PALEONTOLOGIA I EVOLUCIÓ, Memòria especial nº4 (2009), p.

225 - 231

PREPARATION AND CONSERVATION TREATMENTS OF THE PLEISTOCENE

FOSSIL VERTEBRATE REMAINS FROM THE CAVE SITE OF TOSSAL DE LA FONT

(VILAFAMÉS, CASTELLÓ, SPAIN).

Lucía López-Polín1, Anna Bertral1, Bernat Font1, Andreu Ollé1,2

(1) Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social. Pl. Imperial Tarraco 1,

43005 – Tarragona (Spain). lucia.lopezpolin@iphes.cat

(2) Àrea de Prehistòria, Facultat de Lletres, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Av. Catalunya

35, 43002 – Tarragona (Spain).

ABSTRACT

In this paper we present the preparation of some fossils from the Pleistocene levels of the

cave site of Tossal de la Font. The presence of carbonated concretions, which is the main

feature of these specimens, is a problem common to many remains from some calcareous

caves. Treatments are based on mechanical cleaning, and intervention criteria are directed

at recovering the palaeontological and archaeological information.

   
INTRODUCTION paleontological record (Gusi et al. 1983,

The skeletal remains found in 1987), as well as human frequentation

limestone caves frequently show during the Holocene (Gusi & Aguilella,

problems related to the presence of 1998). Excavations at the site were

calcium carbonate in the sediment. This resumed in 2004 (Olària et al. 2007)

product precipitates and hardens the and are still in progress.

sediment of the cave infill and, The Pleistocene archaeological

moreover, usually forms concretions and palaeontological record includes

that adhere strongly to the fossils. the fossil remains of a variety of

Although the problem is very common, macromammals and a reduced

there are few specific reports of assemblage of flint stone tools. Of

material assemblages that illustrate the particular note are the Neanderthal

problem. In this paper we present the fossils discovered in the site, dated

preparation and conservation work around 90,000 years ago (Arsuaga &

carried out on the remains recovered Bermúdez de Castro, 1987, Arsuaga et

from the Pleistocene levels of the cave al. 2001).

site at Tossal de la Font, which are

representative of some problems that THE MATERIALS AND THEIR STATE

can be usually found at this kind of site. OF PRESERVATION

The treated specimens are

THE SITE bones and teeth recovered during

The cave site of Cova del 2005-2008 field seasons in the

Tossal de la Font is located in the Pleistocene units named I and II. Most

village of Vilafamés, 25 km north from of these remains belong to herbivores

the city of Castelló de la Plana (Spain). (mainly Cervidae, but also Caprinae,

Research at the site in the early 1980's Bovinae, Equidae and Rhinocerotidae),

documented an Upper Pleistocene and also to carnivores (Felidae),

karstic infill with an interesting archaeo- omnivores (Suidae), rodents

   
(Leporidae) and reptiles (Chelonia). (made of carbonated clay including

Many of them are incomplete elements. sometimes small limestone clasts).

The problems encountered when trying It should be noted that

to conserve these materials are related approximately one quarter of the fossils

to the limestone media in which they recovered were not problematic

were found. Most of the treated fossils because they presented only slight

come from very compact and hard clay remains of clay sediment, fractures and

layers with calcium carbonate infilling. loss of cohesion.

Digging up such sediment is difficult,

and requires the use of chisels and THE TREATMENTS

other powerful tools to break it with Criteria

great force. To avoid damage, some The intervention criteria were

materials are consolidated, reinforced focused on gathering the information

with gauze bandage or extracted by present in the specimens. Therefore,

block lifting. Nevertheless, most of the we first reduced the use of both

fossils break during recovery. cleaning chemicals and consolidants

Once recovered, the where possible in order to respect the

conservator is left with a material that is material and allow future research.

often fractured (sometimes into many Second, we tried to respect the bone

fragments) and mostly covered by hard surface so that it could be analyzed;

sediment strongly joined to the surface. this means that cleaning was performed

This sediment can be roughly with extreme care so as not to erode or

presented in two ways: first, as a thin scratch the surface. Finally, we had to

and continuous carbonated layer with clean and to reshape the fossils to a

little clay (thickness less than 5mm); high degree to allow all their anatomical

second, as thicker concretions, which details to be studied. The key point was

may completely envelop the remains to find the equilibrium between the

requirements of zooarchaeological,

   
taphonomical and taxonomical studies. high clay content) to chemicals.

Thus, in order to preserve the Cleaning was carried out with chisels,

maximum information, the decisions an ultrasound piezoelectric device, a

regarding the intervention were adapted pneumatic engraver and surgical tools

to each fossil depending on specific (mainly scalpels) and it was sometimes

conditions such as its singularity or done in combination with acetone,

state of preservation. For example, alcohol or water. Thin layers of

when the fossil was deformed or broken sediment (up to 5mm) could be easily

prior to recovery (before or during the removed using scalpels or an

burial) we had to consider whether ultrasound piezoelectric device. Thicker

taphonomical or taxonomical layers were more difficult to remove.

information was more relevant. If Here, pneumatic engraving was

taphonomical information was sometimes useful, although the process

considered more relevant, then we did was very time-consuming due to the

not reshape the specimen, whereas if extreme hardness of the matrix. The

we wanted to carry out a taxanomic more powerful chisels could only be

study, we had to recover the original used on the largest specimens.

