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Pablo Arias

Universidad de Cantabria, Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantabria, Faculty Member

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Papers by Pablo Arias

Surface Scanning-New Perspectives for Archaeological Data Management and Methodology

Nuevas dataciones absolutas para el Neolítico de la Cueva de Arenaza (Bizcaia)

Munibe Antropologia Arkeologia, 1999

Se exponen los resultados de la datacion por C14 AMS de muestras de fauna domestica del nivel IC2... more Se exponen los resultados de la datacion por C14 AMS de muestras de fauna domestica del nivel IC2 de Arenaza. Los resultados, situados en la primera mitad del V milenio cal BC, confirman la introduccion de especies domesticas en la region Cantabrica en fechas no muy alejadas de las regiones proximas, como el Alto Ebro. Asi mismo, sugieren una atribucion del nivel IC2 a un Neolitico antiguo analogo al horizonte Epicardial de la Espana mediterranea

Castros y castra en …, 2010

Información del artículo 5.5. La Garma.

Las sepulturas de la cueva de Los Canes (Asturias) y la neolitización de la región cantábrica

Trabajos de Prehistoria, 1990

RESUMEN Se describen los enterramientos prehistóricos de la cueva de Los Canes (Asturias), corres... more

Actas del III Congreso del Neolítico en la Península Ibérica: Santander, 5 a 8 de octubre de 2003

Esta edición es propiedad del SERVICIO DE PUBLICACIONES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA y no se pu... more

Falange grabada de la Galería Inferior de La Garma: Aportación al estudio del arte mobiliar del Magdaleniense Medio

Veleia: Revista de prehistoria, historia antigua, arqueología y filología clásicas, 2007

Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte, Cantabria)

The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several l... more The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several levels of galleries interconnected by vertical shafts. La Garma houses an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examS. Cuezva, et al. 2016. Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte... 308 ples of Palaeolithic cave art and settlement floors in an amazing state of preservation, as well as valuable evidence of symbolic behavior of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers. Its heritage values have made it worthy of their inclusion on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2008. The conservation of this site is a priority and it has been recently launched a program of preventive conservation. The main objective of this project is to achieve a better knowledge of the underground ecosystem and the impact of human presence in the underground microenvironment, both for purposes of sound management and research of the cavity as well as for a hypothetical opening to the public in the future. The underground karst system of La Garma, with various levels of galleries and directly connected with active water table, involves a complex movement of matter (water, air masses and aerosols) and energy. To achieve an adequate knowledge of environmental dynamics, our research group is conducting a multidisciplinary study since February 2015 by employing specific methodologies for each interface involved: microclimate (cavity in three internal levels of karst and external atmosphere), hydrochemical (water infiltration and condensation), isotope geochemistry (air, soil) and microbiological contamination (air, soil, rock). Early data show very marked seasonal changes in the general ventilation pattern of the cavity (air renewal in winter) and areas with different microenvironmental stability, including sectors with a greater degree of isolation from the regime of general circulation of air in the cavity.

Prehistoric pigments: raw materials, processing and use of ochre during the Upper Palaolithic and Mesolithic of south-west Europe

Pigmenti preistorici: materie prime, lavorazione e uso dell'ocra durante il Paleolitico Superiore ed il Mesolitico dell'Europa sud-occidentale

Mineral pigments, such as red and yellow iron oxide and oxi-hydroxide ores, are one of the natura... more Mineral pigments, such as red and yellow iron oxide and oxi-hydroxide ores, are one of the natural resources exploited by Homo sapiens. Many hypotheses have been suggested for the use of colouring compounds, ranging from the symbolic and exclusive use of red ochre in Upper Palaeolithic burials, to daily activities. The discovery of cave art notably paved the way to new research. In the early 20th century, the chemist H. Moissan analysed some paintings from Font de Gaume and La Mouthe, finding ferrouginous ores classified as ochre (Clottes et al. 1990). The progress of studies and new discoveries gave rise to theories interpreting the use of pigments as a tangible evidence of the emergence of Modern Human Behaviour and of symbolism, as well as a proxy for the origin of language (Rifkin 2012). Further developments pointed to the fact that, over the Upper Pleistocene, as well as in later times, mineral pigments were used not only for their colouring properties but also to abrade and dry materials (Allard et al. 1997; Salomon 2009), to protect the human skin from the sun (Rifkin et al. 2015), to make adhesive agents (Becker &amp; Wendorf 1993; Bocquentin &amp; Bar-Yosef 2004; Gibson et al 2004; Lombard 2006) as well as medicines (Vélo 1984; Salomon 2009). The large number of ochre remains in some European prehistoric sites confirms the use of pigments in everyday activities of paleolithic and mesolithic human groups. From an archaeological perspective, to better understand the chaine operatoire behind the use of ochre, a redefinition of research methods is needed. Starting with the work done for the Franco-Cantabrian rock-art (Philibert 1994; Beyries et al. 1996; Clottes 1997, Ospitali et al. 2006; Hernanz et al. 2006; Arias et al. 2011; Jezequel et al. 2011; Olivares et al. 2013; Straus et al. 2015), the methods used in the systematic study of ochres from prehistoric Europe have not yet solved all problems connected to the exploitation of colouring compounds during Prehistory. The main objective of this work is the systematic study of archaeological ochres to better define the role of natural colouring materials within the symbolic, rituals and daily activities of hunter-gatherers that occupied the south-western Europe during Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, sampling the remains from the archaeological sites of Grotta del Romito, Grotta di Pozzo, Grotta Polesini, Grotta delle Settecannelle, Grotta delle Arene Candide, Barma Grande, Grotta dei Fanciulli, Grotta di San Teodoro, S’Omu e S’Orku (Italy), Riparo di Araguina Sennola (Corsica), El Juyo, Los Canes, La Garma A, Los Azules, Arangas (Spain), Lagar Velho and Moita do Sebastião (Portugal), Téviec, Höedic and La Vergne (France). To better understand the raw materials, the transformation, the functions and the symbolic value of pigments, this study will be conducted according to an &quot;integrated approach&quot; supporting archaeological contents and data with analytical methods developed within the chemical and physical sciences. The selection of the ochre assemblages was made following these criteria: • chronology between 28,000 cal BP and 5,000 cal BP, • prehistoric contexts with funerary and/or domestic evidences; • geographical position of archaeological sites between northern Spain, south-eastern France, Italian peninsula, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Portugal. The methodology of the research will be developed with a dual approach: theoretical and practical. The theoretical approach will cover the socio-cultural and symbolic dimension of human groups in south-west Europe during Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic. While the practical approach will focus on the analysis of physical and chemical parameters of archaeological ochre samples by stereoscopic microscope, SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, XRF, XRD, FT-IR. The use of these instruments allows gaining information about elemental composition, size and shape of minerals, mineral phases, composition of the main elements, as well as defining the main characters of crystalline minerals subjected to heat treatment. To collect, organize and effectively manage the data will be create a Spectral Database for Prehistoric Colouring Compounds. Each spectrum will be used for comparison purposes and also to identify a particular substance or to better clarify the structure of a compound. The database will be available on-line. It will represent a system up to date, easily accessible and modifiable according to predetermined criteria. Different users will share data and will make quick searches with specific and customized access to support the security and protection of the data.

