Annali dellUniversit degli Studi di Ferrara Museologia Scientifica e Naturalistica

ISSN 1824-2707 volume speciale 2008

Spatial analisys of Bolomor Cave level IV (Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencia) Pablo Saudo Die* Directed by: Antoni Canals* , Josep Fernndez Peris ** , Manuel Vaquero *
* Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evoluci Social. rea de Prehistria de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Plaa Imperial Trraco, 1, 43005 Tarragona (Espaa). ** SIP (Servei de Investigaci Prehistrica) Museo de Prehistoria. Diputacin de Valencia. C/ Corona, 36. 46003 Valencia (Espaa) psd@prehistoria.urv.cat

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Abstract This paper presents the results of an intrasite study of level IV of Bolomor cave (Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencia). The main objective of this study is to investigate the occupation strategies used by the human groups that inhabited the cave during the early Upper Pleistocene. The proposed study is based upon the characterisation of archaeostratigraphic units representing small diachronic developments, the study of which has allowed the identification of two clearly differentiated units in level IV (CBIV-1 and CBIV-2). Through applying a methodology that combines three-dimensional representation, GIS use, analysis by distribution planes, statistics and lithic refits it has been possible to reconstruct the development of and changes in an occupation strategy that is based upon the organisation of domestic units associated with hearths. The evidence from levels CBIV-1 and CBIV-2 attests to the existence of complex strategies of occupation in the transition from the Middle to the Upper Pleistocene indicative of highly-developed social behaviour and spatial organisation in the Neanderthal groups of this period. Keywords: spatial analysis, Middle and Upper Pleistocene, Bolomor cave, domestic areas, hearths, Neanderthals. __________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction This paper proposes an intrasite spatial analysis, whose aim is the interpretation of the occupation strategies of the human groups that inhabited level IV of Bolomor Cave. The applied analysis takes in consideration the vertical and horizontal dimension of the record, exploring archaeostratigraphicaly the twelve superior levels of the stratigraphic sequence and studying later the archaeostratigraphic units CBIV-1 and CBIV2, present in level IV. Methodology The spatial analysis of archaeological sets requires a previous archaeostratigraphic study, that allows the establishment of minimal temporary units present in homogenous sediment packages, by the identification of continuous sterile beds (Canals, 1993). The presence of these sterile beds demonstrates a rupture in the vertical continuity of the occupation, allowing a clear limit between the different archaeostratigraphic units to be established. In the study the formation processes of the archaeological record and the importance of post-depositional processes may also be considered (Schiffer, 1987; Butzer, 1982). The anthropic occupation strategies are characterized by a distribution of the activities, these generate an identifiable pattern by the accumulation of the archaeological materials. The identification of the spatial units is based upon the observation of the record distribution and on the boundary of the existing accumulations. The archaeological size-sorting determines the location of the activity areas,

P. Saudo Die / Annali dell'Universit di Ferrara, Mus. Sci. Nat. Volume speciale 2008

since the small remains are deposited in situ, indicating the production area. The lithic refits allow the reconstruction of the exploitation sequences and the establishment of the temporal relations of the record. The presence of these has been established from the previous identification of Raw Material Units (RMU) existing and identifiable from macrocospic criteria (Roebroeks, 1988). The refited products, by the physical connection between their surfaces, have been classified and represented according to the model proposed by Cziesla (1990) as: production-sequences refits, breaks refits and modifications refits, destining one fourth category -denominated insert- for the elements fractured by natural or mechanical processes. Presentation of data The studied area has been divided in 8 crosssectional sections (bands 2 and 4) and 9 longitudinal ones (bands D, F and H), of 25 cm thickness, with a total of 42 control loops (Fig. 1). The seventeen studied sections demonstrate the existence of a continuous sterile level. This bed displays materials punctual intrusions and a variable thickness between three and eight centimeters, that agree volumetrically and topographically with the intersection of the corresponding profiles (Fig. 2). The topographical position of this presents at unequal levels, with values between -202 cm and -207 cm, in the most elevated zone, and -239 cm -247 cm in the lowest. This continuous sterile bed divides the homogenous sedimentary package of level IV into two archaeostratigraphic units: CBIV-1 and CBIV-2. Unit CBIV-1 has an approximated thickness of 13 cm and is limited upper by level III, and inferiorly by the referred sterile level. Unit CBIV-2, with a maximum thickness of 20 cm, is limited upper by the sterile level and inferiorly by level V. Both units display a high temporary resolution of the archaeological record, that contrasts with the called palimpsests with big diachronic development. CBIV-1 archaeostratigraphic unit has different activity episodies, identified by the accumulations of small size elements. These indicate the existence of an activity area, where the archaeological elements rest in their production place or drop zone (Binford, 1978, 1983; Brooks and Yellen, 1987; Stevenson, 1991; Vaquero and Past, 2001). The activity area

