Los Aljezares archaeological site (Alicante, Spain) and the MIS 6/5 open‐air settlement in the Iberian Peninsula

ABSTRACT The record of open‐air Middle Palaeolithic sites in the Iberian Peninsula—specifically in the Mediterranean basin—is scarce, hampering the interpretation of the landscape use strategies developed by Neanderthals in this area. In this work, we present Los Aljezares, a new Middle Palaeolithic...

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Published in:Journal of quaternary science 2022-08, Vol.37 (6), p.1091-1111
Main Authors: EIXEA, ALEIX, CUEVAS‐GONZÁLEZ, JAIME, DÍEZ‐CANSECO, DAVINIA, BEL, MIGUEL ÁNGEL, BONNET, ANA, CARRIÓN, YOLANDA, MARTÍNEZ‐ALFARO, ÁLVARO, MARTÍNEZ‐RUBIO, VÍCTOR, MARTÍNEZ‐VAREA, CARMEN M., PARDO, RAQUEL, RIOS‐GARAIZAR, JOSEBA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbonates
Fluvial sediments
Geological data
Iberian Peninsula
landscape
Middle Palaeolithic
Pleistocene
Raw materials
Sediment deposits
Sedimentary basins
settlement patterns
Vinalopó River
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Summary:ABSTRACT The record of open‐air Middle Palaeolithic sites in the Iberian Peninsula—specifically in the Mediterranean basin—is scarce, hampering the interpretation of the landscape use strategies developed by Neanderthals in this area. In this work, we present Los Aljezares, a new Middle Palaeolithic site found in Pleistocene fluvio‐lacustrine deposits in the sedimentary basin of the Vinalopó River. A U/Th age (132 ± 10 ka) from associated carbonate deposits allows us to attribute the site to the uppermost part of the Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene (marine isotope stage 6/5). To date, a total of two levels of human occupation have been identified in which the density of lithic remains is low compared with cave and rock shelter sites in the region. The first results of technology and use‐wear, raw material procurement and geological data indicate a settlement in Los Aljezares along a territory characterised by ephemeral channels and their associated palustrine and lacustrine zones. This palaeoenvironmental setting provided biotic and abiotic resources in a transit area between inland and coastal locations.
ISSN:0267-8179
1099-1417
DOI:10.1002/jqs.3424