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Atxurra Cave (Berriatua, Northern Spain) contains an important Magdalenian archaeological assemblage comprising evidence of ephemeral occupation in the lower cave level and a unique assemblage of rock art. With the aim of understanding the palaeoenvironmental conditions and the nature of the human occupation, detailed micromorphological, mineralogical, palynological and anthracological analyses were undertaken near the entrance of the cave. The lower part of the excavated sequence comprises almost unfossiliferous silty units deposited over a thick speleothem deposit, which alternates with a sandy-silt matrix-supported microfacies dated about 33.4 kyr B.P. Palynological assemblage in this unit suggest regional vegetation was formed by montane pines, junipers and broadleaved elements like birch and hazel. Overlying units of brown clayey material, dated to ca. 19.7–18.4 kyr B.P., contain evidence of a Gravettian occupation with Noailles burins, and a palynoflora indicative of localized conifers with a dense herbaceous steppe understory, in an arid and cold climate. At ca. 15.5–14.5 kyr B.P. there is a return to meso-thermophilous tree and shrub taxa within a warmer and humid climate background, which may have favored the regional development of the Magdalenian culture. The uppermost unit, dated ca. 7.7–7 kyr B.P., reveals postglacial expansion of a mixed Atlantic forest with no signals of anthropization before the start of the Neolithic.

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

CRUE-CSIC (Acuerdos Transformativos 2022), AMS radiocarbon dating has been widely applied in Palaeolithic art research and its value has been proven over the past three decades. Yet it still suffers from issues that need to be discussed and analysed to improve future sampling strategies and strengthen the interpretation of the results. This study presents new AMS dates for the parietal art in Cueva de Las Chimeneas in northern Spain, describes the quality of the samples, and discusses their reliability. The joint assessment of the dates and its comparison with previously obtained dates as well as stratified and dated portable art makes it possible to put forward a hypothesis about the time of creation of the cave's parietal art and the degree of synchrony or diachrony in its production. Consequently, it is proposed that the cave art at Las Chimeneas was created in the lower Magdalenian, between 19,000 and 17,500 cal BP., La datación por radiocarbono AMS ha sido ampliamente aplicada en el estudio del arte paleolítico, y su importancia ha quedado demostrada en las últimas très décadas. No obstante, siguen existiendo problemas que deben ser discutidos y analizados para mejorar futuras estrategias de muestreo y reforzar la interpretación de los resultados. Este trabajo presenta nuevas fechas AMS para el arte parietal de la Cueva de Las Chimeneas en el norte de España, describiendo la calidad de las muestras y discutiendo su fiabilidad. La puesta en común de las fechas y su comparación con dataciones previas, así como con el arte mueble datado y contextualizado, permite formular hipótesis sobre el periodo de creación del arte parietal de la cueva y el grado de sincronía o diacronía de su producción. En consecuencia, se propone que el arte de Las Chimeneas fue creado durante el Magdaleniense inferior, entre 19,000 y 17,500 cal BP., Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN), Depto. de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y Arqueología, Fac. de Geografía e Historia, TRUE, pub

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

The endokarst landscape is the result of long erosion and sedimentation processes that have modelled an environment in which capricious forms abound. Despite being a hostile environment for human life, these caves must have attracted the attention of human groups from as early as the Palaeolithic. It is striking that many examples of rock art appear to be closely symbiotic with their natural support; nevertheless, it is difficult to confirm any relationship in the distribution of the decorated spaces, based on their morphology. Moreover, if we start from the hypothesis-widely accepted, but not demonstrated-that Palaeolithic cave art is a system of visual communication, the visibility of the art or the number of people who could be accommodated in the decorated sectors should be determining factors. In order to avoid making subjective appraisals when analysing these factors, we have designed a Python script with a workflow to work directly with 3D models of caverns using GISs, which can be easily replicated and edited by other researchers. Application of this script in the Magdalenian caves of Atxurra, Santimamine and Altxerri (Northern Spain) has allowed us to compare them accurately based on their visibility features. This has shown that in some cases, there may have been prior planning to enhance the visibility of some figures. In all cases, the groups of figures are located in deep and hidden parts of the caves, usually in sectors with limited capacity to accommodate people, which would be consistent with a system of restricted communication.

The lithic assemblage studied here comes from the space known as the ' Area de Estancia in Tito Bustillo Cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain), a representative Magdalenian site. The remains were found in Sub-level 1c2 in the Lower Complex (1LC), which was excavated by J.A. Moure Romanillo from 1981 to 1983 and is associated with abundant evidence of osseous industry, fauna, portable art, etc. The present study is especially innovative because it introduces a holistic approach to the understanding of the management of lithic resources by hunter -gatherer groups in the late Pleistocene. It establishes the two main groups of raw materials in the assemblage (flint and quartzite) and the different types through a petrographic description, and the different procurement strategies that were employed. Some preliminary results about the functionality of these tools are also offered. The occupants of this cave during the Greenland Stadial 2 traced a diversified and complex dynamic of exploitation of lithic resources that combined both the most immediate, easily available and in greater volume (for example, quartzite and Pilon similar to a flint), and the most distant, of good knapping quality (Flysch flint, funda-mentally). This circulation of raw materials is parallel to the patterns detected in other deposits in the region with a similar chronology. Significant differences are observed in the knapping schemes between raw materials based on the production of blanks for the manufacture of tools, whose typological classification and analysis of use-wear makes us propose a specialized and little diversified functionality, which is usually related to that of temporary occupations.

The Sella Valley provided refuge for Neanderthal groups during the Middle Paleolithic and the transition to the Upper Paleolithic. During the Upper Paleolithic it functioned as a homogeneous territory, with base camps on the coast and deposits of temporary occupation and logistical utility in the interior sites. This is shown in the deposits of the middle river basin, near Cangas de Onís, as indicated by archaeological remains and artistic manifestations., El valle del Sella acogió grupos neandertales durante el Paleolítico medio y la transición al Paleolítico superior. Durante el Paleolítico superior funcionó como un territorio homogéneo, con campamentos base en la costa y yacimientos de ocupación temporal y utilidad logística al interior. Así se muestra en los yacimientos del curso medio, próximos a Cangas de Onís, según indican los restos arqueológicos y las manifestaciones artísticas.

