La Güelga Cave

Güelga Cave's archaeological sequence ranges almost all Upper Palaeolithic. Up to now, research efforts in the site have be en concentrated on its Magdalenian deposits. These levels have provided an interesting mobile art collection. They seem to record seasonal human settlement. From an archaeological point ofview and in classical terms, Güelga Cave Magdalenian levels can be defmed as Facies Juyo Cantabrian Lower Magdalenian. Radiocarbon dates are located at the top of the Lower Magdalenian chronological range, when Middle Magdalenian is developing in other Cantabrian are as. In Central Cantabrian Spain, the Lower Magdalenian (Facies Juyo) Iinks with Upper Magdalenian in absence of Middle Magdalenian. It seems necessary to change our conception of archaeological Magdalenian phases or facies, emphasizing functional aspects.

La grotte de la Güelga (Narciendi, Cangas de Onís; Asturias, Espagne) et le Magdalénien inferieur cantabrique

La séquence archéologique de la Grotte de La Güelga comprend presque tout le Paléolithique supérieur. Les recherches qui ont été développés a La Güelga depuis 1990 se sont penchées tout particulierement sur les niveaux magdaléniens, Oll on a observé une occuparioil apparemment saisonniere, avec une collection d'art mobilier tres intéressante. D 'aprés l'analyse de l'industrie lithique, ces niveaux sont inclus dans le Magdalénien inférieur cantabrique, dans la variante «Facies Juyo» selon la terminologie classique. Les dates 14C sont placées au top chronologique du Magdalénien inférieur. A cette époque, le Magdalénien moyen était déja en train de se développer dans d'autres régions de la Comiche Cantabrique. En I'absence du Magdalénien moyen, la variante «Facies Juyo» du Magdalénien inférieur se rattache avec le Magdalénien supérieur dans la zone centrale de la Comiche Cantabrique. II faudrait échanger les conceptions chronologiques des phases et de facies magdaléniénnes pour aboutir aun concept plus fonctionnel. A la suivante de cette conception, nous avons realisé des travaux dans la Grotte de La Güelga en établissant des liens entre les résultats de nos fouilles et les données provenentes d'autres sites du bassin du Sella, unité géographique qui nous parait également avoir fonctioné comme une unité culturel.

The archaeological sequence of the Palaeolithic site of La Güelga apparently shows an interstratification of Aurignacian between the Mousterian and Châtelperronian layers, a sequence which disagrees with the stratigraphic model for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in SW-Europe. We analyzed the witness section of the interior sector in archaeological zone D using micromorphology and collected new radiocarbon dates for the Aurignacian and presumably Châtelperronian levels in order to provide detailed sediment descriptions of the site and scrutinize the presumed interstratification. Thin sections from Mousterian levels 8 and 9 show microstratification, signs of trampling and preferential sub-horizontal orientation of elongated particles. These features are less strongly developed in the Aurignacian deposit of levels 5 and 6 and are lacking in the presumably Châtelperronian ones of levels 1 and 2. The deposits of the latter show other features of reworked slope deposits such ...

This paper introduces a bird bone fragment, decorated with lineal incisions. This ítem, found in the course of the archaeological works developed in the Güelga Cave (Asturias), belongs to de Early Magdalenian period. The paralells
point out that this kind of decoration recurs in the Cantabrian Región along this Palaeolithic phase, so it could be a characteristic artwork at this time. The Identification of the item as a flute fragment allows us make some reflections about Palaeolithic musical Instruments.

Presentamos un tubo de hueso largo de ave, decorado con series de incisiones lineales. Esta pieza pertenece al Magdaleniense inferior de la Cueva de la Güelga. Los paralelos indican que este tema es repetitivo en esa fase paleolítica en el Cantábrico, por lo que pudiera constituir un motivo característico. Su interpretación como flauta nos permite una serie de reflexiones sobre los instrumentos musicales paleolíticos en general y sobre este tipo de piezas en particular.

This paper introduces a preliminary report of La Güelga Cave Magdalenian Iithic industry. To be exact, the assemblage uncovered in Zona A Level 3. Most typical traits ofthis assemblage are: (1) plentiful bladelet group,
close to 50%; (2) a relative equality between end-scrapers and burins, and (3) end-scrapers dominated by thick morphologies. This Iithic assemblage is associated with abone and antIer industry plentiful of sagaies with square and tríangular section and deep longitudinal incisions, and single bevel base sagaies with circular section. All these characteristic traits allow us define this archaeologicaI collection as Cantabrian Lower Magdalenien Facies Juyo.