opposite zone, contains bigger and varied archaeological items, that could correspond to a rejected activity outside the activity area. The small size bone elements appear grouped in squares D2, D3 and F3, associated with a concentration of bone impact flakes (Fig. 3), that indicate a fracturation activity episode. The small size lithics also appear grouped in a main accumulation that occupy the squares B2, B3, D2, D3 and F2 and a secondary one in H3/H4. The first is spatially associated with the fracturation area described, showing a relationship between both. The other, formed by small debris and flakes, corresponds to a very concrete activity episode; although the absence of refits prevents to establish relations of temporality between both. The existence of diverse ended cores in the limit of the accumulation seems to indicate a preventive maintenance, being rejected outside the activity area after their use (Schiffer, 1972, 1987; Yellen, 1977; Binford, 1978, 1983). CBIV-1 is defined by a high temporary relation of the archaeological record, that allows to the definition of the drop zone where the anthropic activities were developed. The distortion caused by activity episodes superposition is minimum, indicating a high synchronic relation of the record. The record presents a multifunctional area, demonstrated by the superposition of small size bones and lthics, where is developed the production and use of lthic tools and the processing and consumption of animal resources. This archaeological record presents the characteristics of a domestic area, place in which they are developed most of the daily workings (OConnell, 1987; Yellen, 1977; Brooks and Yellen, 1987). The identification of these is similar with the observation and analysis in other archaeological deposits (Vaquero and Past, 2001; Henry et al., 2004). In summary, in unit CBIV-1 the domestic areas suppose the basic spatial unit, establishing the guideline of occupation model of the small surface. Unit CBIV-2 presents a different and more heterogeneous pattern, demonstrated by the existence of diverse structural elements that articulate the space between that emphasize the own shelter, the hearths, the block accumulations identified and the structures latentes. The internal organization of the studied surface is conditioned by the shelter drip-line, creating a differentiation between the protected zone and the external one, just as identified in CBIV-1.

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Fig. 1. Sections and control loops for the archaeostratigraphic study.

Fig. 2. Level IV longitudinal section with the sterile layer dividing the two archaeostratigraphic units.

The relationship between the hearths location and the elements of the shelter, is a determining factor in the organization of the occupation strategies of this unit, in the line with the observations of other scholars (Thomas et al., 1983; Henry et al., 2004). The CBIV-2 hearths are aligned under the shelter drip-line and the activity area is associated with the internal lateral. This situation provides a space with light and heat, free of the smoke produced by the hearths. The small size items indicate the production place, originating in an activity area associated to the hearths, that is developed in internal lateral of these (Binford, 1978, 1983; Brooks and Yellen, 1987; Stevenson 1991; Vaquero and Past, 2001). In the outside lateral small items accumulations are not documented. The characteristics of the record in this zone is the presence of big size items and ended cores. These elements indicate the development of preventive maintenance activities, rejecting the