La cueva de El Cierro (Fresnu, Ribasedesella). Campañas de excavación e investigación 1977-1979, 2014 y 2016

El Cierro se localiza en Fresnu, en el concejo de Ribadesella (Asturias). Sus coordenadas geográf... more El Cierro se localiza en Fresnu, en el concejo de Ribadesella (Asturias). Sus coordenadas geográficas son 43º 27’ 26’’ de latitud N y 5º 06’ 20’’ de longitud O. Se sitúa a unos 83 m sobre el nivel del mar, del que dista en la actualidad 3,1 km en línea recta a la desembocadura del río Sella y 2,1 km a los acantilados de Tereñes. La cueva se encuentra en el extremo oriental del macizo asturiano de la Cordillera Cantábrica, en un sector formado por materiales paleozoicos de la Zona Cantábrica del Macizo Ibérico. Se trata de una cavidad kárstica situada en las calizas de La Escalada, del Carbonífero (Moscoviense), constituidas por calizas micríticas y bioclásticas de color gris y muy recristalizadas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Petrographic study of iron age pottery samples from Alto de la Garma Hillfort ( North Spain): Assesment of the calcite dissolution caused by weathering

A Lapa do Sono (Sesimbra, Portugal) - News about a Neolithic Funerary Context

The Lapa do Sono cave (Sesimbra, Portugal), was identified in 2005 during a speleological survey.... more The Lapa do Sono cave (Sesimbra, Portugal), was identified in 2005 during a speleological survey. It was apparently intact at the time of its discovery. During that work, the site could be classified as a Prehistoric burial cave, as some human bones (including a complete skull) and pottery sherds were found. A detailed analysis of the latter and the 14 C of the skull confirm its classification in the regional late Early Neolithic. This paper presents a preliminary description and characterization of this context, which will constitute the basis for further archaeological field work.

New preliminary data on the exploitation of plants in Mesolithic shell middens: the evidence from plant macro-remains from the Sado Valley (Pocas de S. Bento and Cabeco do Pez)

Within the framework of the Sado Meso project, two shell middens (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do... more Within the framework of the Sado Meso project, two shell middens (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do Pez) in the Sado valley, Portugal, have been exhaustively sampled for plant macro-remains, in an effort to overcome two problems in prehistoric research: firstly, the scarcity of direct data about plant use by the Mesolithic peoples of Atlantic Iberia, Chapter Twenty-Five 348 and secondly, the neglect of sampling strategies for the recovery of plant macro-remains in the shell midden research tradition. The flotation technique has been applied to 100% of the sediment obtained during the new excavation campaigns and a considerable number of samples have been studied. We now have substantial data about the exploitation of a wide range of wild plants which might have played a role of economic importance within the human groups at the end of the Mesolithic.

Latitudinal gradient in dairy production with the introduction of farming in Atlantic Europe

Nature Communications, 2020

The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. ... more The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. Although the spread of domesticated plants and animals has been extensively tracked, it is unclear how these nascent economies developed within different environmental and cultural settings. Using molecular and isotopic analysis of lipids from pottery, here we investigate the foods prepared by the earliest farming communities of the European Atlantic seaboard. Surprisingly, we find an absence of aquatic foods, including in ceramics from coastal sites, except in the Western Baltic where this tradition continued from indigenous ceramic using hunter-gatherer-fishers. The frequency of dairy products in pottery increased as farming was progressively introduced along a northerly latitudinal gradient. This finding implies that early farming communities needed time to adapt their economic practices before expanding into more northerly areas. Latitudinal differences in the scale of dairy producti...

Highlighting the role of carnivores as a multifunctional resource among the Middle Magdalenian: The case of the Lower Galley of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain)

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

The Magdalenian of the Cantabrian region is a well-known archaeological period with many sites co... more The Magdalenian of the Cantabrian region is a well-known archaeological period with many sites contributing to the understanding of the economic and social organization dating ca. 14,800 cal BCE. Nevertheless, concerning the faunal management little is known on the role of carnivores as resource during this chronology, although they appear in many sites and archeozoological collections. Generally, carnivores have been related with site formation processes as bone accumulators and modifiers although they also play an important role as a multifunctional resource. The Lower Gallery of La Garma, is a site where exceptional preservation conditions allows archaeologist to analyze and interpret faunal remains with a unique perspective, that shows how carnivores can be seen as a resource linked with meat exploitation, fur procurement, ornament production or social/symbolic activities during the Magdalenian.