This paper reviews the available information about the excavations carried out by Miguel Ángel García Guinea (1970) and J. Alfonso Moure Romanillo (1972-1986) in the chamber in Tito Bustillo cave known as the Living Area. It highlights the publication of new data about the deposit, comprising radiocarbon dates and the analyses of biotic remains (large mammals, birds, fish, molluscs, bone industry and objects of adornment) and abiotic artefacts (provenance of lithic raw materials). It also provides the preliminary results of the archaeological fieldwork in the same part of the cave in 2020, which consisted of surveying the area and cleaning up the sections left by the excavations in the 1970s and 80s, in order to collect different types of samples and acquire a better understanding of the dynamic of the deposit, En este artículo se revisa la información disponible sobre las intervenciones arqueológicas llevadas a cabo en la conocida como Área de Estancia de la cueva de Tito Bustillo, tanto por Miguel Ángel García Guinea (campaña de 1970), como por J. Alfonso Moure Romanillo (campañas de 1972 a 1986). Se hace particular hincapié en la publicación de nuevos datos sobre el yacimiento, relacionados con dataciones radiocarbónicas y con determinados análisis llevados a cabo a partir de los restos de origen biótico (mamíferos, aves, peces, moluscos, industria ósea y objetos de adorno) y abiótico (procedencia de las materias primas líticas). Por último, se adelantan los primeros resultados sobre la intervención arqueológica llevada a cabo en el año 2020 en esta zona de la cueva, que consistió en la realización de la topografía y en la limpieza de los perfiles dejados en las intervenciones de los años setenta y ochenta del siglo pasado, con el objeto de tomar muestras de diferentes tipos, destinadas a comprender mejor la dinámica del yacimiento

During the Last Glacial Maximum and deglaciation, the Iberian Peninsula served as a faunal and human population refugium. Human foodways have always played a pivotal role in understanding social and cultural practices in prehistory. Nonetheless, the limited number of archaeological sites and human remains in this region hinders the complete understanding of these critical communities’ diet. To increase our knowledge about human consumption patterns, we selected three Magdalenian levels from the site of El Pirulejo (Southern Iberia Peninsula, Spain). These levels are characterized by a high abundance of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) remains (76–97% MNI), initially suggesting that rabbits were the primary source of protein for site inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on two human teeth in tandem with stable isotope analysis of the rabbit teeth. Contrary to the expectations derived from the zooarchaeological analysis, rabbits were not a significant source of dietary protein. Carbon and nitrogen bulk isotopic values are the most enriched found in sampled human remains for this area and context. Our data supports aquatic food resource inclusion and increased resource diversity among Iberian hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian. This study is consistent with previous studies that suggested a socio-economic network among human groups between inland and coastal regions in the terminal Pleistocene Southern Iberia.

El Horno Clave is located in the middle River Asón valley (North Spain), at about 200 m above sea level and 20 km from the present coastline. A surface ara of 3.5 m2 was escavated there from 1999 to 2007. The intact part of the archaeological deposit (Levels 1, 2 and 3) yielded a series of remains which can be attributed to upper Magdalenian occupations. Fieldwork in 2000 and 2001 retrieved 1,724 lithics from intact levels. A sample of 503 objects, including ali the retouched pieces and the larger waste products, has been considered for the functional analysis. Taphonomic alterations are common, above ali in Level 2, but a wide range of activities has been identified: hunting with projectiles, processing hides and hard animal matter, butchery, and tasks involving wood and hard mineral substances. The observations that have been made show different situations, at least in Levels 1 and 2. Lithics from the first level seem to have been used mostly to obtain animal products (meat and skins), whereas in Level 2 the functional diversity is greater and tasks usually associated with stable settlements, like dry hide or leather processing, have been documented. Another interesting aspect of the assemblage from El Horno is related to the use-wear and probable residue corresponding to the hafting of the artefacts.

Traditionally, the Iberian Peninsula has been considered to be a “land of rabbits”, a notion reinforced through the frequent appearance of these animals throughout the Palaeolithic on Mediterranean sites. However, the Cantabrian coast has shown a different pattern, with rabbits being scarce or exceptional at most Northern peninsular sites, with only a few evidences of exploitation. Nevertheless, lagomorphs represent around 10% of the bone assemblage at the Upper Magdalenian levels of Coímbre Cave (Peñamellera Alta, Asturias). In this paper, we conduct a taphonomical analysis of the rabbit assemblage from Coímbre Cave. We note that bones have been exposed to several taphonomical processes, including carnivore tooth marks, chemical alterations on teeth caused by raptor digestion, and the presence of cut-marks on some bone surfaces. Therefore, we argue that the rabbit assemblage at Coímbre is the result of a complex taphonomical history, with evidence for both anthropogenic activity and the actions of other biological agents. This new evidence retrieved from Coímbre Cave further highlights its exceptionality within other Cantabrian sites.

La cueva de El Cierro (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias) es una cavidad kárstica situada en la margen oeste del río Sella y desarrollada en las calizas carboníferas del Macizo Asturiano de la Cordillera Cantábrica (norte de la Península Ibérica), que contiene un importante registro sedimentario, arqueológico y paleontológico del Pleistoceno superior y Holoceno inferior, con abundantes evidencias tecnológicas y restos faunísticos. El registro arqueológico arranca con un nivel que podría corresponder al Paleolítico medio final, sigue con una completa secuencia del Paleolítico superior de la que se cuenta con un nivel del Magdaleniense inferior claramente identificado y datado, y termina con unos niveles datados a finales del Paleolítico superior/Aziliense y en el Mesolítico que configuran un conchero. La secuencia estratigráfica se compone de catorce niveles agrupados en dos unidades litoestratigráficas con características sedimentarias muy distintas, una inferior, siliciclástica y otra superior biogénica formada por la acumulación de conchas y huesos de aporte antrópico, que se estudian con metodología geoarqueológica. En este trabajo se analiza la secuencia litoestratigráfica y se presentan los datos de los análisis granulométricos, mineralógicos, edafológicos y radiométricos. El resultado de estos análisis permite interpretar con precisión tanto la litoestratigrafía del depósito como los procesos sedimentarios y diagenéticos responsables de su formación y posterior evolución. Las dataciones radiocarbónicas disponibles permiten situar los niveles superiores de la secuencia siliciclástica en el GS 2b y el conchero inferior en el GI 1 y el GS 1 (Dryas reciente), al final del Pleistoceno superior, mientras que el conchero superior estaría situado en la cronozona Boreal en los inicios del Holoceno., The Cierro Cave (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias) is a karst cavity located in the west bank of the Sella river and developed in the Carboniferous limestone of the Asturian Massif of the Cantabrian Range (northern Iberian Peninsula). This cave contains an important sedimentary, archaeological and palaeontological record of the Upper Pleistocene and Early Holocene with abundant technological remains (lithic and bone industries) and bone remains of mammals and others vertebrates. The archaeological record starts with a probably Middle Palaeolithic level, followed by a complete sequence of the Upper Paleolithic, with a Lower Magdalenian level clearly identified and dated, and ends with levels of the Late Upper Magdalenian/Azilian and the Mesolithic forming three shell middens. The stratigraphic sequence consists of fourteen levels grouped in two litostratigraphic units with very different sedimentary characteristics studied by geoarchaeological methods. The lower unit is characterized by the significant presence of siliceous sands and silts while the upper unit is formed by three anthropic shell middens cemented by carbonates. This paper analyzes the lithostratigraphic sequence and shows the results of the granulometric, mineralogical, edaphic and radiometric analysis. These results allows us to interpret precisely the lithostratigraphy of the deposits and the sedimentary and diagenetic processes responsible for their formation and evolution. In addition, the radiocarbon dates obtained allow us to place the upper levels of the clastic sequence in the GS 2b and the lower shell midden in GI 1 and GS 1 at the end of the Upper Pleistocene, while the upper shell midden would be located in the Boreal cronozona in the Early Holocene., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Depto. de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y Arqueología, Fac. de Geografía e Historia, TRUE, pub

