RT Journal Article
T1 Vegetation, climate and human settlement interactions at the late Mesolithic site of Cueva Blanca (Hellín, Albacete, SE Spain)
A1 Uzquiano Ollero, Paloma
A1 Casas Gallego, Manuel
A1 Mingo, Alberto
A1 Barba, Jesús
A1 Yravedra Sainz De Los Terreros, José
AB Archaeobotanical analyses conducted on material from the Cueva Blanca rockshelter have provided much-needed data on past landscapes, vegetation change and woodland exploitation by late Mesolithic groups settled in the ‘Campos de Hellín’, a region of SE Spain. Radiocarbon ages indicate occupations in the period between 7610 ± 40 BP (8450–8370 cal. BP) and 6730 ± 40 BP (7660–7560 cal. BP). The seasonal short character of human occupation, major vegetation features and the site chronology relate it to the 8.2 ka cal. BP cooling event and the subsequent aridity responsible for open landscapes and the becoming of human settlement in SE Spain. A Mediterranean open coniferous woodland composed of Pinus and Juniperus has been inferred around the site where Pinus halepensis and Rhamnus lycioides were the main sources of firewood managed by late Mesolithic inhabitants. Steppe and scrub conditions are also identified by the abundance of Ephedra and Asteraceae. Environmental factors, such as an irregular rainfall regime, are also suggested to explain the fluctuations of the main woody taxa identified. Furthermore, pollen and charcoal data were also correlated with the palynological and anthracological information available for the western Mediterranean area. However, human impact is scarce, as indicated by the nature of human occupation. The increase of Poaceae and Amaranthaceae as well as the appearance of Boraginaceae, Cichorioideae, Plantago lanceolata and Cerealia towards the top of the sequence (L1A) are indicative of human activities carried out at the site during later prehistoric periods.
PB SAGE
SN 0959-6836
SN 1477-0911
YR 2015
FD 2015-10-13
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126142
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126142
LA eng
NO Uzquiano, P., Casas-Gallego, M., Mingo, A., Barba, J., & Yravedra, J. (2016). Vegetation, climate and human settlement interactions at the late Mesolithic site of Cueva Blanca (Hellín, albacete, se spain). The Holocene, 26(1), 102-112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683615596826
NO Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha
NO UNED
DS Docta Complutense
RD 5 abr 2026