Palaeoenvironmental and chronological context of human occupations at El Cierro cave (Northern Spain) during the transition from the late Upper Pleistocene to the early Holocene

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

New data for the late Upper Palaeolithic in the Cantabrian region: Arangas Cave (Cabrales, Asturias, Spain)

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

The microstratigraphic record of human activities and formation processes at the Mesolithic shell midden of Poças de São Bento (Sado Valley, Portugal)

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2017

Shell midden formation is largely controlled by anthropogenic processes, resulting from human exp... more Shell midden formation is largely controlled by anthropogenic processes, resulting from human exploitation of aquatic resources. This makes shell middens archives of both human behaviour and palaeoenvironmental records. However, their often complex stratigraphy hampers the isolation of individual anthropogenic events. In the central/ southern coast of Portugal, extensive inland estuaries were preferential settings for Mesolithic groups from c. 6200 cal BC. Here, we present a microstratigraphic approach to the shell midden of Poças de São Bento, one of the largest and best-known sites in the Sado Valley. The microfacies approach was based on sedimentary components, their abundance and arrangement, and post-depositional processes. Anthropogenic processes identified as tossing events and anthropogenically reworked deposits allowed inferences on spatial organisation, preferential refuse areas, occupational surfaces, and temporality of the occupations. The presence of calcareous pebbles in the anthropogenic, shell-rich sediments, together with foraminifera, presumably from the estuarine marshes, is compared with the regional geology, providing a hypothetical location of the shellfish gathering. The microstratigraphy described reveals a full internal dynamic in the formation of the apparently homogeneous shell midden layer. The human activities inferred at Poças de São Bento have many similarities with those reported for Cabeço da Amoreira in the nearby Tagus palaeoestuary. This evidence points to the need for further micromorphological approaches in similar deposits. The study of shell midden formation processes, through integrative microcontextual approaches, plays a major role in understanding Mesolithic societies in the large early Holocene estuary environments of Atlantic Iberia.

Macrobotanical remains and shell-midden formation processes, are they related? The case of Poças de São Bento (Portugal)

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2016

The analysis of plant macroremains from Poças de São Bento, a shell-midden in the Sado Valley (Po... more The analysis of plant macroremains from Poças de São Bento, a shell-midden in the Sado Valley (Portugal), has provided interesting insights into the shell-midden formation processes and the presence of resources which are often Binvisible^in this kind of sites. Preservation and representation issues are discussed in a bidirectional way. Potential complementary explanations for the presence of such plant remains in hunter-gatherer open-air sites are offered. The understanding of plant exploitation patterns by these last huntergatherers in Portugal is crucial for the comprehension of the multifaceted phenomena of Neolithisations, in this case, characterised by a long availability phase and ultimate adoption of domesticates.

Efficient quantification procedures for data evaluation of portable X-ray fluorescence – Potential improvements for Palaeolithic cave art knowledge

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2016

Abstract Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has become fundamental in prehistoric re... more Abstract Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has become fundamental in prehistoric research since it enables chemical studies that preserve the integrity of rock art or other investigated archaeological objects. This unique and fragile expression of our ancestors requires the use of non-invasive and non-destructive in situ analytical techniques. This provides significant sources of physicochemical information for enhancing the comprehension of the symbolic and ideological realm of past societies. Thus, XRF data acquired in the field allow giving more detailed insights into the pigment used by Palaeolithic artists, the rock art organisation inside the cave and the different frequentation periods of it. However, if the qualitative study is now well established and routinely used, quantitative evaluation encounters difficulties linked to the context of the study (karstic environment in our case) and the heterogeneous nature of the analysed material (nature of the pigments used, presence of several layers, conservation state of the rock art, type of the rock art support). Moreover, the non-invasive nature of this technique is faced with a large number of data since it offers the acquisition of statistically relevant data by multiple measurements of different spots on the same figure. The present work struggles with the issue of filling the gap of well-adapted quantitative procedures devoted to caves or rock-shelters analyses, and offers efficient tools and methodologies, which take into account the specificities of the studied rock art and its context. Additionally, the evaluation procedures of the high volume of data have to be effective. The analyses of drawings, monochrome and polychrome paintings of three Palaeolithic key cave sites, namely Rouffignac and Font-de-Gaume in Dordogne, Southern-France, and La Garma in Cantabria, Northern Spain, illustrate the new approaches and procedures developed in this study.

Surface Scanning-New Perspectives for Archaeological Data Management and Methodology

Nuevas dataciones absolutas para el Neolítico de la Cueva de Arenaza (Bizcaia)

Munibe Antropologia Arkeologia, 1999

Se exponen los resultados de la datacion por C14 AMS de muestras de fauna domestica del nivel IC2... more Se exponen los resultados de la datacion por C14 AMS de muestras de fauna domestica del nivel IC2 de Arenaza. Los resultados, situados en la primera mitad del V milenio cal BC, confirman la introduccion de especies domesticas en la region Cantabrica en fechas no muy alejadas de las regiones proximas, como el Alto Ebro. Asi mismo, sugieren una atribucion del nivel IC2 a un Neolitico antiguo analogo al horizonte Epicardial de la Espana mediterranea

Castros y castra en …, 2010

Información del artículo 5.5. La Garma.