Se ofrece un avance al estudio de la industria lítica magdaleniense de la cueva de la GÜelga. Concretamente, el conjunto exhumado en las diferentes capas del Nivel 3 de la "Zona A". Los rasgos más sobresalientes son: (1)
repertorio microlaminar cercano en tomo al 50%; (2) equilibrio relativo entre raspadores y buriles y (3) raspadores dominados por morfologías espesas. A este conjunto lítico se le asocia una industria ósea dominada por azagayas de sección cuadrangular y triangular con incisiones longitudinales profundas y azagayas de sección circular monobiseladas. Características todas ellas que permiten definir el depósito como Magdaleniense Inferior cantábrico Facies Juyo.

The archaeological sequence of the Palaeolithic site of La Güelga apparently shows an interstratification of Aurignacian between the Mousterian and Châtelperronian layers, a sequence which disagrees with the stratigraphic model for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in SW-Europe. We analyzed the witness section of the interior sector in archaeological zone D using micromorphology and collected new radiocarbon dates for the Aurignacian and presumably Châtelperronian levels in order to provide detailed sediment descriptions of the site and scrutinize the presumed interstratification. Thin sections from Mousterian levels 8 and 9 show microstratification, signs of trampling and preferential sub-horizontal orientation of elongated particles. These features are less strongly developed in the Aurignacian deposit of levels 5 and 6 and are lacking in the presumably Châtelperronian ones of levels 1 and 2. The deposits of the latter show other features of reworked slope deposits such as a randomized distribution of limestone clasts. Radiocarbon dating on bone samples from level 2 places this layer to between ~41.5 and 45 ka cal BP, hence older than Aurignacian level 5, dated to between ~35.5 and 41.5 ka cal BP. Comparative dating of bones with and without ultrafiltration pretreatment conducted in two different laboratories yielded results in excellent agreement. Overall, the micromorphological observations and new radiocarbon ages strongly suggest that the few finds of presumably Châtelperronian affinity and sediments of levels 1 and 2 were transported by slope processes into the shelter. © 2018, Instituto Geologico y Minero de Espana. All rights reserved.

La Güelga Cave (Cangas de Onís, Asturias) has provided an interesting Upper Palaeolithic sequence, in which the lower Magdalenian levels highlight because their chronostratigraphical position, their lithic asemblages and their mobile art collection. The present paper tries to make known La Güelga Cave's archaeological record, integrating it in the current discussion on the identity and definition of the traditional Lower and Middle Magdalenian and the step or transition of one to another in the Cantabrian Region. The absolute dates, as well as the lithic and bone asemblages, ubicate La Güelga Cave's level 3 in that transitíonal crossroad. The extraordinary mobile art asemblage provided for those occupations allows us to establish more significative paralIels than the merely industrial. Next to the above mentioned, the study of the faunal remains allows us to establish the seasonal character of La Güelga Cave Magdalenian occupation, what reinforces the hypothesis of territorial relationship with coastal sites of resembling attributes and introduces a new variable in the diferenciation herween coastal and inland sites during the Lower/Middle Magda!enian.

La cueva de la Güelga (Cangas de Onís, Asturias), excavada a principios de los años 90 ha proporcionado una interesante secuencia del Paleolítico superior, en la cual destacan los niveles magdalenienses inferiores por su posición cronoestratigráfica, el contenido industrial y la colección de arte mueble que han proporcionado La comunicación que presentamos intenta dar a conocer tales contenidos integrándolos en la discusión actual sobre la identidad y definición del Magdaleniense inferior y medio tradicionales y el paso o transición de uno a otro en la comisa cantábrica. Las dataciones absolutas, así como la industria lítica y ósea, sitúan el nivel 3 de la Güelga en esa encrucijada transicional. La extraordinaria colección de arte mueble que ha proporcionado esa ocupación permite establecer paralelos más significativos que los puramente industriales, además de presentar algunas piezas inéditas. Junto a lo anterior, el estudio de la fauna permite establecer el carácter estacional de la ocupación magdaleniense en la Güelga, lo que refuerza las hipótesis de relación territorial con yacimientos de la costa de parecidas características e introduce una variable nueva en la diferenciación de yacimientos costeros y del interior durante el magdaleniense inferior/ medio.

