Person:
Martín Perea, David Manuel

First Name

David Manuel

Last Name

Martín Perea

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/87158

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 29

La Piquera in central Iberian Peninsula: A new key vertebrate locality for the Early Pliocene of western Europe
(Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2023) Piñero, Pedro; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Sevilla, Paloma; Agustí, Jordi; Blain, Hugues Alexandre; Furió, Marc; Laplana Conesa, César
We introduce the new vertebrate site of La Piquera (Duero Basin, central Iberian Peninsula), provide a detailed description of the lithostratigraphy and present a preliminary faunal list. The fossil vertebrate association includes amphibians (with representatives of the families Salamandridae, Alytidae, Pelodytidae, and Bufonidae), squamate reptiles (with members of the families Agamidae, Lacertidae, Anguidae, Scincidae, Blanidae, ?Erycidae, and Colubridae/Psammophiidae), and mammals (with representatives of the families Soricidae, Erinaceidae, Muridae, Cricetidae, Gerbillidae, Gliridae, Sciuridae, Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, Miniopteridae, Megadermatidae, Leporidae, Prolagidae, and Bovidae). The association indicates an intermediate biostratigraphic position between the southern Iberian sites of Sifón-413 (at about 5.33–5.23 Ma) and Botardo-D (between 4.79 and 4.63 Ma), the new locality being correlated with the earliest Ruscinian (lower part of the MN14 unit). The ecological affinities of the identified small vertebrates suggest the presence of a landscape dominated by open herbaceous meadows in the surroundings of the fossil-site during the earliest Pliocene, with the occasional presence of woodland patches and stable water bodies under relatively dry and warm environmental conditions. La Piquera therefore enhances our knowledge on the vertebrate community recorded in central Iberian Peninsula during the earliest Pliocene. With more than 1200 remains, La Piquera becomes a key locality for the Early Pliocene of southwestern Europe, central Spain, where this time-span is poorly represented.
Flint and Quartzite: Distinguishing Raw Material Through Bone Cut Marks
(Archaeometry, 2017) Maté-González, Miguel Ángel; Yravedra Sainz De Los Terreros, José; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Palomeque-González, J.; San‐Juan‐Blazquez, M.; Estaca-Gómez, Verónica; Uribelarrea del Val, David; Álvarez-Alonso, David; Cuartero, F.; Cuartero Monteagudo, Felipe; González-Aguilera, D.; Domínguez‐Rodrigo, M.
Since the 1980s, several experimental analyses have been able to differentiate some lithic tool types and some of their raw materials according to the morphology of cut marks imprinted by such tools when used for butchering activities. Thus, metal tool use has been differentiated in contexts with an abundance of lithic tools, or even the use of hand axes has been documented in carcass processing, in contrast with simple unretouched or retouched flakes. As important as this information is, there are still other important aspects to be analysed. Can cut marks produced with different lithic raw material types be differentiated? Can cut marks made with different types of the same raw material type be characterized and differentiated? The objective of this study is to evaluate if cut marks resulting from the use of different flints and different quartzites are distinguishable from each other. In the present work, an experimental analysis of hundreds of cut marks produced by five types of flint and five varieties of quartzite was carried out. Microphotogrammetry and geometric–morphometric techniques were applied to analyse these cut marks. The results show that flint cut marks and quartzite cut marks can be characterized at the assemblage level. Different types of flint produced cut marks that were not significantly different from each other. Cut marks made with Olduvai Gorge quartzite were significantly different from those produced with a set comprising several other types of quartzites. Crystal size, which is larger in Olduvai Gorge quartzites (0.5 mm) than Spanish quartzites (177–250 μm), is discussed as being the main reason for these statistically significant differences. This documented intra‐sample and inter‐sample variance does not hinder the resolution of the approach to differentiate between these two generic raw material types and opens the door for the application of this method in archaeological contexts.