The transition between the Palaeolithic and the Mesolithic Era is not so much a period more as a constant process of change that revolved around di erent practices amongst human societies. is transformation occurred amongst Palaeolithic populations that can be chronologically orientated between the nal Tardiglacial period and the beginning of the Holocene. During this period a number of distinctive cultures emerged and spread out over the Cantabrian area, presenting clear cultural di erences; as can be seen in the socioeconomical practices of Epipalaeolithic populations. ese di erences root in Magdalenian customs which later developed into new characterising features that can be found in Mesolithic sites. roughout this constant process of change a progressive regionalisation plays an important role, among other aspects, in this cultural development among human populations. is can be found through the specialised exploitation and increase in territoriality that has, to this day, been scarcely studied with speci c reference to coastal and high mountain areas. Because of this, the objective of this paper will be the presentation of a methodological approach to the study of said territoriality amongst distinct Epipalaeolithic and Mesolithic groups through their socioeconomical practices; supported fundamentally from a bibliographic perspective. is approach will go about establishing speci c characteristics to be observed in the study of human populations from this time period, alongside other data, that can interpret the corresponding areas where raw materials in correlation to the associated population. is approach will provide a higher quality level of results about the style of life in post-Palaeolithic societies., La transición desde el Paleolítico al Mesolítico no es sino una etapa más dentro del constante proceso de cambio que experimentan las sociedades humanas. Esta transformación de los grupos paleolíticos se enclava, cronológicamente, entre el nal del Tardiglacial y el comienzo del Holoceno; durante este tiempo se fueron fraguando y sucediendo distintas culturas en el área cantábrica que presentan claras diferencias, como queda constancia en las prácticas socioeconómicas típicas del Epipaleolítico, herederas del Magdaleniense, y las del Mesolítico, que incidirán en nuevos aspectos. Durante este proceso de cambio tendrá un papel destacado la progresiva regionalización que se observa, entre otros aspectos, a través de la especialización en la explotación de unos medios que hasta este momento apenas lo habían sido, como el costero o el de alta montaña, ligado todo ello, así mismo, a un aumento de la territorialidad. Por ello, el objeto del presente artículo será una propuesta metodológica para el estudio de esta territorialidad de los distintos grupos epipaleolíticos y mesolíticos a partir de las prácticas cinegéticas, apoyada y fundamentada en una perspectiva fundamentalmente bibliográ ca. Con ello se tratará de establecer unas pautas para el estudio del poblamiento humano de estos períodos que permitan ser conjugadas con otros datos como los referentes a las áreas de aprovisionamiento de materias primas o la dispersión de la población en medios aparentemente contrapuestos que den como resultado una mayor claridad sobre los modos de vida de las sociedades postpaleolíticas.

The transition between the Palaeolithic and the Mesolithic Era is not so much a period more as a constant process of change that revolved around di erent practices amongst human societies. is transformation occurred amongst Palaeolithic populations that can be chronologically orientated between the nal Tardiglacial period and the beginning of the Holocene. During this period a number of distinctive cultures emerged and spread out over the Cantabrian area, presenting clear cultural di erences; as can be seen in the socioeconomical practices of Epipalaeolithic populations. ese di erences root in Magdalenian customs which later developed into new characterising features that can be found in Mesolithic sites. roughout this constant process of change a progressive regionalisation plays an important role, among other aspects, in this cultural development among human populations. is can be found through the specialised exploitation and increase in territoriality that has, to this day, been scarcely studied with speci c reference to coastal and high mountain areas. Because of this, the objective of this paper will be the presentation of a methodological approach to the study of said territoriality amongst distinct Epipalaeolithic and Mesolithic groups through their socioeconomical practices; supported fundamentally from a bibliographic perspective. is approach will go about establishing speci c characteristics to be observed in the study of human populations from this time period, alongside other data, that can interpret the corresponding areas where raw materials in correlation to the associated population. is approach will provide a higher quality level of results about the style of life in post-Palaeolithic societies., La transición desde el Paleolítico al Mesolítico no es sino una etapa más dentro del constante proceso de cambio que experimentan las sociedades humanas. Esta transformación de los grupos paleolíticos se enclava, cronológicamente, entre el nal del Tardiglacial y el comienzo del Holoceno; durante este tiempo se fueron fraguando y sucediendo distintas culturas en el área cantábrica que presentan claras diferencias, como queda constancia en las prácticas socioeconómicas típicas del Epipaleolítico, herederas del Magdaleniense, y las del Mesolítico, que incidirán en nuevos aspectos. Durante este proceso de cambio tendrá un papel destacado la progresiva regionalización que se observa, entre otros aspectos, a través de la especialización en la explotación de unos medios que hasta este momento apenas lo habían sido, como el costero o el de alta montaña, ligado todo ello, así mismo, a un aumento de la territorialidad. Por ello, el objeto del presente artículo será una propuesta metodológica para el estudio de esta territorialidad de los distintos grupos epipaleolíticos y mesolíticos a partir de las prácticas cinegéticas, apoyada y fundamentada en una perspectiva fundamentalmente bibliográ ca. Con ello se tratará de establecer unas pautas para el estudio del poblamiento humano de estos períodos que permitan ser conjugadas con otros datos como los referentes a las áreas de aprovisionamiento de materias primas o la dispersión de la población en medios aparentemente contrapuestos que den como resultado una mayor claridad sobre los modos de vida de las sociedades postpaleolíticas.