elements produced or employed in the activity area, towards a toss zone located in the frontal space (Schiffer, 1972, 1987; Yellen, 1977; Binford, 1978, 1983). This location of the archaeological materials agrees with a drop and toss model, corresponding to hearth-related assemblages (Binford, 1978, 1983). The small size bones and impact flakes appear grouped in the squares F2 and F3 (Fig. 4), associated with hearth B and the small thermal impact close to this, indicating a faunal processing activity. The small size lithics form a great concentration that occupies the squares B2, B4, D2, D3, F2 and F3 (the emptiness of the B3 square is artificial) (Fig. 5). The recovered material presents different reduction and transformation episodes, placed in the area close to the hearths, spatially coincident with the disposition of the processing area. The archaeological accumulation of unit CBIV-2 creates a space unit, in which a large set of daily activities were developed, like food processing and consumption and tool production. The development of these activities generated small size elements deposited in situ, that allow the identification of the activity areas, in agreement with the definition of drop zones (Binford, 1978, 1983). These activity areas display the characteristics of a domestic area, or spatial unit where most of the groups daily activities were developed (OConnell, 1987; Yellen, 1977). Activities that were developed around the hearths, generating hearth-related assemblages, are widely ethnographically (Binford, 1978, 1983; OConnell, 1987; OConnell et al., 1991; Bartram et al. 1991; Yellen 1977) and archaeologicall documented (Vaquero and

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Fig. 3. Elements related to a faunal processing activity in CBIV-1 unit.

Fig. 4. Faunal processing activity related to the CBIV-2 unit hearths.

Fig. 5. Lithic production in CBIV-2 unit.

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Past, 2001; Rigaud et al., 1995; Henry, 1998; Henry et al., 2004). The interpretation of unit CBIV-2 allows us to propose a hypothesis about the occupational pattern and the development of the spatial organization strategies. The existence of an important occupation event is demonstrated, at least, by the hearths and the domestic area associated to them. These elements show characteristics of the occupation model of the small surface, based on the hearth-related assemblages units, probably influential in the occupations extensive development. Conclusions Bolomor Cave provides a protected and habitable place, near the valleys economic resources. Units CBIV-1 and CBIV-2 demonstrate the use of this place as residential homebase, with a ruled organization of the occupied space. The position of the shelter dripline conditions the cave occupation pattern in both units, dividing the surface in two areas: one protected, interior and another unprotected, external one, in which a differentiated archaeological elements distribution is appraised. The protected area provides accommodation for the main activities, indicated by the concentration of archaeological elements and the different activity episodes identified, as opposed to the external one with very marginal activities. The identified archaeostratigraphic units in level IV (CBIV-1 and CBIV-2) allow an approach to the occupation strategies developed

by the human groups that inhabited Bolomor Cave at the beginning of Upper Pleistocene. The occupation pattern is based on the spatial organization around domestic areas, in which developed a large set of daily activities. The general characteristics from the study of these two units conclude that both present a high synchronic resolution, as demonstrated by the absence of superposed activity areas and the definition of the activity episodes. These aspects demonstrate the absence of palimpsests of large diachronic development vs. a high synchronic relation of the record, always limited by the characteristics of archaeological sets formation and the existence of sporadic occupational events. The identified occupation model of the small surface is characterized by the organization around domestic areas. The minimum extension occupied by these space units was approximately seven square meters, and probably arrives to occupy between fifteen and twenty square meters in some cases. The observed pattern presents a developed occupational organization with a highly structured space . The presence of hearths, block structures and/or use of natural structures, demonstrates the adaptation of space to the occupation needs and a preconceived activity location. These characteristics denote a complex social and organizational behavior. The evidence provided by CBIV-1 and CBIV-2 proves the existence of these occupation strategies in the Middle to Upper Pleistocene transition and suggests developed social behavior of the Neanderthals.

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Direttore Responsabile: Prof. Patrizio Bianchi Aut. Trib. Ferrara n. 36/21.5.53 Comitato di Redazione della Sezione Museologia Scientifica e Naturalistica: D. Bassi, S. Capitani, C. Peretto, G. Zini.

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