shape of the fossil. Consequently, preparation was slow

because we could not use tools as

General procedures heavy as we would have liked. This

As most of the problems were meant that sediment often had to be

related to the presence of carbonated removed by scalpel, which is very slow.

matrix and to fragmentation, the In some cases, the adhesion of the

treatments mainly consisted of cleaning bone surface to the sediment was

and reshaping. Chemical cleaning was higher than the cohesion of the bone

ruled out because of the risk of damage itself: this meant that removing the

to the bones and because of the limited matrix also meant removing a thin

sensitivity of the sediment (which has external layer of the bone. For this

   
reason, in certain cases we chose to remember that, while the conservation

leave the sediment instead of skills described are simple, special

completely removing it. Finally, skills and tools are required to

consolidation (when needed) was done mechanically prepare and handle

with acrylic resin (3 to 10% solution of certain kinds of matrices. In addition to

paraloid B72 in acetone). Joining was preparation and conservation skills, the

done with cellulose nitrate adhesive or conservator should have knowledge of

paraloid B72. In a few cases, we used fossil morphology because anatomical

calcium carbonate powder mixed with knowledge is the best guide when the

paraloid B72 to fill in some voids. fossils are almost completely

embedded in a matrix that is not easy

FINAL REMARKS to remove. He or she should also be

Studying the materials of Tossal aware of which aspects of the fossils

de la Font site means that they have to are going to be investigated in any

be prepared. The main problem given scientific study (e.g., bone

affecting the fossils is the kind of matrix surface, exact bone length, the relevant

they come from, with calcium carbonate points of a tooth, etc.).

causing sediment hardening and the

presence of concretion layers on the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

bones. This is a characteristic situation Research at the site of Tossal

in many cave sites located in karstic de la Font is carried out within the

environments. In such cases, staff framework of a collaboration program

trained in both excavation and involving the Jaume I University of

preparation or conservation treatments Castelló (UJI), the Servei

are needed to recover and save d’Investigacions Arqueològiques i

valuable information. Prehistòriques de la Diputació de

In short, a conservator without Castelló (SIAP) and the Institut Català

experience in this field should de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució

   
Social (IPHES). Fieldwork is directed by Universitat de València: 265-

Carme Olària (UJI) and funded by 322.

Conselleria de Cultura i Esport, GUSI, F., CARBONELL, E., ESTÉVEZ,

Generalitat Valenciana. We would like J., MORA, R., MATEU, J., YLL,

to extend our thanks to all the R. (1983). "Avance preliminar

excavation and research team. sobre el yacimiento del

Pleistoceno medio, Tossal de la

REFERENCES Font (Vilafamés, Castellón)."

ARSUAGA, J. L. & J. M. BERMÚDEZ Cuadernos de Prehistoria y

DE CASTRO (1987). "Estudio Arqueología Castellonenses 7

de los restos humanos del (1980): 7-29.

yacimiento de la Cova del GUSI, F., GIBERT, J., AGUSTÍ, J.,

Tossal de la Font (Villafamés, PÉREZ, A. (1987). "Nuevos

Castellón)." Cuadernos de datos del yacimiento Cova del

Prehistoria y Arqueología Tossal de la Font (Vilafamés,

Castellonenses 10 (1984): 19- Castellón)." Cuadernos de

34. Prehistoria y Arqueología

ARSUAGA, J. L., MARTÍNEZ, I., Castellonenses 10 (1984): 7-18.

VILLAVERDE BONILLA, V., GUSI, F. AND G. AGUILELLA (1998).

LORENZO, C., QUAM, R., "Les ocupacions eneolítiques de

CARRETERO, J.M., GRACIA, la Cova de Dalt del Tossal de la

A. (2001). Fósiles humanos del Font (Vilafamés, Castelló)."

País Valenciano. De Quaderns de Prehistòria i

Neandertales a Cromañones. El Arqueologia de Castelló 19: 53-

inicio del poblamiento humano 104.

en las tierras valencianas. V.

Villaverde Bonilla. València,

   
OLÀRIA, C., GUSI, F., CARBONELL,

E., OLLÉ, A., VALLVERDÚ, J.,

ALLUÉ, E., BENNÀSAR, L.,

BISCHOFF, J. L., BURJACHS,

F., CÁCERES, I., EXPÓSITO, I.,

LÓPEZ-POLÍN, L., SALADIÉ,

P., VERGÈS, J.M. (2007).

"Noves intervencions al jaciment

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Quaderns de Prehistòria i

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(2005): 9-26.

   
 FIGURES

Figure 1. A deer metatarsal embedded in very compact and hard sediment (a).
Application of a gauze bandage with consolidant prior to lifting (b). Removing sediment
with an ultrasound piezoelectric device (c). Restored fossil including gap-filling (d).

Figure 2. A deer mandible embedded

in its matrix (a). The specimen and all
the fragments broken during extraction
(b). Prepared mandible (c).

 
Figure 3. A wildcat metatarsal before (a) and after (b) the treatment. An example of a
well-preserved fossil with a thin layer of carbonated sediment to be removed.