[EN]: This paper details the fieldwork and multi-disciplinary studies carried out at the site Balma de la Vall (Montblanc, Tarragona). The first interventions, dating from the early 80’s, identified different occupational levels related to Final Upper Palaeolithic. From 2011 to 2013 research recommenced to re-define the archaeo-stratigraphic succession, obtain absolute dates, and characterize the occupational patterns generating the archaeological assemblages. The revised sequence comprises three archaeological levels, dated to the 15th millenium calibrated BP, and therefore associated to the Final Upper Magdalenian. The raw materials exploited, the assemblage composition and reduction sequences, define the occupational pattern as short duration or low intensity one. Balma de la Vall represents one of the first examples of human occupation of the Catalan Prelittoral Range., [ES]: Este artículo presenta los trabajos realizados en el yacimiento de la Balma de la Vall (Montblanc, Tarragona). Las primeras excavaciones, a inicios de los 1980, identificaron distintos niveles de ocupación humana relacionados con el Paleolítico superior final. Entre los años 2011-2013 la excavación se reemprendió con los objetivos de definir la sucesión arqueo-estratigráfica, obtener dataciones absolutas, y caracterizar el tipo de ocupaciones que generaron los conjuntos arqueológicos. De esta forma, hemos identificado una secuencia que comprende tres niveles arqueológicos, con dataciones que los asocian al XV milenio cal BP, y por tanto al Magdaleniense superior final. Los análisis de las materias primas líticas empleadas, la composición de los conjuntos y las secuencias de reducción permiten definir las ocupaciones como cortas o de baja intensidad. La Balma de la Vall constituye así una de las primeras evidencias de ocupación humana de la Cordillera Prelitoral Catalana.

The occupation of the Iberian Peninsula during the Upper Palaeolithic is mainly known from archaeological sites located in the Cantabrian and Mediterranean regions. Numerous sites have been excavated in these two regions when few sites are found in the interior of the peninsula. Several authors explain this scarcity of sites, in the inner region during the Upper Palaeolithic, by a decrease of human population resulting from a low capacity of human groups to adapt to the cold conditions of the Marine Isotopic Stage 2 (MIS 2), i.e. the effect of cold climate on human populations might have been stronger in the interior of the peninsula than in coastal areas. Recent studies underline the evidence of prehistoric occupation during this period in that region. It has been suggested that these occupations are isolated events limited to the warmest phases of the end of the MIS 2. The present study focuses on zooarchaeological and taphonomic aspects of the Magdalenian site of La Peña de Estebanvela (Segovia, Spain). Our results show that this site was recurrently occupied during the Magdalenian period, including warm and cold phases, which provide a new evidence of sustainable presence of human populations in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the Upper Palaeolithic.We further propose hypotheses on the subsistence strategies (e.g. availability of hunting resources) developed at La Peña de Estebanvela and in a larger context including other Magdalenian sites of the inner region of the Peninsula.

[EN] In this work the results of the functional analysis applied to the lithic remains from the “Lower Magdalenian” level of Praileaitz I are presented. Use-wear traces allowed the identification of the lithic remains used as work tools as well as the production activities in which they took part. It is outstanding that a high percentage (60%) of those instruments was used for working animal resources. This included hunting, made evident by the presence of probable projectiles elements, the use of meat as food resource, and the exploitation of hides and bones as raw material for the manufacture of other goods., [ES] En este trabajo presentamos los resultados del análisis funcional aplicado a los restos líticos del nivel “Magdaleniense Inferior” de Praileaitz I. Los rastros de uso nos han permitido discernir qué restos líticos fueron utilizados como instrumentos de trabajo y en qué actividades productivas pudieron intervenir. Es de destacar el uso de un alto porcentaje (60%) de esos instrumentos para el aprovechamiento de recursos animales que abarcan desde la obtención de los mismos, con probables elementos de proyectiles, el aprovechamiento de la carne como recurso alimentario hasta la explotación de pieles y huesos como materia prima para la manufactura de otros bienes de consumo., [EU] Lan honetan Praileaitz I-eko Behe Madelein mailako harrizko aztarnen analisi funtzionalaren emaitzak aurkezten ditugu. Erabilera-arrastoek ahalbidetu digute bereizten zer aztarna litiko erabili zituzten lanabes moduan eta, gainera, zer jardueratarako baliatu zituzten. Tresna horietako ehuneko altu bat (% 60) abere-baliabideen ustiapenean erabili zirela nabarmentzen da. Horien barnean sartzen dira: animaliak lortzeko erabiliak, eta horien artean ehiza ustezko jaurtigai-elementuak; elikadura-baliabide bezala haragia aprobetxatzeko erabiliak; eta baita beste kontsumo-ondasun batzuen manufakturarako larru eta hezur lehengaien ustiapena egiteko erabiliak ere.

Objectives: Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of known funerary rituals (one interpreted as cannibalism and three interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay) were analyzed to ascertain whether macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics of cut marks can be used to distinguish cannibalistic from secondary burial practices. Material and methods: Four collections were analyzed: the Magdalenian assemblage from Gough's Cave (UK) and the Mesolithic-Neolithic bone samples from Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac (Serbia). A total of 647 cut marks (345 on human and 302 on non-human remains) were imaged and measured using an optical surface measurement system, the Alicona InfiniteFocus, housed at the Natural History Museum (London, UK). Results: The frequency of cut marks at Gough's Cave exceeds 65%, while it is below 1% in the Serbian sites, and no human tooth marks and only one case of percussion damage have been observed on the three Serbian collections. The distribution of cut marks on human bones is comparable in the four assemblages. Cannibalized human remains, however, present a uniform cut mark distribution, which can be associated with disarticulation of persistent and labile articulations, and the scalping and filleting of muscles. For secondary burials where modification occurred after a period of decay, disarticulation marks are less common and the disarticulation of labile joints is rare. The micromorphometric analyses of cut marks on human and non-human remains suggest that cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from cut marks produced during butchery of fresh bodies. Conclusions: A distinction between cannibalism and secondary treatment of human bodies can be made based on frequency, distribution and micromorphometric characteristics of cut marks.

This hybrid dissertation explores how hunter-gatherer groups who lived during the Initial and Lower Magdalenian archaeological periods (c.17-14,000 uncal. BP) adapted their lithic technological organization to environmental complexity in the Vasco-Cantabrian region of north coastal Spain. Four manuscripts that examine aspects of Last Glacial hunter-gatherer adaptations are presented in this dissertation. The first three have been published or are in press in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science, and Quaternary International. The last is a completed manuscript that is under review by the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. The first paper focuses on how archaeologists examine prehistoric transitions using a case study from Urtiaga cave, Giup\xfazcoa. This case demonstrates that lithic maintenance was a significant factor in Initial Magdalenian landscape-level adaptations. The second paper summarizes the lithic and osseous industries (the latter studied by L. Straus), recovered from the El Mirón cave and demonstrates the sites importance as a Lower Magdalenian residential site in central Cantabria. The third manuscript explores hunter-gatherer lithic conveyance patterns based on four sites in central Cantabria (Altamira, El Juyo, El Rascaño, and El Mirón) and proposes that the Lower Magdalenian groups who occupied these sites shared an economic territory that expanded from Cantabria into western Navarra. Local raw material conveyance shows that shifting environmental zones was an important factor in how groups mover through the diverse Cantabrian landscape. The fourth manuscript investigates how Lower Magdalenian groups procured raw materials using a mathematical model that predicts toolstone production efficiency. Using samples from the same four central Cantabrian contexts, the paper explores the relationships among toolstone efficiency, lithic procurement, and Last Glacial mobility. Each case study presented as p

