Joan Emili Aura Tortosa

The identification of unarticulated human remains with anthropic marks in archaeological contexts normally involves solving two issues: a general one associated with the analysis and description of the anthropic manipulation marks, and another with regard to the interpretation of their purpose. In this paper we present new evidence of anthropophagic behaviour amongst hunter-gatherer groups of the Mediterranean Mesolithic. A total of 30 human remains with anthropic manipulation marks have been found in the Mesolithic layers of Coves de Santa Maira (Castell de Castells, Alicante, Spain), dating from ca. 10.2–9 cal ky BP. We describe the different marks identified on both human and faunal remains at the site (lithic, tooth, percussion and fire marks on bone cortex). As well as describing these marks, and considering that both human and faunal remains at the site present similar depositional and taphonomic features , this paper also contextualizes them within the archaeological context and subsistence patterns described for Mesolithic groups in the region. We cannot entirely rule out the possibility that these practices may be the result of periodic food stress suffered by the human populations. These anthropophagic events at the site coincide with a cultural change at the regional Epipalaeolithic-Mesolithic transition.

The identification of unarticulated human remains with anthropic marks in archaeological contexts normally involves solving two issues: a general one associated with the analysis and description of the anthropic manipulation marks, and another with regard to the interpretation of their purpose. In this paper we present new evidence of anthropophagic behaviour amongst hunter-gatherer groups of the Mediterranean Mesolithic. A total of 30 human remains with anthropic manipulation marks have been found in the Mesolithic layers of Coves de Santa Maira (Castell de Castells, Alicante, Spain), dating from ca. 10.2–9 cal ky BP. We describe the different marks identified on both human and faunal remains at the site (lithic, tooth, percussion and fire marks on bone cortex). As well as describing these marks, and considering that both human and faunal remains at the site present similar depositional and taphonomic features , this paper also contextualizes them within the archaeological context and subsistence patterns described for Mesolithic groups in the region. We cannot entirely rule out the possibility that these practices may be the result of periodic food stress suffered by the human populations. These anthropophagic events at the site coincide with a cultural change at the regional Epipalaeolithic-Mesolithic transition.

Las excavaciones arqueológicas llevadas a cabo por el Profesor Francisco Jordá Cerdá en la Sala de la Mina de la cueva de Nerja (Málaga) han posibilitado la documentación de 19 niveles con abundantes restos malacológicos datados a finales del Pleistoceno superior y comienzos del Holoceno. En este trabajo presentamos el estudio de los restos de moluscos terrestres y dulceacuícolas documentados en los niveles del Paleolítico superior-Epipaleolítico (niveles NM19 a NM13). De los 11 taxones de gasterópodos terrestres, la especie dominante es Sphincterochila cariosula hispanica (Westerlund 1886). Los demás, ordenados por su abundancia de mayor a menor, son: Iberus gualtieranus (Linnaeus 1758) morfo marmoratus, Iberus gualtieranus morfo alonensis, Rumina decollata (Linnaeus 1758), Caracollina lenticula (Michaud 1831), Xerotricha madritensis (Rambur 1868), Ferussacia follicula (Gmelin 1791), Testacella haliotidea Draparnaud 1801 y Cochlicella barbara (Linnaeus 1758). Los taxones dulceacuícolas encontrados son Melanopsis praemorsa (Linnaeus 1758), el más abundante, y Theodoxus fluviatilis (Linnaeus 1758), con un solo ejemplar. La presencia de los tres taxones de mayor tamaño (Iberus gualtieranus morfo alonensis, Iberus gualtieranus morfo marmoratus y Sphincterochila cariosula hispanica), sería consecuencia de su utilización como alimento por el ser humano. Las demás especies habrían llegado hasta la cueva de forma fortuita. De los patrones de abundancia de estas especies por niveles de antigüedad se deduce que se produjeron tres cambios del patrón alimenticio, quizá asociados a la variación de la distancia entre el yacimiento y la costa consecuencia de la alternancia de periodos fríos y cálidos indicados en la cronoestratigrafía.

