Promontoria Monográfica 16

Actas das IV Jornadas de Jovens em Investigação Arqueológica - JIA 2011

Vol. II

(Faro, 11 a 14 de Maio de 2011)

Editores Científicos: João Cascalheira Célia Gonçalves

Núcleo de Arqueologia e Paleoecologia Departamento de Artes e Humanidades

Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais (Universidade do Algarve)

Universidade do Algarve FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS HUMANAS E SOCIAIS Departamento de Artes e Humanidades Núcleo de Arqueologia e Paleoecologia

Promontoria Monográfica 16 Editor: Núcleo de Arqueologia e Paleoecologia e Departamento de Artes e Humanidades Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais Universidade do Algarve Campus de Gambelas 8005-139 Faro promontoria@ualg.pt Coordenação Editorial: Nuno Ferreira Bicho António Faustino Carvalho IMPRESSÃO: Tipografia Tavirense, Lda. TIRAGEM: 280 exemplares ISBN: 978-989-97666-2-4 Depósito Legal: 342265/l2 APOIOS:

Neanderthal subsistence change around 55 kyr

Maria Joana Gabucio1 Amèlia Bargalló2

IPHES, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social

C/Escorxador s/n, 43003 Tarragona, Spain Area de Prehistoria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002 Tarragona, Spain

1mjgabucio@iphes.cat 2amelia@prehistoria.urv.cat

ABSTRACT The Abric Romaní archaeological site (Capellades, Barcelona, Spain) is one of the most important Upper Pleistocene archaeological sites in Western Europe. This is due to the extensive stratigraphic sequence and high sedimentary resolution, which makes it one of the key sites for understanding the cultural and social behaviour of Neanderthal groups. This article presents zooarchaeological, taphonomical, technological and spatial distribution data analysis of level O from Abric Romaní site. These data allow us to obtain information about patterns of acquisition, management and consumption of natural resources and spatial organization of intra-site activities. The approximate date of this level is 55 Kyr, a period which corresponds to one of the most arid phases within the glacial trend of this period, named pollen phase 3. Level O has been excavated since 2004 until today. It includes an area of 300m2, except a small part which is currently under/ or excavated excavation. Based on the data obtained during the field work and on the preliminary results of the analysis, we have observed some differences in level O in comparison with the other levels of the sequence. These differences are related to a change in procurement, management and spatial organization of Neanderthal groups. This study allows us to address a hypothesis of a cultural change in the internal dynamics of the Abric Romaní site around 55 000 years ago.

KEYWORDS Intra-site activities; Subsistence change; Lithics tools; Faunal remains

INTRODUCTION

Abric Romaní is located in Capellades, 30km from

Barcelona, at the Cinglera del Capelló, a cliff situated on a travertinic massif (FIGURE 1). The site orientation is NW and is situated 350m above sea level and 60m from the actual river bed, the geographic coordinates are 1º41’30’’ E and 41º32’ N. Abric Romaní is placed in a strategic position, connecting the central Catalan basin with the Penedes basin through the Prelitoral basin (FIGURE 1). Consequently, it offers a good opportunity for the application of such an integrated approach. The stratigraphic sequence comprises 20m of well-stratified travertine sediments. The archaeological levels (approximately 25) appear as thin layers interbedded between the travertine platforms. This sequence has been dated by U-series at between 40 and 70 ky BP (Bischoff et al. 1988). The deposits are characterized by travertinic layers, fallen blocks and silts. Since its discovery in 1909 by Amador Romaní, the site has been excavated in different phases. Nowadays, the archaeological levels are excavated over large surfaces, up to 300m².

Except the uppermost level (level A), all the archaeological levels correspond to the Middle Palaeolithic (Carbonell et al. 1996). Pollen analyses indicate the succession of five climatic phases, between

the final phase of OIS 5 and the Hengelo Interstadial (Burjachs & Julià 1994). On the other hand, combustion activity areas and wood imprints are documented within in this sequence. Specifically in this site more than two hundred hearths and natural and modified wood imprints have been found. Regarding the lithic remains from this site we can document two strategies of exploitation: the discoid and Levallois methods. Faunal assemblages are dominated by red deer and horse remains, followed by other ungulates (Bos primigenius, for example).Carnivore remains are scarce. Taphonomic and zooarchaeological analyses clearly indicate that humans are the main accumulation agent of these assemblages (Cáceres 2002).