Objectives: Humanly induced modifications on human and non-human bones from four archaeological sites of known funerary rituals (one interpreted as cannibalism and three interpreted as funerary defleshing and disarticulation after a period of decay) were analyzed to ascertain whether macromorphological and micromorphological characteristics of cut marks can be used to distinguish cannibalistic from secondary burial practices. Material and methods: Four collections were analyzed: the Magdalenian assemblage from Gough's Cave (UK) and the Mesolithic-Neolithic bone samples from Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac (Serbia). A total of 647 cut marks (345 on human and 302 on non-human remains) were imaged and measured using an optical surface measurement system, the Alicona InfiniteFocus, housed at the Natural History Museum (London, UK). Results: The frequency of cut marks at Gough's Cave exceeds 65%, while it is below 1% in the Serbian sites, and no human tooth marks and only one case of percussion damage have been observed on the three Serbian collections. The distribution of cut marks on human bones is comparable in the four assemblages. Cannibalized human remains, however, present a uniform cut mark distribution, which can be associated with disarticulation of persistent and labile articulations, and the scalping and filleting of muscles. For secondary burials where modification occurred after a period of decay, disarticulation marks are less common and the disarticulation of labile joints is rare. The micromorphometric analyses of cut marks on human and non-human remains suggest that cut marks produced when cleaning partially decayed bodies are significantly different from cut marks produced during butchery of fresh bodies. Conclusions: A distinction between cannibalism and secondary treatment of human bodies can be made based on frequency, distribution and micromorphometric characteristics of cut marks.

The role played by the Magdalenian site of El Horno in the context of the Asón river basin (northern Spain) is considered in relation to its location and the physical characteristics of the surrounding area. This information has been integrated with data from the archaeological study. Special attention has been paid to the lithic tools and mammal remains recovered in the excavation as these played a particularly significant role at the site. The results suggest that the cave was occupied on a relatively stable basis although the situation changed in the course of the sequence. Level 1 reflects an occupation linked to the acquisition of meat and animal skins, worked mainly in a fresh state. The use of the site represented by Level 2 may have been more stable and complex, as this level displays greater functional diversity. Tasks involving hard animal material have been documented, as well as dry hide or leather processing. In addition, lithic reduction seems to have been more intense in Level 2.

It is studied the degree of similarity between some decorated bone pieces from Abauntz (Navarra), La Viña and Llonín (Asturias) sites. The kind and quality of the parallelisms showed between these and other sites leads us to consider the recognized presence of a Magdalenian common core with a mainly functional character, and to emphasize the shortage of strong similarities between the artefacts analysed., Se estudia el grado de similitud entre una serie de piezas óseas decoradas de los yacimientos de Abauntz (Navarra), La Viña y Llonín (Asturias). El tipo y la cualidad de los paralelos entre éstos y otros yacimientos nos conducen a apoyar la ya reconocida existencia de un fondo común magdaleniense de carácter esencialmente funcional, y a subrayar la relativa escasez de semejanzas fuertes entre los artefactos analizados.

It is studied the degree of similarity between some decorated bone pieces from Abauntz (Navarra), La Viña and Llonín (Asturias) sites. The kind and quality of the parallelisms showed between these and other sites leads us to consider the recognized presence of a Magdalenian common core with a mainly functional character, and to emphasize the shortage of strong similarities between the artefacts analysed., Se estudia el grado de similitud entre una serie de piezas óseas decoradas de los yacimientos de Abauntz (Navarra), La Viña y Llonín (Asturias). El tipo y la cualidad de los paralelos entre éstos y otros yacimientos nos conducen a apoyar la ya reconocida existencia de un fondo común magdaleniense de carácter esencialmente funcional, y a subrayar la relativa escasez de semejanzas fuertes entre los artefactos analizados.

This paper introduces the sequence of the Buendía rockshelter (Central Spain), a multi-layered site with abundant lithic assemblages attributed to the Magdalenian. We present 18 new radiocarbon dates that firmly position the whole stratigraphy between 15 and 13 14C ka BP (18–16 cal ka BP), making the Buendía rockshelter an excellent palaeoenvironmental and archaeological archive for a very specific time span of the late Upper Pleistocene. Available proxies include pollen, phytoliths, charcoal, molluscs, macromammals and other evidence of human occupation of the rockshelter, which enable the portrayal of a detailed picture of Buendía landscapes during the Lateglacial. These were generally characterized by an open landscape with sparse arboreal vegetation, in which pollen shows a dominance of Compositae in the herbaceous taxa and of Pinus among the arboreal taxa. Charcoal analysis also points to an abundance of Pinus sylvestris type, and phytoliths indicate the relevance of Poaceae. Marine and freshwater molluscs were mostly brought into the site by humans, thus highlighting long-distance transport networks among Magdalenian hunter-gatherers between the coast and inland Iberia. Climatic oscillations are observed across the stratigraphic sequence, and discussed in light of the archaeological evidence for the human occupation of inland Iberia.

This paper shows a preview of the Olivo cave excavation first results. Furthermore, the existence of a new Magdalenian site in middle-coast asturian region, unpublished until the present day, is confirmed. This discovery contributes to complete the outlook of magdalenian sites, in a traditional forgotten region for this kind of researches, which show a false appearance of "deserted area"., En este trabajo se presenta un avance de los primeros resultados obtenidos en la excavación de la cueva del Olivo. Del mismo modo se constata la existencia de un nuevo yacimiento magdaleniense, inédito hasta la fecha, en la región centro-costera asturiana. Este hallazgo contribuye a completar el panorama de yacimientos magdalenienses, en una zona tradicionalmente desatendida para este tipo de investigaciones, que presenta una falsa imagen de "vacío de ocupación".

The Palaeolithic rock art of Les Pedroses cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, North of Spain) was discovered by Francisco Jordá Cerdá in 1956, who always had the intention of publishing them, the last one with his collaborator and friend Manuel Mallo Viesca. In this paper we present the manuscript written by both experts preceded of a small historiographic synthesis that gathers the vicissitudes passed by the publication of Les Pedroses cave. This Magdalenian cave-sanctuary is characterized by the presence of an interesting set of engravings and paintings that represents acephalous animals. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interprets the artistic panel from the point of view of the prehistoric religiosity and Manuel Mallo Viesca realizes an aesthetic interpretation of the same site., Las manifestaciones artísticas paleolíticas de la cueva de Les Pedroses (Ribadesella, Asturias, Norte de España) fueron descubiertas por Francisco Jordá Cerdá en 1956 quien siempre tuvo la intención de publicarlas, la última en compañía de Manuel Mallo Viesca. Tras una pequeña síntesis historiográfica que recoge las vicisitudes pasadas por publicación de Les Pedroses, se presenta el manuscrito redactado por ambos estudiosos sobre su santuario rupestre magdaleniense, caracterizado por la presencia de un interesante conjunto de grabados y pinturas rupestres que representan animales acéfalos. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interpreta el panel artístico desde el punto de vista de la religiosidad prehistórica y Manuel Mallo Viesca realiza una interpretación estética del mismo.

