Management of residues and natural resources at San Cristóbal rock-shelter: Contribution to the characterisation of chalcolithic agropastoral groups in the Iberian Peninsula

Polo‐Díaz, Ana; Alonso-Eguíluz, Mónica; Ruiz, María del Carmen González; Pérez, Sandy; Mujika, José Antonio; Albert, Rosa M.; Eraso, Javier Fernández

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2016.02.013

Cited by 38 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The data table shows [46] a period of time between the late Neolithic and bell beaker level where the use of rock-shelters as animalpens decrease in the area (samples M9.1, M8.1, M7.1). San Cristobal is the only rock-shelter in the area where some herding activity is observed [8]. In the rest of the rock-shelters studied in the Cantabria mountain range, a funeral use is observed in that period, the same as in the dolmens of the area or Las Yurdinas II rock-shelter (septentrional watershed of the area) [6,7].…”

Section: Application To Real Samples From San Cristobal Site and Biogmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This evidence could suggest a conflict period among the different communities settled in the area. However, micromorphological characterization of the sediments accumulated during that stage of Chalcolithic have provided direct evidence of recurrent herbivore corralling at the site (8).…”

Section: Application To Real Samples From San Cristobal Site and Biogmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, fumier can be defined as archaeological sediment deriving from animal dung, typically burnt . This sediment consist of, from top to bottom: (i) burnt layer (ash white), (ii) partially burnt layer (brownish‐grey), and (iii) unburned layer (organic matter layer, black color) . The maximum temperatures reached during the piles burning differ from 450 to 800°C, depending on humidity, air leak, and degradation level of dung .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…layer (organic matter layer, black color) [2,7,8]. The maximum temperatures reached during the piles burning differ from 450 to 800 • C, depending on humidity, air leak, and degradation level of dung [9].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of ancient lipids in prehistoric organic residues: Chemical evidence of livestock‐pens in rock‐shelters since early neolithic to bronze age

Gea

Sampedro

Vallejo

et al. 2017

J of Separation Science

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The characterization of ancient lipids from prehistoric sediments (fumiers) located in a rock-selter has been possible after the optimization of an analytical method based on the microwave-assisted extraction and solid-phase extraction clean-up step and a final derivatization step followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Eight sterols and two bile acids were detected just in the partially burned and unburned layers of the fumiers (animal organic residues deriving from manure/dung). The relationship between some of these compounds can be used to distinguish the biogenic origin of the samples, concluding that these strata (from Early Neolithic to Late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age) can be classified as ruminant residues. Three main periods of activity are observed over a period of 2000 years: one from 3990 ± 40 before present (4530-4410 calibrated before present) to 4100 ± 40 before present (4820-4750/4730-4510/4470-4450 calibrated before present), the second from 4470 ± 40 before present (5300-4970 calibrated before present) to 5490 ± 30 before present (6310-6275/6230-6220 calibrated before present) and the third from 5880 ± 30 before present (6775-6765/6750-6645 calibrated before present) to 6010 ± 30 before present (6940-6780/6765-6755 calibrated before present). Chemical data obtained are in concordance with the previous results obtained in the area.

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Section: Application To Real Samples From San Cristobal Site and Biogmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Application To Real Samples From San Cristobal Site and Biogmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Characterization of ancient lipids in prehistoric organic residues: Chemical evidence of livestock‐pens in rock‐shelters since early neolithic to bronze age

Gea

Sampedro

Vallejo

et al. 2017

J of Separation Science

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“…resists dissolution under low pH conditions (Cabanes et al, 2011;Canti, 2003;Mentzer, 2014;Polo-Diaz et al, 2016;Thy, Willcox, Barfod, & Fuller, 2015). This index hints at low pH conditions.…”

Section: • Coprolite Contentmentioning

confidence: 96%

Do still waters run deep? Formation processes of natural and anthropogenic deposits in the Neolithic wetland site Zug‐Riedmatt (Switzerland)

2020

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Micromorphological analysis is used to improve our understanding of wetland site taphonomy and stratigraphy. Twelve profile columns from the Neolithic lakeshore site of Zug-Riedmatt are macroscopically described here, microscopic analyses are applied to sediment facies, defining 14 sedimentary units (U): The natural basal sediment (U1) is carbonate-rich, U2 a transition phase to the anthropogenic units U3 to U12. Uppermost are the natural carbonate-rich U13 and U14. The creation of a micromorphological database and the application of 27 defined indices allow a better understanding of the natural, anthropogenic and taphonomic processes taking place at the site. Natural sediment input originated from Lake Zug, the nearby river Lorze with its delta, and a local marshy waterbody. Organic rich accumulations and calcitic ash played a major role in pH changes, leading to carbonate and silica dissolution, alongside bone alteration. Signs of degradation processes under aerobic and anaerobic conditions within a single layer points to complex, multiphase processes under changing water levels, a milieu belonging to both land and water, an amphibious environment. Finally, good layer preservation seemingly correlates to low aquatic reworking in a stable depositional context linked to the marshy area.

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Reconstructing formation processes at the Canary Islands indigenous site of Belmaco Cave (La Palma, Spain) through a multiproxy geoarchaeological approach

et al. 2023

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The indigenous populations of La Palma (Canary Islands), who arrived on the island from Northwest Africa ca. 2000 years B.P., were predominantly pastoralists. Yet, many aspects of their subsistence economy such as the procurement, management, and use of wild plant resources remain largely unknown. To explore this, we studied the 600–1100‐year‐old archaeological site of Belmaco Cave, which comprises a stratified sedimentary deposit representative of a fumier. Here, we present a high‐resolution, multiproxy geoarchaeological study combining soil micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis, X‐ray diffraction, μ‐X‐ray diffraction, μ‐X‐ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and μ‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, to characterize formation processes and explore plant sources. Recurrent goat/sheep habitation and maintenance activities are represented by interstratified layers of unburned dung, charcoal‐rich sediment, and dung ash. Lipid biomarker data show a herd diet mainly composed of herbaceous plants, which is key to understanding the mobility of indigenous shepherds. Our results also revealed an unusual suite of authigenic minerals including hazenite, aragonite, and sylvite, possibly formed through diagenetic processes involving interaction between ash, dung, urine, volcanogenic components, and bacterial activity, coupled with arid and alkaline conditions. Our study shows the potential of a multiproxy approach to a fumier deposit in a volcanogenic sedimentary context.

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Management of residues and natural resources at San Cristóbal rock-shelter: Contribution to the characterisation of chalcolithic agropastoral groups in the Iberian Peninsula

Cited by 38 publications

References 33 publications

Characterization of ancient lipids in prehistoric organic residues: Chemical evidence of livestock‐pens in rock‐shelters since early neolithic to bronze age

Characterization of ancient lipids in prehistoric organic residues: Chemical evidence of livestock‐pens in rock‐shelters since early neolithic to bronze age

Do still waters run deep? Formation processes of natural and anthropogenic deposits in the Neolithic wetland site Zug‐Riedmatt (Switzerland)

Reconstructing formation processes at the Canary Islands indigenous site of Belmaco Cave (La Palma, Spain) through a multiproxy geoarchaeological approach

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