MATERIALS AND METHODS The level O is dated by U-series around 55 kyr.

Excavated since 2004, it has so far provided 31 240 remains. Among these remains there are: lithics (18 303), faunal remains (7729), charcoals (3524), wood imprints (107), and combustion structures (19). The current excavation surface reaches 300m². This allows to study the spatial distribution of the remains.

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An archaeostratigraphic study has shown that there are, at least, two sublevels: Oa and Ob. However, in some areas of the site it has not been possible to differentiate these two sublevels. For this reason, in these areas the archaeological layer has received the provisional name "sublevel O“. Subsequent studies will try to clarify the relationships between these areas and the sublevels Oa and Ob.

The aim of this article is first, to identify the patterns of acquisition, management, and consumption of natural resources and spatial organization of intra-site activities. Secondly, the subsistence strategies and spatial management of Neanderthals at the Abric Romaní level O will be characterized.

METHODOLOGY

All recovered faunal remains were analyzed anatomically, taxonomically and taphonomically. Whenever possible, we have specified the laterality (left or right), the portion and the estimated age at death for each remain. The unidentified bones are grouped in weight sizes, following the modified criteria established by Bunn (1986): 1) very small size (<20kg); 2) small size (100-20kg); 3) medium size (300-100kg); 4) large size (1000-300kg). From this identification, we have quantified the remains by calculating NR (Number of Remains), MNE (Minimum Number of Elements), MNI (Minimum Number of Individuals) and %survivorship (ISu) (Brain 1981; Lyman 1994). This has allowed us to study skeletal part representation.

Alterations on bone surfaces were observed using both macroscopic and microscopic techniques (Olympus SZ11 stereoscopic and ESEM FEI QUANTA 600). Burning patterns, intentional bone breakage, cutmarks, carnivore toothmarks, water abrasion, root etching and cementation are the most common damages. To identify and characterize these modifications we used the criteria published by Binford (1981), Villa & Mahieu (1991), Lyman (1994), Stiner (1994) and Cáceres (2002). In order to understand the implications of these alterations, we recorded their degree and location. Then, we sequenced these modifications by taking into account the overlap between them.

The lithic assemblages were analyzed using the Analytical Logical System (ASL) (Carbonell 1992). The study of spatial analysis and refitting provides essential data to reconstruct the spatial organisation strategies of the Neanderthals groups in the rock-shelter. The assemblages are mainly situated around the hearths, and the materials associated are lithic industry, faunal assemblages and vegetal remains. To The archeostratigraphic analysis was done with the program the Surfer Software.

RESULTS

Faunal remains At Level O of Abric Romaní, 7729 faunal remains

have been recovered, 483 belonging to sublevel Oa, 1491 to sublevel Ob, and 5755 to sublevel O. Due to the large number of remains that could not be classified to a sublevel, we will present the results of all faunal remains together (FIGURE 2). However, when the results differ between sublevels, these will be specified in the text.

Cervus elaphus, Bos primigenius and Equus ferus are the most abundant taxa. Another ungulate, Stephanorhinus hemitoechus, was also recovered at sublevel O but in lower numbers. There is an individual of Felis silvestris, also at sublevel O, very well preserved and partly in anatomical connection. Finally, leporids and birds were also recorded. For all identified taxa, adult individuals are the most common, although younger and older animals have also been documented. Considering skeletal part representation, % survivorship shows a dominance of cranial and limb bones, whereas axial bones are almost absent (specially in large size animals). Phalanges are also very scarce, except in the case of very small size animals.

Level O presents a high rate of bone breakage. In fact, 65,87% of the remains are shorter than 2cm. The breakage patterns indicate that the bones are mainly broken green. In addition, numerous diagnostic elements of anthropogenic breakage, like impact flakes and percussion notches, are identified (25,88% at Oa, 11,27 at Ob and 12,18 at O). These diagnostics elements are located mostly on long bones of medium and large size animals.

Cutmarks are present in similar proportions in all sublevels. Incisions are the most common type of cutmark, although scrape marks and chop marks were also identified. It has been possible to identify different activities related to the removal of soft tissues: skinning and viscera removal, defleshing, etc. These evidences are present in animals of all sizes and are more abundant in long bone diaphysis and methaphysis. Leporids, rhinos and birds are the only animals that do not show cutmarks.