La Güelga (Cangas de Onís, Asturias) es un conjunto de cuevas y abrigos que marcan las variaciones de perfil experimentadas por el curso de lo que actualmente es el arroyo de La Brava. Ocupadas en diferentes periodos del Paleolíticon superior, hoy día estas cavidades dan forma a un complejo cárstico de gran interés espeleológico. En las diferentes cuevas y abrigos se han podido documentar restos arqueológicos de ocupaciones que pueden datarse en el Auriñaciense, el Solutrense y el Magdaleniense.

Presentamos un tubo de hueso largo de ave, decorado con series de incisiones lineales. Esta pieza pertenece al Magdaleniense inferior de la Cueva de la Güelga. Los paralelos indican que este tema es repetitivo en esa fase paleolítica en el Cantábrico, por lo que pudiera constituir un motivo característico. Su interpretación como flauta nos permite una serie de reflexiones sobre los instrumentos musicales paleolíticos en general y sobre este tipo de piezas en particular.This paper introduces a bird bone fragment, decorated with lineal incisions. This ítem, found in the course of the archaeological works developed in the Güelga Cave (Asturias), belongs to de Early Magdalenian period. The paralells point out that this kind of decoration recurs in the Cantabrian Región along this Palaeolithic phase, so it could be a characteristic artwork at this time. The Identification of the item as a flute fragment allows us make some reflections about Palaeolithic musical Instruments.

Presentamos un tubo de hueso largo de ave, decorado con series de incisiones lineales. Esta pieza pertenece al Magdaleniense inferior de la Cueva de la Güelga. Los paralelos indican que este tema es repetitivo en esa fase paleolítica en el Cantábrico, por lo que pudiera constituir un motivo característico. Su interpretación como flauta nos permite una serie de reflexiones sobre los instrumentos musicales paleolíticos en general y sobre este tipo de piezas en particular.This paper introduces a bird bone fragment, decorated with lineal incisions. This ítem, found in the course of the archaeological works developed in the Güelga Cave (Asturias), belongs to de Early Magdalenian period. The paralells point out that this kind of decoration recurs in the Cantabrian Región along this Palaeolithic phase, so it could be a characteristic artwork at this time. The Identification of the item as a flute fragment allows us make some reflections about Palaeolithic musical Instruments.

The cave of La Güelga (Asturias, Northern Spain) is located in the eastern region of the Asturian Massif within the carboniferous limestone of the Calizas de Montaña. A small river runs through the cave that has shaped by erosion chambers and terraces at the cave entrance. They form a large rock shelter. In one terrace (D Area), an Upper Pleistocene deposit containing archaeological and palaeontological remains from the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition has been excavated. In the lower part (Area A) of the rock shelter a Magdalenian deposit has been excavated. Close to this in Area C Magdalenian and Solutrean layers are superposed. The poster presents results of the archaeological research in La Güelga cave, carried out between 1989 and 2012. They comprise interesting data (faunal, lithics and mobile art) of the late hunter-gatherer groups in northern Spain and important data on the MP to UP transition in the northern Iberian Peninsula (Menéndez et al. 2014).

The cave of La Güelga (Asturias, Northern Spain) is located in the eastern region of the Asturian Massif within the carboniferous limestone of the Calizas de Montaña. A small river runs through the cave that has shaped by erosion chambers and terraces at the cave entrance. They form a large rock shelter. In one terrace (D Area), an Upper Pleistocene deposit containing archaeological and palaeontological remains from the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition has been excavated. In the lower part (Area A) of the rock shelter a Magdalenian deposit has been excavated. Close to this in Area C Magdalenian and Solutrean layers are superposed. The poster presents results of the archaeological research in La Güelga cave, carried out between 1989 and 2012. They comprise interesting data (faunal, lithics and mobile art) of the late hunter-gatherer groups in northern Spain and important data on the MP to UP transition in the northern Iberian Peninsula (Menéndez et al. 2014).