This paper presents the results obtained from the study of the bivalves recovered during the archaeological excavations in the Vestíbulo chamber of Nerja Cave (M alaga, southern Spain) carried out by Professor Francisco Jord a Cerd a between 1983 and 1987. These excavations recovered the archaeological record of the sequence from the Gravettian to the Neolithic. The mollusc remains from the Vestíbulo chamber of Nerja Cave record constitute an extraordinary collection, composed of more than 136000 specimens which correspond to more than 78 kg. In this work, only marine bivalves were studied. The bivalve remains are more than 124000 specimens, corresponding to more than 65 kg from 31 taxa. More than 115000 of these specimens (59 kg) are derived from the shell midden dated to GS 1. The archaeological record of Nerja Cave is distinguished by the abundant presence of human-provided marine and continental molluscs with a high presence of bivalves. Marine bivalves increased clearly from the LGM to the mid-Holocene, and the human inhabitants of the cave accumulated an important shell midden in the contact between MIS 2 and MIS 1.

A total of 167 plates of two whale barnacle species (Tubicinella majorLamarck, 1802 and Cetopirus complanatus (Mörch, 1853)) have been found in the Upper Magdalenian layers of Nerja Cave, Mina Chamber (Maro, Málaga, southern Spain). This is the first occurrence of these species in a prehistoric site. Both species are specific to the southern right whale Eubalena australis, today endemic in the Southern Hemisphere. Because of Antarctic sea-ice expansion during the Last Glacial Period, these whales could have migrated to the Northern Hemisphere, and reached southern Spain. Whale barnacles indicate that maritime-oriented forager human groups found stranded whales on the coast and, because of the size and weight of the large bones, transported only certain pieces (skin, blubber and meat) to the caves where they were consumed.

""A MEDITERRANEAN PERSPECTIVE OF THE NEOLITHIZATION PROCESS. THE CAVE OF NERJA IN THE CONTEXT OF ANDALUSIA (SPAIN)
Abstract:
This paper offers an overview for the Early Neolithic of the southern coast of Andalusia (Spain). Analyses of materials recovered during the 1979-87 excavations in Nerja cave by professor Francisco Jordá Cerdá, including new radiocarbon dates on domestic taxa, allow us to examine the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. Paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic data (stratigraphy and bioarcheological data) combined with archaeological data (ornaments, bone tools, lithics, and ceramics were analysed) to provide a regional perspective on the neolithisation of the western Mediterranean. There is an apparent 500-year gap between occupations by the last coastal foragers and the earliest Neolithic farmers, and no evidence is found to suggest a local Neolithization. Our approach assumes a diffusion process of the Neolithic.

Resumen:
Este trabajo ofrece un balance sobre la neolitización de las costa meridional de Andalucía (España). El estudio de los materiales recuperados en las excavaciones dirigidas por el profesor Francisco Jordá Cerdá entre 1979-87 en la cueva de Nerja y la obtención de nuevas dataciones radiométricas sobre especies domésticas permiten una valoración sobre la transición Mesolítico-Neolítico. Los datos paleoambientales y paleoeconómicos (estratigrafía y bioarqueología) y arqueológicos (producciones líticas, óseas, adornos y cerámica) son valorados a la hora de plantear un análisis sobre la expansión del Neolítico con una perspectiva mediterránea. Los resultados indican que existe un vacío de datos de 500 años entre los últimos cazadores mesolíticos y los primeros agricultores y que nada indica que el Neolítico fuera un proceso local. Nuestra perspectiva asume un proceso de difusión del Neolítico.""

Se analiza el conjunto de dataciones sobre hueso humano disponible para el País Valenciano entre el final del Paleolítico y el Neolítico medio, y más concretamente las correspondientes a individuos del Neolítico antiguo con el fin de caracterizar de forma más precisa el ritual de enterramiento de esta etapa entre los ríos Xúquer y Vinalopó. La distribución geográfica de los yacimientos que contienen restos humanos y cerámica cardial señala la presencia de diferentes comunidades neolíticas que, ya desde un inicio, ocupan de forma ordenada el territorio. Por el momento, vista la información global en secuencia cronológica, se detectan tanto coincidencias como divergencias en la elección de los lugares de enterramiento en las etapas anteriores y posteriores a la aparición y el colapso del modelo de comunidades neolíticas cardiales.