Contribution of landscape analysis to the characterisation of Palaeolithic sites: A case study from El Horno Cave (northern Spain)

  1. Fano, M.Á 8
  2. García-Moreno, A 45
  3. Chauvin, A. 6
  4. Clemente-Conte, I 2
  5. Costamagno, S. 7
  6. Elorrieta-Baigorri, I. 3
  7. Pascual, N.E. 8
  8. Tarriño, A. 1
  1. 1 Centro Nacional de la Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra Atapuerca, 3, Burgos, Spain
  2. 2 Institución Mila y Fontanals
    info

    Institución Mila y Fontanals

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01y9jdj03

  3. 3 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

  4. 4 Universidad de Cantabria
    info

    Universidad de Cantabria

    Santander, España

    ROR https://ror.org/046ffzj20

  5. 5 MONREPOS Archaeological Research Center and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution, RGZM Schloss Neuwied, Neuwied, Germany
  6. 6 Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria (MUPAC), C/ Ruiz de Alda, 19, Santander, Cantabria, Spain
  7. 7 Université de Toulouse
    info

    Université de Toulouse

    Tolosa, Francia

  8. 8 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

Journal:
Quaternary International

ISSN: 1040-6182

Year of publication: 2016

Volume: 412

Pages: 82-98

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1016/J.QUAINT.2015.10.105 SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-84966359171 WoS: WOS:000383792100009 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

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Abstract

The role played by the Magdalenian site of El Horno in the context of the Asón river basin (northern Spain) is considered in relation to its location and the physical characteristics of the surrounding area. This information has been integrated with data from the archaeological study. Special attention has been paid to the lithic tools and mammal remains recovered in the excavation as these played a particularly significant role at the site. The results suggest that the cave was occupied on a relatively stable basis although the situation changed in the course of the sequence. Level 1 reflects an occupation linked to the acquisition of meat and animal skins, worked mainly in a fresh state. The use of the site represented by Level 2 may have been more stable and complex, as this level displays greater functional diversity. Tasks involving hard animal material have been documented, as well as dry hide or leather processing. In addition, lithic reduction seems to have been more intense in Level 2. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA