Study of the collection and interactions with human groups): We present the taxonomic and taphono... more Study of the collection and interactions with human groups): We present the taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the leopard sets (Panthera pardus) of the MIS 3 levels (“Cono Posterior”) from Llonin Cave (Asturias). In the basal level (VIII) there are one adult leopard remains without anthropogenic modifications, who died in the cave. This individual occupied the cave in alternation with other carnivores and Neanderthals. In the upper level (VI) an unusual set of leopard remains has been identified in association with some several stalactites and other fauna and lithic remains. These remains were arranged there by humans on purpose, and it can be related to the hunted-gatherer symbolic world from theCantabrian Upper Palaeolithic
ABSTRACT The chronometry of the Sidrón Cave (Piloña, Asturias). Problems and derived implications... more ABSTRACT The chronometry of the Sidrón Cave (Piloña, Asturias). Problems and derived implications): We expose the strategy used to date the archaeological record (mainly human Neanderthal bones and lithic industry) from the El Sidrón site, the results obtained, the discussion about them, and we highlight the problems that some results could generate in the interpretation of some special interpretative events (transition between Middle to Upper Palaeolithic, chronology of the end of Neanderthals…)
Until 2000 in Asturias we have little information about the silica raw material sour ces related ... more Until 2000 in Asturias we have little information about the silica raw material sour ces related with the prehistoric lithic industries. Since that time some work has been done trying to identify the origin and exploitation of those sources. We expose what is known from the geological and archaeological point of view, and we show the novelties relating the incoming area of one kind of flint, and the characterisation of a new type used in the prehistory of Asturias, whose movement through the region is really important and, also, it is present in other Cantabrian and bordering areas.
The subsistence strategies among hunter-gatherers during the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic i... more The subsistence strategies among hunter-gatherers during the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in Cantabrian Spain are discussed here. It is also presented the archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis ofthe macromammal remains from the western sector Level XIII (Early Aurignacian) of La Vina rock shelter (Asturias, Spain). A prey ranking dominated by red deer and chamois, followed by limited horse and ibex is visible during Aurignacian period and the taphonomic analysis confirms the anthropogenic origin of the assemblage. These results correlate with the other subsistence data from the Aurignacian and Mousterian levels at the site reflecting a similar palaeconomic behaviour for both Neanderthal and Anatomically Modern Human populations during the Middle Paleolithic and the Early Upper Palaeolithic.
espanolLos autores exponen las dificultades por las que hubo de pasar la respuesta a un ar-ticulo... more espanolLos autores exponen las dificultades por las que hubo de pasar la respuesta a un ar-ticulo, publicado en Science en 2018, en el que se afirmaba que el Neandertal era el autor de ciertas pinturas de tres cuevas espanolas, segun dataciones obtenidas por el metodo del uranio-torio. En esa respuesta, se explicitaban las distintas fuentes de error que pue-den conducir a fechas anormalmente envejecidas y se recapitulaban los argumentos ar-queologicos que contradicen dataciones tan antiguas. Muchos de los evaluadores de las revistas americanas prefirieron confiar en la arqueometria mas que en la Arqueologia europea, para ellos desconocida. Asi, el articulo circulo por las manos de numerosos re-visores, transcurriendo un ano y medio antes de que pudiera, por fin, salir en el Journal of Human Evolution. Este proceso ilustra la opacidad que subyace tras la aparente obje-tividad y neutralidad del procedimiento de evaluacion cientifica de revision por pares cuando se trata de contradecir...
En el yacimiento del Pleistoceno Superior de la cueva de El Sidrón, con una datación de ~49.000 k... more En el yacimiento del Pleistoceno Superior de la cueva de El Sidrón, con una datación de ~49.000 ka, conocido por sus numerosos restos fósiles de neandertales, se han recuperado restos de micromamíferos cuyo estudio detallado se realiza en este trabajo. La asociación determinada es la siguiente: Sorex araneus–Sorex coronatus, Neomys cf. fodiens, Talpa sp., Rhinolophus euryale-Rhinolophus mehelyi, Marmota cf. marmota, Eliomys quercinus, Glis glis, Arvicola terrestris, Chionomys nivalis, Microtus arvalis-Microtus agrestis, Microtus lusitanicus, Microtus oeconomus, Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus-Apodemus flavicollis y Oryctolagus cuniculus. Estos taxones están presentes en la fauna actual de Asturias y de la región cantábrica excepto Microtus oeconomus que desapareció de la península ibérica en tiempos históricos y actualmente está en regiones euroasiáticas más septentrionales. La fauna de micromamíferos en conjunto parece indicar un medio predominantemente de espacios abi...
Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the sca... more Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the scarcity of hominin fossils often impedes the understanding of which hominins occupied a site. Using targeted enrichment of mitochondrial DNA we show that cave sediments represent a rich source of ancient mammalian DNA that often includes traces of hominin DNA, even at sites and in layers where no hominin remains have been discovered. By automation-assisted screening of numerous sediment samples we detect Neandertal DNA in eight archaeological layers from four caves in Eurasia. In Denisova Cave we retrieved Denisovan DNA in a Middle Pleistocene layer near the bottom of the stratigraphy. Our work opens the possibility to detect the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where no skeletal remains are found.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010
The remains of 12 Neandertal individuals have been found at the El Sidrón site (Asturias, Spain),... more The remains of 12 Neandertal individuals have been found at the El Sidrón site (Asturias, Spain), consisting of six adults, three adolescents, two juveniles, and one infant. Archaeological, paleontological, and geological evidence indicates that these individuals represent all or part of a contemporaneous social group of Neandertals, who died at around the same time and later were buried together as a result of a collapse of an underground karst. We sequenced phylogenetically informative positions of mtDNA hypervariable regions 1 and 2 from each of the remains. Our results show that the 12 individuals stem from three different maternal lineages, accounting for seven, four, and one individual(s), respectively. Using a Y-chromosome assay to confirm the morphological determination of sex for each individual, we found that, although the three adult males carried the same mtDNA lineage, each of the three adult females carried different mtDNA lineages. These findings provide evidence to i...
Study of the collection and interactions with human groups): We present the taxonomic and taphono... more Study of the collection and interactions with human groups): We present the taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the leopard sets (Panthera pardus) of the MIS 3 levels (“Cono Posterior”) from Llonin Cave (Asturias). In the basal level (VIII) there are one adult leopard remains without anthropogenic modifications, who died in the cave. This individual occupied the cave in alternation with other carnivores and Neanderthals. In the upper level (VI) an unusual set of leopard remains has been identified in association with some several stalactites and other fauna and lithic remains. These remains were arranged there by humans on purpose, and it can be related to the hunted-gatherer symbolic world from theCantabrian Upper Palaeolithic
ABSTRACT The chronometry of the Sidrón Cave (Piloña, Asturias). Problems and derived implications... more ABSTRACT The chronometry of the Sidrón Cave (Piloña, Asturias). Problems and derived implications): We expose the strategy used to date the archaeological record (mainly human Neanderthal bones and lithic industry) from the El Sidrón site, the results obtained, the discussion about them, and we highlight the problems that some results could generate in the interpretation of some special interpretative events (transition between Middle to Upper Palaeolithic, chronology of the end of Neanderthals…)
Until 2000 in Asturias we have little information about the silica raw material sour ces related ... more Until 2000 in Asturias we have little information about the silica raw material sour ces related with the prehistoric lithic industries. Since that time some work has been done trying to identify the origin and exploitation of those sources. We expose what is known from the geological and archaeological point of view, and we show the novelties relating the incoming area of one kind of flint, and the characterisation of a new type used in the prehistory of Asturias, whose movement through the region is really important and, also, it is present in other Cantabrian and bordering areas.