The Palaeolithic rock art of Les Pedroses cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, North of Spain) was discovered by Francisco Jordá Cerdá in 1956, who always had the intention of publishing them, the last one with his collaborator and friend Manuel Mallo Viesca. In this paper we present the manuscript written by both experts preceded of a small historiographic synthesis that gathers the vicissitudes passed by the publication of Les Pedroses cave. This Magdalenian cave-sanctuary is characterized by the presence of an interesting set of engravings and paintings that represents acephalous animals. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interprets the artistic panel from the point of view of the prehistoric religiosity and Manuel Mallo Viesca realizes an aesthetic interpretation of the same site., Las manifestaciones artísticas paleolíticas de la cueva de Les Pedroses (Ribadesella, Asturias, Norte de España) fueron descubiertas por Francisco Jordá Cerdá en 1956 quien siempre tuvo la intención de publicarlas, la última en compañía de Manuel Mallo Viesca. Tras una pequeña síntesis historiográfica que recoge las vicisitudes pasadas por publicación de Les Pedroses, se presenta el manuscrito redactado por ambos estudiosos sobre su santuario rupestre magdaleniense, caracterizado por la presencia de un interesante conjunto de grabados y pinturas rupestres que representan animales acéfalos. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interpreta el panel artístico desde el punto de vista de la religiosidad prehistórica y Manuel Mallo Viesca realiza una interpretación estética del mismo.

This paper shows a preview of the Olivo cave excavation first results. Furthermore, the existence of a new Magdalenian site in middle-coast asturian region, unpublished until the present day, is confirmed. This discovery contributes to complete the outlook of magdalenian sites, in a traditional forgotten region for this kind of researches, which show a false appearance of "deserted area"., En este trabajo se presenta un avance de los primeros resultados obtenidos en la excavación de la cueva del Olivo. Del mismo modo se constata la existencia de un nuevo yacimiento magdaleniense, inédito hasta la fecha, en la región centro-costera asturiana. Este hallazgo contribuye a completar el panorama de yacimientos magdalenienses, en una zona tradicionalmente desatendida para este tipo de investigaciones, que presenta una falsa imagen de "vacío de ocupación".

The Palaeolithic rock art of Les Pedroses cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, North of Spain) was discovered by Francisco Jordá Cerdá in 1956, who always had the intention of publishing them, the last one with his collaborator and friend Manuel Mallo Viesca. In this paper we present the manuscript written by both experts preceded of a small historiographic synthesis that gathers the vicissitudes passed by the publication of Les Pedroses cave. This Magdalenian cave-sanctuary is characterized by the presence of an interesting set of engravings and paintings that represents acephalous animals. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interprets the artistic panel from the point of view of the prehistoric religiosity and Manuel Mallo Viesca realizes an aesthetic interpretation of the same site., Las manifestaciones artísticas paleolíticas de la cueva de Les Pedroses (Ribadesella, Asturias, Norte de España) fueron descubiertas por Francisco Jordá Cerdá en 1956 quien siempre tuvo la intención de publicarlas, la última en compañía de Manuel Mallo Viesca. Tras una pequeña síntesis historiográfica que recoge las vicisitudes pasadas por publicación de Les Pedroses, se presenta el manuscrito redactado por ambos estudiosos sobre su santuario rupestre magdaleniense, caracterizado por la presencia de un interesante conjunto de grabados y pinturas rupestres que representan animales acéfalos. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interpreta el panel artístico desde el punto de vista de la religiosidad prehistórica y Manuel Mallo Viesca realiza una interpretación estética del mismo.

This paper shows a preview of the Olivo cave excavation first results. Furthermore, the existence of a new Magdalenian site in middle-coast asturian region, unpublished until the present day, is confirmed. This discovery contributes to complete the outlook of magdalenian sites, in a traditional forgotten region for this kind of researches, which show a false appearance of "deserted area"., En este trabajo se presenta un avance de los primeros resultados obtenidos en la excavación de la cueva del Olivo. Del mismo modo se constata la existencia de un nuevo yacimiento magdaleniense, inédito hasta la fecha, en la región centro-costera asturiana. Este hallazgo contribuye a completar el panorama de yacimientos magdalenienses, en una zona tradicionalmente desatendida para este tipo de investigaciones, que presenta una falsa imagen de "vacío de ocupación".

The Palaeolithic rock art of Les Pedroses cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, North of Spain) was discovered by Francisco Jordá Cerdá in 1956, who always had the intention of publishing them, the last one with his collaborator and friend Manuel Mallo Viesca. In this paper we present the manuscript written by both experts preceded of a small historiographic synthesis that gathers the vicissitudes passed by the publication of Les Pedroses cave. This Magdalenian cave-sanctuary is characterized by the presence of an interesting set of engravings and paintings that represents acephalous animals. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interprets the artistic panel from the point of view of the prehistoric religiosity and Manuel Mallo Viesca realizes an aesthetic interpretation of the same site., Las manifestaciones artísticas paleolíticas de la cueva de Les Pedroses (Ribadesella, Asturias, Norte de España) fueron descubiertas por Francisco Jordá Cerdá en 1956 quien siempre tuvo la intención de publicarlas, la última en compañía de Manuel Mallo Viesca. Tras una pequeña síntesis historiográfica que recoge las vicisitudes pasadas por publicación de Les Pedroses, se presenta el manuscrito redactado por ambos estudiosos sobre su santuario rupestre magdaleniense, caracterizado por la presencia de un interesante conjunto de grabados y pinturas rupestres que representan animales acéfalos. Francisco Jordá Cerdá interpreta el panel artístico desde el punto de vista de la religiosidad prehistórica y Manuel Mallo Viesca realiza una interpretación estética del mismo.

This paper shows a preview of the Olivo cave excavation first results. Furthermore, the existence of a new Magdalenian site in middle-coast asturian region, unpublished until the present day, is confirmed. This discovery contributes to complete the outlook of magdalenian sites, in a traditional forgotten region for this kind of researches, which show a false appearance of "deserted area"., En este trabajo se presenta un avance de los primeros resultados obtenidos en la excavación de la cueva del Olivo. Del mismo modo se constata la existencia de un nuevo yacimiento magdaleniense, inédito hasta la fecha, en la región centro-costera asturiana. Este hallazgo contribuye a completar el panorama de yacimientos magdalenienses, en una zona tradicionalmente desatendida para este tipo de investigaciones, que presenta una falsa imagen de "vacío de ocupación".