Burning affected more than half of the faunal record, being a little more prominent in sublevels Ob (51,31%) and O (57,78%). Several thermoalteration degrees and double colorations, both on the same side as on opposite sides, are documented.

In contrast to the strong human impact, the activity of carnivores has been recognized on a few remains. Rodents also modified some bone surfaces (especially at Oa, where it affects 2,48% of the remains). Water abrasion, in the form of rounded and polished surface, is more common, particularly at Oa (41,41%). However, lower degrees are more frequent in all sublevels. The presence of root-etching and cementation is also more significant at sublevel Oa (32,92 % and 45,76% respectively). In contrast, manganese oxide pigmentation, although generally in insignificant portion, is more abundant at Ob (12,74 %).

The overlap between different alterations indicates that humans were the first agent to modify faunal

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assemblages. Then, carnivores could access to the remains. After deposition, plant activity and water activity took place, followed by rodents’ alteration, cementation and manganese oxide pigmentation. After burial, however, the sedimentary conditions were favorable at all sublevels.

Lithic remains

In level O, 18 333 lithic remains were recovered (about 3810 remains larger than 1cm), 1695 belonging to sublevel Oa, 2789 to sublevel Ob, and 13 849 to sublevel O. The analysis of the lithic debris recovered from sublevel O does not indicate any difference. It is thus not possible to differentiate sublevels in this section. Several hundred microflakes have been recovered by sieving the sediment.

Flint of various types and qualities is the main raw material used in level O (86,35%). Limestone, agate, quartzite, quartz are also present in the lithic assemblages. These percentages are similar to those recorded in others levels of the Abric Romaní sequence (FIGURE 3).

Considering the knapping products from level O, cores and retouched tools are scarce (FIGURE 3). Nevertheless, all artefact categories are represented in the whole assemblage. Flakes and flake fragments are clearly dominant in the lithic assemblage. Cores display two opposed surfaces separated by an intersection plane, as that prevailed throughout the Middle Paleolithic. The core reduction was mainly characterized by hierarchical strategies (Levallois method). The knapping products are of little medium size and there is no laminar tendency. The retouched tools are essentially side-scrapers, some denticulates and notches. Mainly flint was exploited during the reduction and configuration sequence.

Intra-site spatial organization

The vertical plots of archaeological materials are an effective method for identifying the temporal formation dynamics of the stratigraphic levels (Canals et al. 2003); even though in some cases it can not be ruled out that the identified accumulation horizons correspond to palimpsests (Vaquero et al. 2008). This can be clearly observed on a vertical plot of the archaeological remains.

Level O is a palimpsest. We have realized vertical projections in order to understand the successive occupations at Abric Romani and to identify the Neanderthals occupations at level O (FIGURE 4). The vertical plots have shown two sublevels, separated by thin sterile layers. The sterile layers define and preserved sublevels. The identification of sublevels, along with the location of the hearths (Vallverdú in press), will allow us to identify the different domestic areas.

DISCUSSION

Natural resources acquisition Zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis carried

out by the authors suggests that Neanderthals are responsible for the accumulations of large mammals in level O. Several evidences indicate that humans had a

primary and early access to animals: the scarcity of remains modified by carnivores, the age at death, the identification of cutmarks related with viscera removal, the abundance of skeletal parts with higher nutritive values, the location of cutmarks and diagnostic elements of anthropogenic breakage on the diaphysis and metaphyses of these elements, and the overlap of cutmarks on tooth marks (only in two bones). The reiteration of this primary and early access, coupled with the existence of a few stone points, suggest turning an active access to animal carcasses. Consequently, our results support hunting as the most used technique to obtain these animals (Bunn & Ezzo 1993).

The principal lithic raw materials used in level O come from local and semi-local areas, about 15-25km away from the site (FIGURE 5). Flint of different types is the main raw material used in level O, although their provisioning areas are the furthest away from the site. The other raw materials employed could be collected around the site. The lithic raw materials were introduced into the site in different reduction stadiums: blocs or pebbles, tested cores, cores in initial or advanced moments of the reduction sequence.

The provisioning with wood is immediate, whereas the following species have been collected: Pinus sylvestris, Prunus sp. and Juniperus sp..

Transport Skeletal part representation for ungulates from level O

is the result of a differential transport to the rockshelter. After acquisition, small prey could be carried complete, but large ones had to be first dismembered and then partially transported. For this reason, limb bones are very abundant and axial bones are rare for large size animals. Other possible agents of anatomic biases, such as differential preservation or carnivore ravaging, have been studied previously and discarded as major causes of the observed bias (Gabucio 2007). The acquisition of lithic raw material is local and extends between 5 and 30km. This data indicates an economizing strategy for the transportation of raw materials (the cores are introduced into the site with low percentage of cortex).

Management and consumption of natural resources Once inside the rockshelter, the carcasses were

processed intensively. Neanderthals performed several actions: skining, visceral removal, disarticulation, roasting, defleshing, periosteum removal and marrow removal. Probably skining, desmembering and viscera removal of large animals took place elsewhere, but later some elements with evidences of these activities were transported to the rockshelter. However, we can be sure that roasting and marrow removal was performed in the site. This fact and the abundance of the most nutritive elements indicate that Abric Romaní was used as a camp site. Felis silvestris was also processed by humans (skinning and partial consumption of meat and marrow), but not intensively. Finally, leporids and birds do not show evidence of anthropogenic processing.

A single mode of reduction was documented in the lithic artefacts: the recurrent centripetal Levallois method.

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On the other hand, we observed a low percentage of tools. The formal tools most represented in level O are side scrapers, notches and denticulates.

Postdepositional processes Once humans have left the rockshelter, other

taphonomical agents or processes can modify and move the faunal remains. At level O (particularly at Oa), the high degree of rounding, by some bones on all their faces, suggested that there was a resedimentation (displacement of materials accumulated over the substrate), but there is no strong evidence of reelaboration (uncovering and transport of buried remains) (Fernández López 2000). In addition, bones with high degree of rounding are located in the area that is unprotected by the rockshelter cornice or close to two upwelling of water, indicating that water transport was not a general but localized phenomenon. Roots can also disturb the remains, but root-etching at Abric Romaní is surely caused by mosses, that might have covered the remains without changing its position. Based on these observations, we conclude that postdepositional processes have not seriously disturbed the remains, what allows us to study the spatial organization from an archaeological point of view.

Level O in comparison with other levels of Abric Romani site

Overall, subsistence strategies documented in level O (hunting, differential transport, intensive processing, punctual use of carnivores) and the use of the rockshelter (as a camp site) are common in all of the sequence of Abric Romaní. Nevertheless, there are some differences, such us the increased presence of Bos primigenius in level O and the different ratio between lithic and faunal remains, which suggest a change 55 000 years ago.

Flint is the dominant raw material in all the archaeological horizons, although other materials, such as quartz and limestone, were also knapped and reach significant percentages in some levels. Regarding the knapping strategies two technological trends can be defined: in the main sequence (levels B to N) unhierarchical strategies prevail, whereas in level O the core reduction is mainly characterized by hierarchical strategies such as the Levallois concept).

One aspect to emphasize is the change in the Neanderthal occupation of the shelter (FIGURE 6). In level L the settlements are documented in highly localized areas. In level M the settlements are documented from testimonial stratigraphy to the east of the shelter. This trend is maintained in level N. However, in level O the assemblages are documented in all 300m2, concentrating mainly along the wall of the shelter. At this level, the wall of the shelter has retreated considerably. Another factor to emphasize is the documentation of a Neanderthal occupation of high intensity in the western part of the shelter.

CONCLUSION In summary, Abric Romaní site is located in an

ecotone. This privileged position would enable Neanderthals to exploit different ecosystems (lowland and mountain ecosystems) in an immediate (primary) way. In this sense, the Anoia River represents a natural corridor, through which the Neanthertals controled the seasonal movements of the ungulates. Based on a transdisciplinar study, as presented here, we can prove that Neanderthal subsistence at level O is based on local resources. Using the studied assemblages, we identified a differential transport of these natural resources. This dynamic is represented for the presence of lithics interpreted as tool kits and the frequency of the most nutritional skeletal parts. This transdisciplinar study yields information about the Neanderthal settlement pattern intra-site. This pattern is related with subsistence resource management and spatial organization at level O of Abric Romaní. Future studies will allow us to address a hypothesis of a cultural change in the internal dynamics of the Abric Romaní site around 55 000 years ago.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research received support from the Spanish

Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) research Grants HAR 2010-19957, HAR 2009-07223/HIST, by University Rovira i Virgili Grant URV-2009 AIRE-05 and by Generalitat de Catalunya Grant 2009 SGR 188. M.J. Gabucio is beneficiary of an FI Grant from Generalitat Catalunya and financed by the European Social Found. The field excavation work was supported by Departament de Cultura i Mitjans de Comunicació de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Diputació de Barcelona, Ajuntament de Capellades and Arts Gràfiques Romanyà-Valls S.A. Bercontrés-Centre de Gestió Medioambiental SL, and Constructora de Calaf SAU. The authors are grateful to Maria Gema Chacon and Floran Rivals to for their revision and very useful comments. We would also like to thank the Abric Romaní field team.