Las sepulturas de la cueva de Los Canes (Asturias) y la neolitización de la región cantábrica

Trabajos de Prehistoria, 1990

RESUMEN Se describen los enterramientos prehistóricos de la cueva de Los Canes (Asturias), corres... more

Actas del III Congreso del Neolítico en la Península Ibérica: Santander, 5 a 8 de octubre de 2003

Esta edición es propiedad del SERVICIO DE PUBLICACIONES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE CANTABRIA y no se pu... more

Falange grabada de la Galería Inferior de La Garma: Aportación al estudio del arte mobiliar del Magdaleniense Medio

Veleia: Revista de prehistoria, historia antigua, arqueología y filología clásicas, 2007

Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte, Cantabria)

The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several l... more The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several levels of galleries interconnected by vertical shafts. La Garma houses an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examS. Cuezva, et al. 2016. Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte... 308 ples of Palaeolithic cave art and settlement floors in an amazing state of preservation, as well as valuable evidence of symbolic behavior of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers. Its heritage values have made it worthy of their inclusion on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2008. The conservation of this site is a priority and it has been recently launched a program of preventive conservation. The main objective of this project is to achieve a better knowledge of the underground ecosystem and the impact of human presence in the underground microenvironment, both for purposes of sound management and research of the cavity as well as for a hypothetical opening to the public in the future. The underground karst system of La Garma, with various levels of galleries and directly connected with active water table, involves a complex movement of matter (water, air masses and aerosols) and energy. To achieve an adequate knowledge of environmental dynamics, our research group is conducting a multidisciplinary study since February 2015 by employing specific methodologies for each interface involved: microclimate (cavity in three internal levels of karst and external atmosphere), hydrochemical (water infiltration and condensation), isotope geochemistry (air, soil) and microbiological contamination (air, soil, rock). Early data show very marked seasonal changes in the general ventilation pattern of the cavity (air renewal in winter) and areas with different microenvironmental stability, including sectors with a greater degree of isolation from the regime of general circulation of air in the cavity.

Prehistoric pigments: raw materials, processing and use of ochre during the Upper Palaolithic and Mesolithic of south-west Europe

Pigmenti preistorici: materie prime, lavorazione e uso dell'ocra durante il Paleolitico Superiore ed il Mesolitico dell'Europa sud-occidentale

Mineral pigments, such as red and yellow iron oxide and oxi-hydroxide ores, are one of the natura... more Mineral pigments, such as red and yellow iron oxide and oxi-hydroxide ores, are one of the natural resources exploited by Homo sapiens. Many hypotheses have been suggested for the use of colouring compounds, ranging from the symbolic and exclusive use of red ochre in Upper Palaeolithic burials, to daily activities. The discovery of cave art notably paved the way to new research. In the early 20th century, the chemist H. Moissan analysed some paintings from Font de Gaume and La Mouthe, finding ferrouginous ores classified as ochre (Clottes et al. 1990). The progress of studies and new discoveries gave rise to theories interpreting the use of pigments as a tangible evidence of the emergence of Modern Human Behaviour and of symbolism, as well as a proxy for the origin of language (Rifkin 2012). Further developments pointed to the fact that, over the Upper Pleistocene, as well as in later times, mineral pigments were used not only for their colouring properties but also to abrade and dry materials (Allard et al. 1997; Salomon 2009), to protect the human skin from the sun (Rifkin et al. 2015), to make adhesive agents (Becker &amp; Wendorf 1993; Bocquentin &amp; Bar-Yosef 2004; Gibson et al 2004; Lombard 2006) as well as medicines (Vélo 1984; Salomon 2009). The large number of ochre remains in some European prehistoric sites confirms the use of pigments in everyday activities of paleolithic and mesolithic human groups. From an archaeological perspective, to better understand the chaine operatoire behind the use of ochre, a redefinition of research methods is needed. Starting with the work done for the Franco-Cantabrian rock-art (Philibert 1994; Beyries et al. 1996; Clottes 1997, Ospitali et al. 2006; Hernanz et al. 2006; Arias et al. 2011; Jezequel et al. 2011; Olivares et al. 2013; Straus et al. 2015), the methods used in the systematic study of ochres from prehistoric Europe have not yet solved all problems connected to the exploitation of colouring compounds during Prehistory. The main objective of this work is the systematic study of archaeological ochres to better define the role of natural colouring materials within the symbolic, rituals and daily activities of hunter-gatherers that occupied the south-western Europe during Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, sampling the remains from the archaeological sites of Grotta del Romito, Grotta di Pozzo, Grotta Polesini, Grotta delle Settecannelle, Grotta delle Arene Candide, Barma Grande, Grotta dei Fanciulli, Grotta di San Teodoro, S’Omu e S’Orku (Italy), Riparo di Araguina Sennola (Corsica), El Juyo, Los Canes, La Garma A, Los Azules, Arangas (Spain), Lagar Velho and Moita do Sebastião (Portugal), Téviec, Höedic and La Vergne (France). To better understand the raw materials, the transformation, the functions and the symbolic value of pigments, this study will be conducted according to an &quot;integrated approach&quot; supporting archaeological contents and data with analytical methods developed within the chemical and physical sciences. The selection of the ochre assemblages was made following these criteria: • chronology between 28,000 cal BP and 5,000 cal BP, • prehistoric contexts with funerary and/or domestic evidences; • geographical position of archaeological sites between northern Spain, south-eastern France, Italian peninsula, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Portugal. The methodology of the research will be developed with a dual approach: theoretical and practical. The theoretical approach will cover the socio-cultural and symbolic dimension of human groups in south-west Europe during Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic. While the practical approach will focus on the analysis of physical and chemical parameters of archaeological ochre samples by stereoscopic microscope, SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, XRF, XRD, FT-IR. The use of these instruments allows gaining information about elemental composition, size and shape of minerals, mineral phases, composition of the main elements, as well as defining the main characters of crystalline minerals subjected to heat treatment. To collect, organize and effectively manage the data will be create a Spectral Database for Prehistoric Colouring Compounds. Each spectrum will be used for comparison purposes and also to identify a particular substance or to better clarify the structure of a compound. The database will be available on-line. It will represent a system up to date, easily accessible and modifiable according to predetermined criteria. Different users will share data and will make quick searches with specific and customized access to support the security and protection of the data.

