw material. This means that hominids followed mental patterns when executing a certain knapping. The conclusion that we reached is that the lithic material analysed does not follow this hypothesis. We believe that hominids perfectly knew the object that they wanted to obtain. What they did not know were the manufacturing process because they adapted it to the specific needs of each moment. We interpreted that hominids had a technological background acquired from learning and experience.
This background enabled them to adequate knapping to the different unforeseen events that could arise. This is one of the factors that produced technological variability.
As for the different management of raw materials, we observed that the cores exploited though discoide method (knapping documented both in quartz and basalt) show a high control of this method, which is not determined by the raw material quality.
On the contrary, levallois method can somehow be determined by a different stone type management, since it was just documented in basalt and chert but not in quartz. This fact gives us information about a different raw material management, indicating the complexity of the conceptual and operative outline. As technique control increased, it could not produce a different stone management. This hypothesis is supported on the documentation found in Avellaners site, in the Selva depression, where levallois knapped quartz were documented.
In conclusion, we identified the following facts that have an influence on the choice of one method or the other:
• Pebble volumentry, since it can initially determine the obliquity character of the exploitation
• Raw material crystalline construction
• Obliquity angle of the negative flakes in the core
• Volumetric conception during core exploitation
• Hierarchy of faces
Furthermore, we widely documented the internal variability of both methods, being able to identify the different knapping strategies that can be used during the exploitation. This interpretation was done thanks to operative systems, which enabled us to understand lithics artefacts through an interconnections network. In this way, we have been able to identify the different hominid decision phases when using one exploitation method
main objectives: to interpret the lithic assemblages and, overall, to define the types of
Neanderthal occupation of this level.
Romani rock-shelter is one of the most important Middle Palaeolithic sites of
Europe where the reconstruction of spatial organisation strategies is possible. Moreover,
the particular characteristics of this site, such as good sedimentation, well preservation
of combustion structures and wood negatives, make it ideal for this kind of studies.
The development of this thesis is based on three different studies:
- An archaeostratigraphic analysis to decompose the palimpsest of level O
- A technological analysis to identify the artefact’s variability
- A spatial analysis of lithic artefacts due to the refitting, which allowed to
reconstruct the spatial organisation of technical strategies and to understand the
spatial behaviour of Neanderthals’ groups.
The results provided from each study are the followings:
The level O is formed by three archaeolevels. The first archaeolevel Oa is the result
of a short-term residential settlement. This settlement is composed by 6 accumulations,
being each accumulation of particular functionality within the archaeolevel. We
interpreted these accumulations in the following way: two accumulations corresponding
to the remains of two domestic areas, one accumulation resulting from remains of a
bedroom or a resting room, two accumulations corresponding to the remains of knapping
and configuration areas, and one finale one resulting from an area with different material
affected by post-depositional processes as it was situated in an unprotected by rockshelter’s
cornice area and it was difficult to identify any specific functionality for this
area.
The second archaeolevel Ob is the result of various long-term settlements repeated
during the time and alternated by some short-term settlements. In this archaeolevel 6
accumulations were identified and an area with fewer remains. The analysis of refits
and their spatial distribution demonstrated the articulation of these accumulations and
the synchrony and diachrony between them. In one of these long-term settlements four
accumulations were identified that synchronically worked as three domestic areas with
clear evidence for interchange of lithic artefacts. One accumulation or main part of it
was, possibly, the result of hematite pebble fracturing event. Another accumulation and
a possible bedroom area were covered by successive settlements. Finally, the area with
fewer lithic remains and with a big number of hearths, allowed us to interpret this area
as being a specialised one related to cooking events.
These results helped us to obtain information about how the Neanderthals
organised and assembled these settlements and which kind of functionality they
developed in each of them. These data demonstrates the complexity of Neanderthal’s
behaviour, allowing to compare it with the behaviour of actual hunter-gatherers or with
those identified in the Upper Palaeolithic settlements of Homo Sapiens.
archaeological levels. These silos were excavated by removing all the filling that corresponded basically to sediment and debris from level 1. Datings carried out in the oldest level (level 3) situate the occupation during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition.