Author:
Arsuaga Juan Luis,Gómez-Olivencia Asier,Sala Nohemi,Martínez-Pillado Virginia,Pablos Adrián,Bonmatí Alejandro,Pantoja-Pérez Ana,Lira-Garrido Jaime,Alcázar de Velasco Almudena,Ortega Ana Isabel,Cuenca-Bescós Gloria,García Nuria,Aranburu Arantza,Ruiz-Zapata Blanca,José Gil-García María,Rodríguez-Álvarez Xosé Pedro,Ollé Andreu,Mosquera Marina
Abstract
AbstractHere we present a new site in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain): Galería de las Estatuas (GE), which provides new information about Mousterian occupations in the Iberian Plateau. The GE was an ancient entrance to the cave system, which is currently closed and sealed by a stalagmitic crust, below which a detritic sedimentary sequence of more than 2 m is found. This has been divided into five litostratigraphic units with a rich assemblage of faunal and lithic remains of clear Mousterian affinity. Radiocarbon dates provide minimum ages and suggest occupations older than 4514C ka BP. The palynological analysis detected a landscape change to increased tree coverage, which suggests that the sequence recorded a warming episode. The macromammal assemblage is composed of both ungulates (mainly red deer and equids) and carnivores. Taphonomic analysis reveals both anthropic, and to a lesser extent, carnivore activities. The GE was occupied by Neanderthals and also sporadically by carnivores. This new site broadens the information available regarding different human occupations at the Sierra de Atapuerca, which emphasizes the importance of this site-complex for understanding human evolution in Western Europe.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
General Earth and Planetary Sciences,Earth-Surface Processes,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Cited by
17 articles.
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