La cueva de El Cierro (Fresnu, Ribasedesella). Campañas de excavación e investigación 1977-1979, 2014 y 2016

El Cierro se localiza en Fresnu, en el concejo de Ribadesella (Asturias). Sus coordenadas geográf... more El Cierro se localiza en Fresnu, en el concejo de Ribadesella (Asturias). Sus coordenadas geográficas son 43º 27’ 26’’ de latitud N y 5º 06’ 20’’ de longitud O. Se sitúa a unos 83 m sobre el nivel del mar, del que dista en la actualidad 3,1 km en línea recta a la desembocadura del río Sella y 2,1 km a los acantilados de Tereñes. La cueva se encuentra en el extremo oriental del macizo asturiano de la Cordillera Cantábrica, en un sector formado por materiales paleozoicos de la Zona Cantábrica del Macizo Ibérico. Se trata de una cavidad kárstica situada en las calizas de La Escalada, del Carbonífero (Moscoviense), constituidas por calizas micríticas y bioclásticas de color gris y muy recristalizadas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Petrographic study of iron age pottery samples from Alto de la Garma Hillfort ( North Spain): Assesment of the calcite dissolution caused by weathering

A Lapa do Sono (Sesimbra, Portugal) - News about a Neolithic Funerary Context

The Lapa do Sono cave (Sesimbra, Portugal), was identified in 2005 during a speleological survey.... more The Lapa do Sono cave (Sesimbra, Portugal), was identified in 2005 during a speleological survey. It was apparently intact at the time of its discovery. During that work, the site could be classified as a Prehistoric burial cave, as some human bones (including a complete skull) and pottery sherds were found. A detailed analysis of the latter and the 14 C of the skull confirm its classification in the regional late Early Neolithic. This paper presents a preliminary description and characterization of this context, which will constitute the basis for further archaeological field work.

New preliminary data on the exploitation of plants in Mesolithic shell middens: the evidence from plant macro-remains from the Sado Valley (Pocas de S. Bento and Cabeco do Pez)

Within the framework of the Sado Meso project, two shell middens (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do... more Within the framework of the Sado Meso project, two shell middens (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do Pez) in the Sado valley, Portugal, have been exhaustively sampled for plant macro-remains, in an effort to overcome two problems in prehistoric research: firstly, the scarcity of direct data about plant use by the Mesolithic peoples of Atlantic Iberia, Chapter Twenty-Five 348 and secondly, the neglect of sampling strategies for the recovery of plant macro-remains in the shell midden research tradition. The flotation technique has been applied to 100% of the sediment obtained during the new excavation campaigns and a considerable number of samples have been studied. We now have substantial data about the exploitation of a wide range of wild plants which might have played a role of economic importance within the human groups at the end of the Mesolithic.

Latitudinal gradient in dairy production with the introduction of farming in Atlantic Europe

Nature Communications, 2020

The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. ... more The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. Although the spread of domesticated plants and animals has been extensively tracked, it is unclear how these nascent economies developed within different environmental and cultural settings. Using molecular and isotopic analysis of lipids from pottery, here we investigate the foods prepared by the earliest farming communities of the European Atlantic seaboard. Surprisingly, we find an absence of aquatic foods, including in ceramics from coastal sites, except in the Western Baltic where this tradition continued from indigenous ceramic using hunter-gatherer-fishers. The frequency of dairy products in pottery increased as farming was progressively introduced along a northerly latitudinal gradient. This finding implies that early farming communities needed time to adapt their economic practices before expanding into more northerly areas. Latitudinal differences in the scale of dairy producti...

Highlighting the role of carnivores as a multifunctional resource among the Middle Magdalenian: The case of the Lower Galley of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain)

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

The Magdalenian of the Cantabrian region is a well-known archaeological period with many sites co... more The Magdalenian of the Cantabrian region is a well-known archaeological period with many sites contributing to the understanding of the economic and social organization dating ca. 14,800 cal BCE. Nevertheless, concerning the faunal management little is known on the role of carnivores as resource during this chronology, although they appear in many sites and archeozoological collections. Generally, carnivores have been related with site formation processes as bone accumulators and modifiers although they also play an important role as a multifunctional resource. The Lower Gallery of La Garma, is a site where exceptional preservation conditions allows archaeologist to analyze and interpret faunal remains with a unique perspective, that shows how carnivores can be seen as a resource linked with meat exploitation, fur procurement, ornament production or social/symbolic activities during the Magdalenian.