La cueva de El Cierro (Ribadesella, Asturias, España) está situada en un espolón calizo ubicado en la plataforma kárstica que va desde Sardeo a Ardines, en el mismo lugar en el que se encuentra también la cueva de Les Pedroses, que cuenta con manifestaciones artísticas que han sido asignadas al Magdaleniense inferior (Jordá 1975). Este enclave está muy próximo a otros yacimientos solutrenses de relevancia, como es el caso de Cova Rosa, o magdalenienses como Tito Bustillo. El Cierro fue excavado por primera vez por F. Jordá Cerdá en 1959, continuando sus investigaciones en este yacimiento a partir de 1976 junto con A. Gómez Fuentes. Entre ambas intervenciones, en 1969, G. A. Clark realizó una toma de muestras en el conchero superior. Con este trabajo se pretende realizar una contextualización nivel 4 de El Cierro a partir de la revisión de los materiales procedentes de la primera intervención de F. Jordá, en el contexto de la transición Solutrense-Magdaleniense en la Región Cantábrica., El Cierro cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain) is located in a spur of limestone in a karstic platform ranging from Sardeo to Ardines, in the same place in which we also find Les Pedroses cave, with rock art assigned to Lower Magdalenian (Jordá 1975). This site, which has provided an interesting sequence to end of the Solutrean and Early Magdalenian, is very close to other relevant Solutrean sites, as Cova Rosa. F. Jordá Cerdá was the first researcher who excavated in El Cierro cave in 1959. He continued his research in this site with A. Gómez Fuentes since 1976. This paper aims to make a contextualization of Upper Cantabrian Solutrean from checking the materials of this site, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Depto. de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y Arqueología, Fac. de Geografía e Historia, TRUE, pub

[ES] Este último capítulo presenta la interpretación global del yacimiento a partir de una investigación pluridisciplinar. Diversos estudios del registro (geoarqueológico, cronoestratigráfico, taxonómico, zooarqueológico y tafonómico, antracológico y fitolitólogico) permiten fijar la cronología de sus ocupaciones, en algunos casos la estacionalidad, e inferir un patrón recurrente de explotación del territorio. Otras analíticas (tecnotipológica,traceológica y espacial) identifican una marcada estructuración interna del espacio y facilitan una aproximación a las posibles funcionalidades del asentamiento. Finalmente del examen detallado del conjunto ornamental y los cantos decorados se deduce una movilidad de estos grupos en ocasiones a grandes distancias.

[EN] The present work provides an overall interpretation of the La Peña de Estebanvela site, on the framework of the Magdalenian in central Spain. Studies of the geoarchaeological, chronostratigraphic, taxonomic, zooarchaeological, taphonomic, anthracological and phytological records allow the chronology of the site’s occupations to be determined. Sometimes even the seasonality of occupation can be established, and patterns of territory exploitation discerned. The results of technotypological, traceological and spatial analyses show a marked internal structuring of the site’s space, and provide clues on the possible functions of the site. Finally, the detailed examination of the site’s ornamental pieces and decorated stones shows the groups that used the rock shelter sometimes travelled great distances., [ES] Se presenta la interpretación global de La Peña de Estebanvela (Ayllón, Segovia), en el contexto del Magdaleniense del centro de la Península Ibérica. Los estudios del registro (geoarqueológico, cronoestratigráfico, taxonómico, zooarqueológico y tafonómico, antracológico y fitolitólogico) permiten fijar la cronología de sus ocupaciones, en algunos casos la estacionalidad e inferir un patrón recurrente de explotación del territorio. Otras analíticas (tecnotipológico, traceológico, espacial) identifican una marcada estructuración interna del espacio y facilitan una aproximación a las posibles funcionalidades del asentamiento. Finalmente del examen detallado del conjunto ornamental y los cantos decorados se deduce una movilidad de estos grupos en ocasiones a grandes distancias.

[EN] Three Magdalenian harpoons from El Horno Cave (Ramales, Cantabria) have been studied microscopically. The objective of the study was to identify marks on the surface of the harpoons susceptible of providing preliminary information about how they were used. In one case, the observations reveal that the harpoon was used on several occasions, perhaps to capture prey with a tougher skin than that of fish. The marks seen on the other two harpoons are compatible with the use of cord as part of the hafting method. We assess these observations within the current debate on the exact purpose of the harpoons, without disregarding the relationship between these weapons and fauna, another of the key points to be able to move forward in the debate. Statistical tests carried out with information available in Cantabrian Spain reveal that Magdalenian harpoons are not associated with any particular type of fauna, [ES] Se presenta el análisis microscópico de tres arpones magdalenienses procedentes de la cueva de El Horno (Ramales, Cantabria). Su fin era la identificación, en superficie, de rastros susceptibles de aportar información preliminar sobre el uso de los arpones. Las observaciones sobre uno de ellos revelan que se empleó en distintas ocasiones, quizá para la captura de presas con una piel más resistente que la de los peces. Las trazas identificadas en los otros dos son compatibles con el empleo de cuerdas como parte del dispositivo de enmangue. Los resultados se enmarcan en el debate abierto acerca de la función concreta de los arpones, sin obviar la relación existente entre estas armas y la fauna, otro de los aspectos clave para poder avanzar en el debate. Los test estadísticos efectuados a partir de la información disponible en la costa cantábrica revelan que los arpones magdalenienses no se asocian a ningún tipo de fauna en concreto