REFERENCES

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BUNN, H.T. & J.A. EZZO 1993. Hunting and scavenging by Plio-Pleistocene hominids: nutritional constraints, archaeological patterns, and behavioral implications. Journal of Archaeological Science 20: 365-398. BURJACHS, F. & R. JULIÀ 1994. Abrupt climatic changes during the last glaciation base don pollen analysis of the Abric Romaní, Catalonia, Spain. Quaternary Research 42: 308-315. CÁCERES, I. 2002. Tafonomía de Yacimientos Antrópicos en Karst. Complejo Galería (Atapuerca, Burgos), Vanguard Cave (Gibraltar) y Abric Romaní (Capellades, Barcelona). Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Tarragona. Doctoral Thesis. CANALS, A., J. VALLVERDU & E. CARBONELL 2003. New Archaeo-Stratigraphic Data for the TD6 Level in Revolation to Homo antecessor (Lower Pleistocene) at the Site of Atapuerca, North-Central Spain. Journal of International Geoarchaeology 18(5): 481-504. CARBONELL, E., M. MOSQUERA, A. OLLÉ, X.P. RODRIGUEZ, R. SALA, M. VAQUERO & J.M. VERGÈS 1992. New elements of the Logical Analytic System, in First Meeting on Technical Systems to Configure Lithic Objects of Scarce Elaboration. Tarragona. CARBONELL, E. & M. VAQUERO 1996. The Last Neandertals the first Anatomically Modern humans. Tarragona: Universitat Rovira I Virgili. FERNÁNDEZ LÓPEZ, S. 2000. Temas de Tafonomía. Departamento de Paleontología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Available at: http://www.ucm.es/info/paleo/taphos/index.htm.

GABUCIO, M.J. 2007. Gestió dels recursos faunístics fa 55.000 anys: el nivell O de l’Abric Romaní (Capellades, Barcelona). Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Tarragona. Master Thesis. LYMAN, R.L. 1994. Vertebrate Taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. STINER, M.C. 1994. Honor among Thieves. A Zooarchaeological Study of Neandertal Ecology. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. VAQUERO, M., M.G. CHACÓN, D. GARCÍA-ANTÓN & B. GÓMEZ DE SOLER 2008. Variabilidad de los conjuntos líticos en el Paleolítico medio del Abric Romaní (Capellades, Barcelona). Treballs d'Arqueologia 14: 195-212. VALLVERDÚ, J., S. ALONSO, A. BARGALLÓ, R. BARTROLÍ, G. CAMPENY, A. CARRANCHO, I. EXPÓSITO, M. FONTANALS, J. GABUCIO, B. GÓMEZ, J.M. PRATS, P. SAÑUDO, A. SOLÉ, J. VILALTA & E. CARBONELL In press. Combustion structures of archaeological level O and Mousterian activity areas with use of fire at the Abric Romaní rockshelter (NE Iberian Peninsula). Quaternary International. VILLA, P. & E. MAHIEU 1991. Breakage Patterns of human long bones. Journal of Human Evolution 21: 27-48.

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FIGURE 1. Location of Abric Romaní site.

FIGURE 2. NR, NME, NMI and age at death of the different taxonomical categories identified in level O of Abric Romaní (above). NR and percentage of the main taphonomic modifications present in faunal remains of level O (below and left). %Survivorship in level O by weight

sizes and skeletal parts (below and right).

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FIGURE 3. Raw matherials (above) and structural categories (below) documented at level O of Abric Romaní site.

FIGURE 4. Profile projections with the different sublevels identified at level O.

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FIGURE 5. Flint procurement areas: 5, 15 and 25 or more km (other raw materials are collected in Anoia River).

FIGURE 6. Evolution in Neanderthal occupations patterns of the shelter from the level L to O.

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