Palaeoenvironmental and chronological context of human occupations at El Cierro cave (Northern Spain) during the transition from the late Upper Pleistocene to the early Holocene

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

New data for the late Upper Palaeolithic in the Cantabrian region: Arangas Cave (Cabrales, Asturias, Spain)

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

The microstratigraphic record of human activities and formation processes at the Mesolithic shell midden of Poças de São Bento (Sado Valley, Portugal)

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2017

Shell midden formation is largely controlled by anthropogenic processes, resulting from human exp... more Shell midden formation is largely controlled by anthropogenic processes, resulting from human exploitation of aquatic resources. This makes shell middens archives of both human behaviour and palaeoenvironmental records. However, their often complex stratigraphy hampers the isolation of individual anthropogenic events. In the central/ southern coast of Portugal, extensive inland estuaries were preferential settings for Mesolithic groups from c. 6200 cal BC. Here, we present a microstratigraphic approach to the shell midden of Poças de São Bento, one of the largest and best-known sites in the Sado Valley. The microfacies approach was based on sedimentary components, their abundance and arrangement, and post-depositional processes. Anthropogenic processes identified as tossing events and anthropogenically reworked deposits allowed inferences on spatial organisation, preferential refuse areas, occupational surfaces, and temporality of the occupations. The presence of calcareous pebbles in the anthropogenic, shell-rich sediments, together with foraminifera, presumably from the estuarine marshes, is compared with the regional geology, providing a hypothetical location of the shellfish gathering. The microstratigraphy described reveals a full internal dynamic in the formation of the apparently homogeneous shell midden layer. The human activities inferred at Poças de São Bento have many similarities with those reported for Cabeço da Amoreira in the nearby Tagus palaeoestuary. This evidence points to the need for further micromorphological approaches in similar deposits. The study of shell midden formation processes, through integrative microcontextual approaches, plays a major role in understanding Mesolithic societies in the large early Holocene estuary environments of Atlantic Iberia.

Macrobotanical remains and shell-midden formation processes, are they related? The case of Poças de São Bento (Portugal)

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2016

The analysis of plant macroremains from Poças de São Bento, a shell-midden in the Sado Valley (Po... more The analysis of plant macroremains from Poças de São Bento, a shell-midden in the Sado Valley (Portugal), has provided interesting insights into the shell-midden formation processes and the presence of resources which are often Binvisible^in this kind of sites. Preservation and representation issues are discussed in a bidirectional way. Potential complementary explanations for the presence of such plant remains in hunter-gatherer open-air sites are offered. The understanding of plant exploitation patterns by these last huntergatherers in Portugal is crucial for the comprehension of the multifaceted phenomena of Neolithisations, in this case, characterised by a long availability phase and ultimate adoption of domesticates.

Efficient quantification procedures for data evaluation of portable X-ray fluorescence – Potential improvements for Palaeolithic cave art knowledge

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2016

Abstract Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has become fundamental in prehistoric re... more Abstract Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has become fundamental in prehistoric research since it enables chemical studies that preserve the integrity of rock art or other investigated archaeological objects. This unique and fragile expression of our ancestors requires the use of non-invasive and non-destructive in situ analytical techniques. This provides significant sources of physicochemical information for enhancing the comprehension of the symbolic and ideological realm of past societies. Thus, XRF data acquired in the field allow giving more detailed insights into the pigment used by Palaeolithic artists, the rock art organisation inside the cave and the different frequentation periods of it. However, if the qualitative study is now well established and routinely used, quantitative evaluation encounters difficulties linked to the context of the study (karstic environment in our case) and the heterogeneous nature of the analysed material (nature of the pigments used, presence of several layers, conservation state of the rock art, type of the rock art support). Moreover, the non-invasive nature of this technique is faced with a large number of data since it offers the acquisition of statistically relevant data by multiple measurements of different spots on the same figure. The present work struggles with the issue of filling the gap of well-adapted quantitative procedures devoted to caves or rock-shelters analyses, and offers efficient tools and methodologies, which take into account the specificities of the studied rock art and its context. Additionally, the evaluation procedures of the high volume of data have to be effective. The analyses of drawings, monochrome and polychrome paintings of three Palaeolithic key cave sites, namely Rouffignac and Font-de-Gaume in Dordogne, Southern-France, and La Garma in Cantabria, Northern Spain, illustrate the new approaches and procedures developed in this study.

European Project CCC' : Common Cultural Connexions

by Marie-Yvane Daire, Garry Momber, and Pablo Arias

The Common Cultural Connections (CCC’s) project has been co-funded by the Creative Europe Program... more The Common Cultural Connections (CCC’s) project has been co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The project is being led by the Maritime Archaeology Trust (MAT) in the UK, alongside the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France and the University of Cantabria in Spain. The aim of the project is to enhance understanding of the shared cultural heritage of the three European partner regions through an innovative mobile exhibition.

The project will reach new audiences improving access to cultural heritage and providing greater opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to become involved, learning about their heritage and encouraging a sense of place and belonging through an understanding of our shared past. Moreover, it will build links between schools and groups of the three partner countries to continue to learn and exchange information about our shared cultural heritage.

The project will focus on an under-represented aspect of our shared heritage: archaeological evidence from coastal and marine sites. Our coastlines and waters are rich in sites of national and international interest, from unique submerged landscapes providing evidence from a time when the UK and Europe were linked, to shipwrecks, harbours and ports containing evidence of trade and networks between the partner countries. Due to their nature, however, such sites can often be overlooked as ‘out of sight, out of mind’. The project will work to raise the profile of this unique and finite resource, encouraging people to become involved in their cultural heritage.

New preliminary data on the exploitation of plants in Mesolithic shell middens: the evidence from plant macro-remains from the Sado Valley (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do Pez)

by Inés L . López-Dóriga and Pablo Arias

Two shell middens in the Sado Valley (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do Pez) have been, within the ... more Two shell middens in the Sado Valley (Poças de S. Bento and Cabeço do Pez) have been, within the framework of COASTTRAN and Sado-Meso projects, exhaustively sampled for plant macro-remains in an effort to overcome two problems in prehistoric research. Firstly, the lack of direct data about plant use by the Mesolithic peoples of Atlantic Iberia. Secondly, the methodological vicious circle of not sampling and recovering carefully because it is supposed that nothing is going to appear, so nothing appears because appropriate sampling and recovery methods have not been applied. Thus, after applying the flotation technique to 100% of the sediment obtained during our excavations, we now have substantial data about the exploitation of a wide range of wild plants which might have played a role of economic importance within the human groups at the end of the Mesolithic.

Prehistoric pigments: raw materials, processing and use of ochre during Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic of south-west Europe

by Eliana Catelli and Pablo Arias

Looking for the ‘Asturian’ dwelling areas: New data from El Alloru and Sierra Plana de la Borbolla (Asturias, Spain)

by Pablo Arias and Inés L . López-Dóriga

Foraging Assemblages Volume 1. Serbian Archaeological Society, 2021

The ‘Asturian culture’ is an archaeological techno-complex characteristic of the coastal areas of... more The ‘Asturian culture’ is an archaeological techno-complex characteristic of the coastal areas of central
and eastern Asturias and western Cantabria in northern Spain. Despite a long tradition of research on this
archaeological phenomenon, little information has been acquired about domestic structures. Even locations
of living areas have been poorly understood. Dealing with this problem in northern Spain has been one of the
main aims of COASTTRAN, a research project that has investigated the transition from the Late Mesolithic to
the Neolithic on the Atlantic coast of south-western Europe. This paper presents the results of the programme
that systematically investigated this issue. The programme included a detailed geomorphological assessment
of the most promising areas, magnetometry survey, sedimentological cores, and archaeological test pits in
two selected open-air sites: El Alloru and Sierra Plana de la Borbolla. The preliminary results of this research
are presented here, and implications for the study of the Mesolithic of northern Iberia are discussed.

Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte, Cantabria)

by ROBERTO ONTAÑÓN, Valme Jurado, and Pablo Arias

The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several l... more The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several levels of galleries interconnected
by vertical shafts. La Garma houses an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examS.
Cuezva, et al. 2016. Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte...
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ples of Palaeolithic cave art and settlement floors in an amazing state of preservation, as well as valuable evidence of
symbolic behavior of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers. Its heritage values have made it worthy of their inclusion on the
World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2008. The conservation of this site is a priority and it has been recently launched
a program of preventive conservation. The main objective of this project is to achieve a better knowledge of the underground
ecosystem and the impact of human presence in the underground microenvironment, both for purposes
of sound management and research of the cavity as well as for a hypothetical opening to the public in the future.
The underground karst system of La Garma, with various levels of galleries and directly connected with active water
table, involves a complex movement of matter (water, air masses and aerosols) and energy. To achieve an adequate
knowledge of environmental dynamics, our research group is conducting a multidisciplinary study since February
2015 by employing specific methodologies for each interface involved: microclimate (cavity in three internal levels
of karst and external atmosphere), hydrochemical (water infiltration and condensation), isotope geochemistry (air,
soil) and microbiological contamination (air, soil, rock). Early data show very marked seasonal changes in the general
ventilation pattern of the cavity (air renewal in winter) and areas with different microenvironmental stability, including
sectors with a greater degree of isolation from the regime of general circulation of air in the cavity.

Luces en la oscuridad: soft computing y arte rupestre en el sitio magdaleniense de la Galería Inferior de La Garma (Omoño, Cantabria, España)

by ROBERTO ONTAÑÓN and Pablo Arias

Resumen Las innovaciones geomáticas han impactado de lleno en la forma de registrar, analizar y r... more Resumen Las innovaciones geomáticas han impactado de lleno en la forma de registrar, analizar y representar las evidencias arqueológicas. Su aplicación en Arqueología permite el diseño de protocolos ajustados a las necesidades de cada investigación arqueológica, abriendo nuevas formas de abordar problemas y encontrar entornos de solución, lo que hace relativamente poco tiempo no era posible ni en planteamiento ni en ejecución. Aquí pretendemos trabajar con dos conjuntos de arte rupestre que, según su localización dentro la Galería Inferior de La Garma, únicamente pudieron haber sido creados y visualizados mediante algún tipo de dispositivo de luz artificial (lámparas de grasa animal). A través de un modelo volumétrico de la cueva, obtenido con laser-escáner, y el empleo de software de diseño 3D hemos simulado y explorado diferentes condiciones de luz artificial sobre ambos casos. Primero, en un panel con motivos zoomorfos emplazado en una zona accesible y con libertad de movimientos; y segundo, en una zona de difícil movilidad (techos bajos) donde se conservan manos pintadas. Nuestro propósito es aproximarnos a diferentes posibilidades en la configuración de luces en función de dos acciones (producción y visualización), así como la estimación del espacio necesario para llevarlas a cabo. Palabras clave: arte paleolítico, iluminación de cuevas, Soft Computing, simulación de escenas Abstract Geomatic innovations fully impacted on how we record, analyze and represent archaeological evidences. Their application in Archaeology allows us to design tighter protocols related with the needs of each archaeological research, open new ways to address problems and finding solution environments which weren't possible neither approach nor execution until recent times. This proposal aims to work with two sets of rock art that according to their location, in the Lower Gallery of La Garma, they have been created and displayed by some kind of artificial light device (e.g. fat-burning lamps). Through a volumetric model of the cave – obtained with laser scanning technology– and the use of 3D design software, we have simulated and explored different conditions of artificial lighting on both study cases. At first, on a panel with zoomorphic motives located in an accessible area with freedom of movement; second one is located in a reduced mobility place where painted hands are preserved. Our purpose is to approach different possibilities in light configuration linked to two sets of actions (production and visualization of art) and to estimate the potential space needed for them.

La transición al Neolítico en la región Cantábrica. Estado de la cuestión

by ROBERTO ONTAÑÓN and Pablo Arias

Une nouvelle approche pour l'étude de l'habitat mésolithique dans le Nord de la péninsule Ibérique Recherches dans le site de plein air d'El Alloru (Asturies, Espagne

by Felix Teichner, Marián Cueto, Inés L . López-Dóriga, Jesus Tapia, Eneko Iriarte, Christoph Salzmann, Pablo Arias, Paloma Uzquiano Ollero, and Sara Núñez de la Fuente

L'Asturien est un des complexes culturels classiques du Mésolithique côtier européen. Depuis sa d... more L'Asturien est un des complexes culturels classiques du Mésolithique côtier européen. Depuis sa découverte par le comte de la Vega del Sella en 1914, cent-trente sites environ ont été catalogués rien que dans l'est des Asturies et des dizaines d'entre eux ont été fouillés. Cependant, les informations archéologiques sur ce complexe sont très biaisées. La plupart des sites sont des amas coquilliers dont seuls de petits témoins des couches originales, souvent cimentés, sont préservés. Un aspect particulièrement mal connu est celui de la caractérisation des lieux d'habitat. Malgré la grande densité de sites (une des plus élevées du Mésolithique européen) aucun sol ou structure d'habitation n'a été décrit. C'est pour cela que dans le cadre de « COASTTRAN », un projet de recherche orienté sur l'étude du Mésolithique et la transition au Néolithique dans les aires côtières de l'Europe atlantique, une recherche spécifique sur ce problème a été planifiée. Nous sommes partis de l'hypothèse que la plupart des lieux d'habitat asturiens auraient été des lieux de plein air proches des grottes avec amas coquilliers, ces derniers étant des zones d'accumulation de résidus. Pour vérifier cette hypothèse, certaines aires où les conditions de préservation des sédiments holocènes semblaient appropriées à une prospection géophysique ont été sélectionnées. Nous présentons ici les résultats obtenus dans un site de plein air près de l'amas coquillier de la grotte d'El Alloru (Llanes, Asturies). Le site a fait l'objet d'une prospection géophysique et d'une fouille en 2013. Dans cet article, nous allons décrire sommairement la stratigraphie, suivie d'une discussion des datations absolues pour ensuite présenter les résultats préliminaires des études de l'industrie lithique, la micromorphologie, l'archéozoologie (mammifères et invertébrés marins) et l'archéobotanique (palynologie, anthracologie et carpologie). El Alloru présente une longue séquence de témoignages d'activités humaines en plein air, qui débutent à un moment encore indéterminé du Paléolithique supérieur. Elles se poursuivent au Mésolithique jusque dans la Protohistoire (á la transition du Bronze final à l'âge du Fer ancien). La phase la plus remarquable est celle du Mésolithique final, datée entre 7000 et 5500 cal. BC avec une plus grande densité de preuves d'occupation, attribuables au complexe culturel asturien. Dans cette phase, nos recherches ont permis de constater l'exis-tence d'une aire d'activité, localisée dans une zone à l'extérieur à proximité d'une grotte renfermant un amas coquillier. La relative variété des restes archéologiques répertoriés, les structures localisées ainsi que les indices de piétinement sur la base du niveau principal d'occupation semblent en témoigner. Il est encore tôt pour déterminer si nous nous trouvons face à un campement ou face à une zone dédiée à une quelconque activité spécifique mais dans tous les cas, une hypothèse à nuancer paraît se confirmer : celle de l'existence d'implantations asturiennes dans les environs des grottes présentant des amas coquilliers. L'existence de différences entre le contenu archéologique du gisement de plein air et celui du dépôt de l'amas coquillier est aussi à remarquer, en particulier la densité de matériel lithique, ce qui semble confirmer que les amas en grotte étaient essentiellement des zones d'accumulation de résidus associées à d'autres installations proches. L'industrie mésolithique d'El Alloru a été réalisée principalement en quartzite. L'ensemble se détache par sa haute densité de pics asturiens, une des plus élevées connues. Les ensembles archéobotanique et archéozoologique suggèrent que les groupes qui occupaient El Alloru durant le Mésolithique exploitaient une large série de biotopes de la zone orientale des Asturies. L'étude anthracologique converge dans cette direction ; elle indique que l'approvisionnement de bois se pratiquait dans les forêts de chênes caducifoliés qui devraient alors couvrir les zones à substrat plus acide, mais aussi les bois de chêne vert poussant sur les massifs calcaires. La faune de

Spain: Underwater exploration on a narrow continental shelf

The Archaeology of Europe’s Drowned Landscapes, 2020

In spite of Spain’s long coastline (nearly 8000 km) and its well-established tradition in underwa... more In spite of Spain’s long coastline (nearly 8000 km) and its well-established tradition in underwater archaeology, the prehistoric settlement of the continental shelf is practically unknown with very few finds. Underwater research has focused on naval archaeology and, until very recently, no attempt had been made to look for prehistoric sites. In the past decade, new research projects have been launched to explore selected areas on the Cantabrian shelf and offshore of Gibraltar . This chapter summarizes the currently available evidence of submerged prehistoric archaeology and the preliminary results of these new projects.

Magdalenian floors in the lower gallery of La Garma. A preliminary approach.

by Débora ZURRO and Pablo Arias

S. Gaudzinski-Windheuser, O. Jöris, M. Sensburg, M. Street, E. Turner (Eds.) Site-internal spatial organization of hunter-gatherer societies: case studies from the European Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, pp. 31-51. Mainz: Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum., 2011

La cueva de El Cierro (Fresnu, Ribadesella): campañas de excavación e investigación 1977-1979, 2014 y 2016

by Jesús F. Jordá, Amaia Aguirre Uribesalgo, Marián Cueto, Rodrigo Portero Hernández, Luis Teira, Paloma Uzquiano Ollero, and Pablo Arias