Cut marks and raw material exploitation in the lower pleistocene site of Bell's Korongo (BK, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania): A geometric morphometric analysis
(Quaternary International, 2019) Courtenay, Lloyd A.; Yravedra Sainz De Los Terreros, José; Aramendi, Julia; Maté-González, Miguel Ángel; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Uribelarrea del Val, David; Baquedano, Enrique; González Aguilera, Diego; Domínguez-Rodrigo, Manuel
The Lower Pleistocene site of Bell's Korongo (BK) in Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) has been a key site for the study of the origin of human behaviour. The lower archaeological levels of BK are characterized by anthropogenic activity related to the exploitation of megafauna (elephant, hippopotamus, Sivatherium) and smaller game (zebra, wildebeest and antelopes). These remains display a high frequency of cut marks. The exceptional state of preservation of the BK fossil assemblage has allowed a wide range of different analyses that, among other things, detected the use of quartzite in butchering activities through the study of cut marks. Following up previous analyses, this paper presents the study of a series of cut marks from the BK faunal assemblage using a 3D geometric morphometric methodological approach in order to determine the mineralogical properties of the quartzite used at the site. BK cut marks are compared with experimentally produced cut marks using 9 mineralogically different quartzite types from Olduvai Gorge. This comparative analysis provides valuable hints about the exact nature of the raw materials used in butchering activities. The results presented here identify a preferential use of quartzite with a finer granular composition, suggesting that hominin populations were already selecting the best raw materials for their use in specific activities 1.3 Mya.
A taphonomic analysis of PTK (Bed I, Olduvai Gorge) and its bearing on the interpretation of the dietary and eco-spatial behaviors of early humans
(Quaternary Science Reviews, 2023) Organista, Elia; Moclán, Abel; Aramendi, Julia; Cobo Sánchez, Lucía; Egeland, Charles Peter; Uribelarrea del Val, David; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Vegara Riquelme, Marina; Hernández Vivanco, Alicia; Gidna, Agness; Mabula, Audax; Baquedano, Enrique; Domínguez Rodrigo, Manuel
Here, we present a thorough taphonomic analysis of the 1.84 million-year-old site of Phillip Tobias Korongo (PTK), Bed I, Olduvai Gorge. PTK is one of the new archaeological sites documented on the FLK Zinj paleolandscape, in which FLK 22 level was deposited and covered by Tuff IC. Therefore, PTK is pene-contemporary with these sites: FLK Zinj, DS, AMK and AGS. The occurrence of these sites within a thin clay unit of ∼20 cm, occupying not only the same vertically discrete stratigraphic unit, but also the same paleosurface, with an exceptional preservation of the archaeological record in its primary depositional locus, constitutes a unique opportunity to explore early hominin behavioral diversity at the most limited geochronological scale possible. The Olduvai Bed I sites have been the core of behavioral modelling for the past half a century, and the newly discovered sites, excavated with 21st century technology, will increase significantly our understanding of early human adaptive patterns. Here, we present PTK as another assemblage where faunal resources were acquired by hominins prior to any carnivore, and where stone-tool assisted bulk defleshing was carried out. The abundance of juvenile individuals extends our understanding, as in Kanjera (Kenya), about the hunting skills of early Homo sensu lato. The increasing number of sites, where bulk defleshing of small and medium-sized carcasses took place is underscoring the importance of meat in the diets of some of the early hominins, and their patterned use of the space for food processing and consumption. The patterning emerging has a profound importance for the evolution of some of the features that have traditionally been used to identify the behavior of the genus Homo.
Coprolites in natural traps: direct evidence of bone-eating carnivorans from the Late Miocene Batallones-3 site, Madrid, Spain
(Lethaia, 2021) Abella, Juan; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Valenciano, Alberto; Hontecillas Tamayo, Daniel; Montoya, Plini; Morales, Jorge