The technology of the European Upper Palaeolithic yielded abundant evidence of the use of composite projectile heads, in the form of osseous points on the side of which one or several (micro)lithic elements are attached. Yet, little experimental work has been devoted to testing and assessing the parameters of use of this type of composite tips. In this paper we present a pilot experiment with replicas of Magdalenian composite spear tips, made of an antler point with one or two rows of flint backed bladelets. Two series of replicas were manufactured after the lithic and osseous record of, respectively, the Lower Magdalenian from southwest France (c. 20-18 Ky cal BP) and the Upper Magdalenian of Pincevent in the Paris Basin (c. 15-14 Ky cal BP). The 34 experimental composite heads were hafted to spears that were then shot with a spearthrower at the carcasses of two young deer. The results provide some insight into the performance characteristics of the osseous and lithic components, both in efficiency and durability. Finally, possible improvements of the experimental protocol are discussed, as well as the implications of our results for the understanding of projectile point variability in the Upper Palaeolithic. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The technology of the European Upper Palaeolithic yielded abundant evidence of the use of composite projectile heads, in the form of osseous points on the side of which one or several (micro)lithic elements are attached. Yet, little experimental work has been devoted to testing and assessing the parameters of use of this type of composite tips. In this paper we present a pilot experiment with replicas of Magdalenian composite spear tips, made of an antler point with one or two rows of flint backed bladelets. Two series of replicas were manufactured after the lithic and osseous record of, respectively, the Lower Magdalenian from southwest France (c. 20-18 Ky cal BP) and the Upper Magdalenian of Pincevent in the Paris Basin (c. 15-14 Ky cal BP). The 34 experimental composite heads were hafted to spears that were then shot with a spearthrower at the carcasses of two young deer. The results provide some insight into the performance characteristics of the osseous and lithic components, both in efficiency and durability. Finally, possible improvements of the experimental protocol are discussed, as well as the implications of our results for the understanding of projectile point variability in the Upper Palaeolithic. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Lapa do Picareiro is a cave site located in Serra d’Aire, Portuguese Estremadura. Zooarchaeological studies suggest that the cave was a specialized site for hunting and processing animals during the Magdalenian and the Epipaleolithic. Lithic analyses seem to confirm this idea with the presence of backed bladelets used as projectile points and flakes with evidence of cutting meat and hide processing., Lapa do Picareiro es un yacimiento situado en la Estremadura portuguesa, en la Serra d’Aire. Los estudios zooarqueológicos llevados a cabo nos hablan de un lugar especializado de caza y procesado de distintas especies animales durante el magdaleniense y el epipaleolítico. Por su parte, los análisis líticos confirman la presencia de un utillaje en el que destacan las laminillas de dorso empleadas como proyectiles y las lascas y láminas destinadas al corte de carne y al tratamiento de la piel.

This paper presents the results obtained through the study of the marine malacological remains recovered during J. González Echegaray and L. G. Freeman’s archaeological excavations at Altamira Cave in the early 1980s. This research has been carried out mainly from the taxonomic, quantitative, taphonomic and biometric points of view. Finally, the information obtained has been compared with the results of earlier excavations at Altamira and other sites in Cantabrian Spain with levels dated in the Solutrean and Magdalenian periods., En este artículo se presentan los resultados obtenidos del estudio de los restos malacológicos marinos procedentes de las excavaciones arqueológicas de J. González Echegaray y L. G. Freeman en la cueva de Altamira a comienzos de los años ochenta del siglo pasado. Dicha investigación ha sido realizada fundamentalmente desde un punto de vista taxonómico, cuantitativo, tafonómico y biométrico. Por último, se compara la información obtenida con la existente procedente de otras excavaciones efectuadas en Altamira con anterioridad y con la de otros yacimientos de la Región Cantábrica con industrias adscritas a los periodos Solutrense y Magdaleniense.

El Pirulejo es el yacimiento arqueológico con el mayor repertorio de piezas de arte mueble, sobre soporte óseo y pétreo, en posición estratigráfica del sur de la Península Ibérica. Además existe una colección de adornos sobre concha. Muchas de ellas son de procedencia marina y pone de relieve contactos directos o intercambios con la costa. Así mismo, existen otros vestigios que podrían tener este valor simbólico como algunos elementos de piedra coloreados y un pequeño conjunto de restos óseos., El Pirulejo is the archaeological site with more quantity of mobile art, on bone and lithic supports, in stratigraphical position in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, it is an important collection of ornaments on shell, many they of marine origin to show directs contact or exchange with the coast. In the same way, they are other vestiges maybe with a symbolic sense: some coloured stones or a little lot of anthropological rests.

El estudio interdisciplinar que constituye esta obra pone de manifiesto que El Pirulejo es el mejor yacimiento conocido para el conocimiento del Tardiglaciar en las comarcas interiores del sur de la Península Ibérica. El enclave conserva una secuencia muy rica en cantidad, calidad y diversidad de materiales arqueológicos que han permitido un análisis desde múltiples ópticas (cultura material, manifestaciones simbólicas, paleoeconomía, secuencia paleoambiental, etc.)., This work is an interdisciplinary study about El Pirulejo, one of the most important site by the knowledge of the Lateglacial in the south of the Iberian peninsula. The archaoelogical site conservated a very richness sequence with a lot and variability archaeological rests that we permit a multiphocal analysis (material culture, simbolic evidences, palaeoeconomy, paleoenvironmental sequence, etc.).

El Pirulejo es el yacimiento arqueológico con el mayor repertorio de piezas de arte mueble, sobre soporte óseo y pétreo, en posición estratigráfica del sur de la Península Ibérica. Además existe una colección de adornos sobre concha. Muchas de ellas son de procedencia marina y pone de relieve contactos directos o intercambios con la costa. Así mismo, existen otros vestigios que podrían tener este valor simbólico como algunos elementos de piedra coloreados y un pequeño conjunto de restos óseos., El Pirulejo is the archaeological site with more quantity of mobile art, on bone and lithic supports, in stratigraphical position in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, it is an important collection of ornaments on shell, many they of marine origin to show directs contact or exchange with the coast. In the same way, they are other vestiges maybe with a symbolic sense: some coloured stones or a little lot of anthropological rests.

El estudio interdisciplinar que constituye esta obra pone de manifiesto que El Pirulejo es el mejor yacimiento conocido para el conocimiento del Tardiglaciar en las comarcas interiores del sur de la Península Ibérica. El enclave conserva una secuencia muy rica en cantidad, calidad y diversidad de materiales arqueológicos que han permitido un análisis desde múltiples ópticas (cultura material, manifestaciones simbólicas, paleoeconomía, secuencia paleoambiental, etc.)., This work is an interdisciplinary study about El Pirulejo, one of the most important site by the knowledge of the Lateglacial in the south of the Iberian peninsula. The archaoelogical site conservated a very richness sequence with a lot and variability archaeological rests that we permit a multiphocal analysis (material culture, simbolic evidences, palaeoeconomy, paleoenvironmental sequence, etc.).

Homenaje a Ignacio Barandiarán Maestu / coord. por Javier Fernández Eraso, Juan Santos Yanguas, [ES] La reciente excavación de la cueva de Praileaitz I (Deba) ha documentado sucesivas breves ocupaciones del Tardiglaciar. Se estudian las características de un alineamiento de colgantes de piedra, la mayoría de ellos decorados, y su contexto., [EUS] Praileaitz I (Deba) haitzuloaren azken indusketan Izoztaroberantiarreko okupazio labur jarraiak identifi katu ahal izan dira. Hemen harrizko zintzilikario lerrokadura baten ezaugarriak aztertzen dira, gehienak apainduak eta euren testuinguruan aurkituak., [FR] La fouille récente de Praileaitz I (Deba) a permit d’identifier de brèves occupations successives pendant le Tardiglaciaire. On y étudie les caractéristiques d’un alignement de pendentifs, la plupart décorés, et aussi son contexte.