The subsistence strategies among hunter-gatherers during the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic i... more The subsistence strategies among hunter-gatherers during the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in Cantabrian Spain are discussed here. It is also presented the archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis ofthe macromammal remains from the western sector Level XIII (Early Aurignacian) of La Vina rock shelter (Asturias, Spain). A prey ranking dominated by red deer and chamois, followed by limited horse and ibex is visible during Aurignacian period and the taphonomic analysis confirms the anthropogenic origin of the assemblage. These results correlate with the other subsistence data from the Aurignacian and Mousterian levels at the site reflecting a similar palaeconomic behaviour for both Neanderthal and Anatomically Modern Human populations during the Middle Paleolithic and the Early Upper Palaeolithic.
espanolLos autores exponen las dificultades por las que hubo de pasar la respuesta a un ar-ticulo... more espanolLos autores exponen las dificultades por las que hubo de pasar la respuesta a un ar-ticulo, publicado en Science en 2018, en el que se afirmaba que el Neandertal era el autor de ciertas pinturas de tres cuevas espanolas, segun dataciones obtenidas por el metodo del uranio-torio. En esa respuesta, se explicitaban las distintas fuentes de error que pue-den conducir a fechas anormalmente envejecidas y se recapitulaban los argumentos ar-queologicos que contradicen dataciones tan antiguas. Muchos de los evaluadores de las revistas americanas prefirieron confiar en la arqueometria mas que en la Arqueologia europea, para ellos desconocida. Asi, el articulo circulo por las manos de numerosos re-visores, transcurriendo un ano y medio antes de que pudiera, por fin, salir en el Journal of Human Evolution. Este proceso ilustra la opacidad que subyace tras la aparente obje-tividad y neutralidad del procedimiento de evaluacion cientifica de revision por pares cuando se trata de contradecir...
En el yacimiento del Pleistoceno Superior de la cueva de El Sidrón, con una datación de ~49.000 k... more En el yacimiento del Pleistoceno Superior de la cueva de El Sidrón, con una datación de ~49.000 ka, conocido por sus numerosos restos fósiles de neandertales, se han recuperado restos de micromamíferos cuyo estudio detallado se realiza en este trabajo. La asociación determinada es la siguiente: Sorex araneus–Sorex coronatus, Neomys cf. fodiens, Talpa sp., Rhinolophus euryale-Rhinolophus mehelyi, Marmota cf. marmota, Eliomys quercinus, Glis glis, Arvicola terrestris, Chionomys nivalis, Microtus arvalis-Microtus agrestis, Microtus lusitanicus, Microtus oeconomus, Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus-Apodemus flavicollis y Oryctolagus cuniculus. Estos taxones están presentes en la fauna actual de Asturias y de la región cantábrica excepto Microtus oeconomus que desapareció de la península ibérica en tiempos históricos y actualmente está en regiones euroasiáticas más septentrionales. La fauna de micromamíferos en conjunto parece indicar un medio predominantemente de espacios abi...
Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the sca... more Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the scarcity of hominin fossils often impedes the understanding of which hominins occupied a site. Using targeted enrichment of mitochondrial DNA we show that cave sediments represent a rich source of ancient mammalian DNA that often includes traces of hominin DNA, even at sites and in layers where no hominin remains have been discovered. By automation-assisted screening of numerous sediment samples we detect Neandertal DNA in eight archaeological layers from four caves in Eurasia. In Denisova Cave we retrieved Denisovan DNA in a Middle Pleistocene layer near the bottom of the stratigraphy. Our work opens the possibility to detect the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where no skeletal remains are found.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010
The remains of 12 Neandertal individuals have been found at the El Sidrón site (Asturias, Spain),... more The remains of 12 Neandertal individuals have been found at the El Sidrón site (Asturias, Spain), consisting of six adults, three adolescents, two juveniles, and one infant. Archaeological, paleontological, and geological evidence indicates that these individuals represent all or part of a contemporaneous social group of Neandertals, who died at around the same time and later were buried together as a result of a collapse of an underground karst. We sequenced phylogenetically informative positions of mtDNA hypervariable regions 1 and 2 from each of the remains. Our results show that the 12 individuals stem from three different maternal lineages, accounting for seven, four, and one individual(s), respectively. Using a Y-chromosome assay to confirm the morphological determination of sex for each individual, we found that, although the three adult males carried the same mtDNA lineage, each of the three adult females carried different mtDNA lineages. These findings provide evidence to i...
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