We describe two carnivoran coprolites found in the pseudokarst natural carnivore trap of Batallones-3, from the Late Miocene of Spain. The larger one, comprising multiple indistinguishable fragments of broken and corroded bones, indicates that the producer of the dropping might have been highly capable of crushing the softer parts of large bones. On the other hand, the smaller one shows several relatively larger and more complete bone fragments, thus exhibiting a greater capacity to break and swallow large portions of bone. The external morphology of the large coprolite is similar to that of extant bears, whereas the smaller one more closely resembles that of the living insectivorous hyaenid Proteles in morphology, on the one hand, and that of the viverrid Genetta in size, on the other hand. We hypothesize that the amphicyonid Magerycion anceps was the producer of the large coprolite and the jackal-sized basal hyaenid Protictitherium crassum excreted the smaller one. Thus, we present the first direct evidence of a bone durophagous diet in the carnivorans of Batallones.
Taphonomic analysis of Batallones-10, a Late Miocene drought-induced mammalian assemblage (Madrid basin, Spain) within the Cerro de los Batallones complex
(Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 2021) Martín Perea, David Manuel; Morales Romero, Jorge; Cantero, Enrique; Courtenay, Lloyd A.; Hernández Fernández, Manuel; Domingo Martínez, María Soledad
The Late Miocene Batallones-10 site (Madrid Basin, Spain) contains several authochthonous multitaxic assemblages. A total of 15 large-mammal species are documented, including hipparionine horses (Hipparion sp.), giraffes (Decennatherium rex) and moschids. Three discrete fossiliferous levels have been identified with the aid of artificial intelligence systems. Although there are some statistical differences in the faunal composition of each level, paleontological, geologic and taphonomic data from all three Batallones-10 levels point to similar taphonomic histories. Mortality data, with abundant young individuals and the presence of pregnant females, indicates a catastrophic process of bone accumulation mainly driven by prolonged drought. Relatively high proportions of partially preserved or fully-articulated skeletons, and absence of carnivore feeding marks on bones, suggest that carcasses were undisturbed by predation. Rapid desiccation of soft tissues kept many of the joints intact, resulting in a high proportion of articulated remains. During drought episodes, large mammalian herbivores congregated around a shrinking water-hole, depleting the local vegetation, such that weakened individuals died of starvation and miring rather than dehydration. When rainfall resumed, the lack of vegetation and presence of low-permeability surficial sepiolite-rich marls, resulted in rapid run-off. This buried most of the unweathered, unabraded remains, whilst slightly orienting or completely removing others. After burial, faulting and slickensides produced diagenetic fractures, which favoured the precipitation of manganese oxides on bone surfaces and the diagenetic corrosion of remains, which is more pronounced in the uppermost Level III. This work, which focuses on the taphonomy of a herbivore-dominated site, improves our overall knowledge of the formation of the Cerro de los Batallones palaeontological complex.
The Dorothy Garrod Site: a new Middle Stone Age locality in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
(Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2022) Maíllo Fernández, José Manuel; Marín, Juan; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Uribelarrea del Val, David; Asiaín Román, Raquel; Solano Megías, Irene; Baquedano, Enrique; Domínguez Rodrigo, Manuel; Gidna, Agness; Medialdea, Alicia; Steven, Hekima Mwamakimbula; Chilonzi, Daniel Haruni; Arteaga, Carlos; Mabulla, Audax
Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) is a key site for the study of human evolution as well as the origin of modern humans and the Middle Stone Age (MSA). In this study, we present a new MSA location named Dorothy Garrod Site (DGS), found in the main branch of Olduvai Gorge. The site has only one archaeological level, located stratigraphically in the Upper Ndutu. Although it has not yet been possible to radiometrically date it, it has yielded numerous archaeological remains with a functional association between the faunal remains and the lithic industry. The fauna identified includes Alcelaphini, Hippotragini, and Equidae, some of which present percussion marks and evidence of burning. The lithic industry involved knapping using discoid methods. The retouched blanks are denticulates and retouched flakes with, up to now, a total absence of points. DGS is therefore a new site that will aid our understanding of modern human occupations in northern Tanzania in a period for which there is a dearth of properly contextualised archaeological evidence.
