RT Journal Article
T1 A symbolic Neanderthal accumulation of large herbivore crania
A1 Baquedano, Enrique
A1 Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis
A1 Pérez González, Alfredo José
A1 Laplana Conesa, César
A1 Márquez, Belén
A1 Huguet, Rosa
A1 Gómez Soler, Sandra
A1 Villaescusa, Lucía
A1 Galindo Pellicena, María Ángeles
A1 Rodríguez, Laura
A1 García González, Rebeca
A1 Cruz Ortega, M.
A1 Martín Perea, David Manuel
A1 Ortega, Ana I.
A1 Hernández Vivanco, Alicia
A1 Ruiz Liso, Gonzalo
A1 Gómez Hernanz, Juan
A1 Alonso Martín, José I.
A1 Abrunhosa, Ana
A1 Moclán, Abel
A1 Casado, Ana Isabel
A1 Vegara Riquelme, Marina
A1 Álvarez Fernández, Ana
A1 Domínguez García, Ángel Carmelo
A1 Álvarez-Lao, Diego J.
A1 García García, Nuria
A1 Sevilla García, María Paloma
A1 Blain, Hugues Alexandre
A1 Ruiz Zapata, María Blanca
A1 Gil García, María Elena
A1 Álvarez Vena, Adrián
A1 Sanz, Teresa
A1 Quam, Rolf
A1 Higham, Thomas
AB This work examines the possible behaviour of Neanderthal groups at the Cueva Des-Cubierta (central Spain) via the analysis of the latter’s archaeological assemblage. Alongside evidence of Mousterian lithic industry, Level 3 of the cave infill was found to contain an assemblage of mammalian bone remains dominated by the crania of large ungulates, some associated with small hearths. The scarcity of post-cranial elements, teeth, mandibles and maxillae, along with evidence of anthropogenic modification of the crania (cut and percussion marks), indicates that the carcasses of the corresponding animals were initially processed outside the cave, and the crania were later brought inside. A second round of processing then took place, possibly related to the removal of the brain. The continued presence of crania throughout Level 3 indicates that this behaviour was recurrent during this level’s formation. This behaviour seems to have no subsistence-related purpose but to be more symbolic in its intent.
PB Nature Research
SN 2397-3374
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73031
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73031
LA eng
NO Comunidad de Madrid
NO European Social Fund
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
NO Junta de Castilla y León
NO Universidad Complutense de Madrid
NO Reale Foundation
NO Fundación Atapuerca
NO Fundación General de la Universidad de Alcalá
NO Museo Arqueológico y Paleontológico de la Comunidad de Madrid
NO Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad
DS Docta Complutense
RD 1 sept 2024