Tafonomía de los yacimientos paleontológicos de Batallones-3 y Batallones-10 (Vallesiense Superior, Madrid, España)
(2022) Martín Perea, David Manuel; Domingo Martínez, María Soledad; Morales Romero, Jorge
El complejo paleontológico del Cerro de los Batallones está situado a 30 km al sur de Madrid (España). El cerro contiene un total de nueve yacimientos paleontológicos vallesienses (Mioceno Superior), hospedados en unas cavidades con una apertura en la zona superior formadas por procesos de piping. Las partes inferiores de estas cavidades están dominadas por restos fósiles de carnívoros, mientras que las superiores contienen asociaciones más típicas, dominadas por restos de herbívoros. Batallones-3 corresponde a la parte inferior, dominada por carnívoros. En cambio, Batallones-10 corresponde a la parte superior de la cavidad, dominada por restos de herbívoros.Batallones-3 fue excavado entre 2001 y 2017. La excavación de Batallones-10 empezó en 2007 y sigue en proceso a día de hoy. Los yacimientos han sido excavados siguiendo protocolos estándar de excavación y documentando en detalle la extracción de restos. Los datos recogidos en campo incluyen, entre otros, la identificación taxonómica y anatómica del resto, los datos espaciales (coordenadas x, y y z) y la dirección y el buzamiento de restos alargados...
A geoarchaeological reassessment of the co-occurrence of the oldest Acheulean and Oldowan in a fluvial ecotone from lower middle Bed II (1.7ma) at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)
(Quaternary International, 2019) Uribelarrea del Val, David; Martín Perea, David Manuel; Diez-Martín, Fernando; Baquedano, Enrique; Mabulla, Audax Z.P.; Barba, Rebeca; Gidna, Agnes; Domínguez-Rodrigo, Manuel
The coexistence of the oldest Acheulean and Oldowan industries means that the appearance of the former cannot be due to an anagenetic development from the latter. At Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, both industries are found within the same chronostratigraphic unit, the Lower Augitic Sandstone (LAS; 1.7 Ma), at HWK, HWK-E, HWK-EE (Oldowan) and FLK-W and FLK-N (Acheulean). Recently, McHenry and Stanistreet (2018) and Stanistreet et al. (2018) have argued that the Acheulean site of FLK West is actually located within a more recent stratigraphic unit, the Middle Augitic Sandstone (MAS). If so, the Acheulean could potentially have evolved from the Oldowan anagenetically. We test this hypothesis by reviewing the stratigraphy of the LAS from the HWK area to the FLK-W site. Hay's (1976) previous work stresses the continuity of the LAS from HWK-EE to FLK-NN, and stratigraphic and sedimentological evidence indicates that while the MAS has eroded away, the LAS is continuous throughout the study area. According to Hay (1976), Uribelarrea et al. (2017) and this work, the LAS is present at HWK-EE, HWK-E, HWK, HWK-W, FLK-S, FLK-W, FLK-N and FLK-NN. The emergence of the Acheulean at Olduvai Gorge ca. 1.7Ma and its coexistence with the Oldowan thus demonstrates a cladogenetic, rather than an anagenetic, origin for the Acheulean. This has implications for the behavioral and biological interpretations of the origin and co-existence of both types of industries.
A step back to move forward: a geological re-evaluation of the El Castillo Cave Middle Palaeolithic lithostratigraphic units (Cantabria, northern Iberia)
(Journal of Quaternary Science, 2022) Martín Perea, David Manuel; Maíllo Fernández, José Manuel; Marín, Juan; Arroyo Rey, Xabier; Asiaín Román, Raquel
El Castillo Cave is one of the most important sites for understanding the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. Despite its importance, the absence of a widely used stratigraphic section with detailed lithostratigraphic descriptions and correlations between the different geological and archaeological interpretations has led to confusion in the correct identification of lithostratigraphic units in the lowermost, Middle Palaeolithic sequence. This study establishes a new lithostratigraphic framework for the site, which can be accurately correlated to previous geological and archaeological studies and generates a solid working basis for framing the Mousterian of El Castillo Cave in the Cantabrian region and southwestern Europe. The geological re-evaluation of Unit XX (‘Mousterian Alpha’) has expanded its chronology, now ranging from 49 130–43 260 cal bp to 70 400 ± 9600 bp. Unit XXII (‘Mousterian Bet’) would consequently yield an age older than 70 400 ± 9600 bp and younger than the underlying speleothem (Unit XXIIIb), dated to 89 000 +11 000/-10 000 bp.