35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses
Mª Ángeles Medina-Alcaide
(1)
,
Ségolène Vandevelde
(2, 3)
,
Anita Quiles
(4)
,
Edwige Pons-Branchu
(2, 5)
,
Iñaki Intxaurbe
(6)
,
José Luis Sanchidrián
(7)
,
Hélène Valladas
(2, 5)
,
Damien Deldicque
(8)
,
Catherine Ferrier
(1)
,
Eva Rodríguez
(7)
,
Diego Garate
(9)
1
PACEA -
De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie
2 LSCE - Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]
3 Archéologies environnementales
4 IFAO - Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire
5 GEOTRAC - Géochrononologie Traceurs Archéométrie
6 UPV/EHU - Universidad del Pais Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea [Espagne]
7 Universidad de Córdoba = University of Córdoba [Córdoba]
8 LGENS - Laboratoire de géologie de l'ENS
9 IIIPC - Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantrabria [Santander]
2 LSCE - Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]
3 Archéologies environnementales
4 IFAO - Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire
5 GEOTRAC - Géochrononologie Traceurs Archéométrie
6 UPV/EHU - Universidad del Pais Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea [Espagne]
7 Universidad de Córdoba = University of Córdoba [Córdoba]
8 LGENS - Laboratoire de géologie de l'ENS
9 IIIPC - Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantrabria [Santander]
Ségolène Vandevelde
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 13825
- IdHAL : segolene-vandevelde
- ORCID : 0000-0002-0399-4560
- IdRef : 241085349
Résumé
Charcoal and micro-layers of soot trapped in speleothems from the inner galleries of Nerja Cave were analysed through an interdisciplinary study. The absolute dating of the prehistoric subterranean activity of the cave and the identification of different phases of visits to the deep parts are presented and discussed. The charcoal analysis includes anthracological analysis and SEM-EDX. The soot analysis includes optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and TEM-EDX, and the microcounting of soot microlayers. The 14 C dating of 53 charcoals identified 12 phases of prehistoric visits to the cave between 41,218 and 3299 cal. BP, putting back the origin of human occupation of this emblematic cave by 10,000 years. The interdisciplinary analysis of the soot microlayers allowed us to perform a high-precision zoom on the last three visitation phases identified by Bayesian analysis (8003-2998 cal. BP.), demonstrating that these phases contain at least 64 distinct incursions, with an average of one visit every 35 years for the Neolithic period. Spatial analysis showed that not all areas of the cave were used in the same periods, highlighting the repetition of visits to certain specific sectors of the Lower Galleries of the cave. Lastly, the anthracological data indicate a cross-cultural and unique use of Pinus tp. sylvestris-nigra wood for lighting activities over an extended period between the Gravettian and Upper Magdalenian. Deep karst visits during the Paleolithic are known by remains such as rock art, fire remains or even human constructions such as the one found at Bruniquel cave 1. It is however difficult to determine if these remains were left by single visits or recurrent ones, as they are often found on the soil surface in caves, devoid of a timestratigraphic context to provide chronological support. Here, by the 14 C dating of more than 60 samples of lighting and fire remains (charcoals and soot layers) and two abstract rock art representations, we are able to present a robust Bayesian model that constrains the periods of occupation for the internal prehistoric activity in Nerja cave. Using the multi-analytical identification and micro-counting of soot layers trapped in a stalagmite, we also provide the minimum number of visits and their recurrence. Nerja Cave (Malaga, Andalusia, Spain) is one of the main sites for the study of prehistoric groups in the Western Mediterranean. An extensive archaeological and palaeontological sequence has been recovered in its entrance rooms, including remains from the Gravettian, Solutrean, Magdalenian, Epipalaeolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic chrono-cultures. From the discovery of the cave (1959) to the present day, this sedimentary deposit has been examined by different research teams, resulting in extensive scientific and cutting-edge knowledge (including numerous radiocarbon dates) about the prehistoric inhabitants of Southwest Europe 2-6 .
Domaines
Planète et Univers [physics]Format du dépôt | Fichier |
---|---|
Type de dépôt | Article dans une revue |
Titre |
en
35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses
|
Résumé |
en
Charcoal and micro-layers of soot trapped in speleothems from the inner galleries of Nerja Cave were analysed through an interdisciplinary study. The absolute dating of the prehistoric subterranean activity of the cave and the identification of different phases of visits to the deep parts are presented and discussed. The charcoal analysis includes anthracological analysis and SEM-EDX. The soot analysis includes optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and TEM-EDX, and the microcounting of soot microlayers. The 14 C dating of 53 charcoals identified 12 phases of prehistoric visits to the cave between 41,218 and 3299 cal. BP, putting back the origin of human occupation of this emblematic cave by 10,000 years. The interdisciplinary analysis of the soot microlayers allowed us to perform a high-precision zoom on the last three visitation phases identified by Bayesian analysis (8003-2998 cal. BP.), demonstrating that these phases contain at least 64 distinct incursions, with an average of one visit every 35 years for the Neolithic period. Spatial analysis showed that not all areas of the cave were used in the same periods, highlighting the repetition of visits to certain specific sectors of the Lower Galleries of the cave. Lastly, the anthracological data indicate a cross-cultural and unique use of Pinus tp. sylvestris-nigra wood for lighting activities over an extended period between the Gravettian and Upper Magdalenian. Deep karst visits during the Paleolithic are known by remains such as rock art, fire remains or even human constructions such as the one found at Bruniquel cave 1. It is however difficult to determine if these remains were left by single visits or recurrent ones, as they are often found on the soil surface in caves, devoid of a timestratigraphic context to provide chronological support. Here, by the 14 C dating of more than 60 samples of lighting and fire remains (charcoals and soot layers) and two abstract rock art representations, we are able to present a robust Bayesian model that constrains the periods of occupation for the internal prehistoric activity in Nerja cave. Using the multi-analytical identification and micro-counting of soot layers trapped in a stalagmite, we also provide the minimum number of visits and their recurrence. Nerja Cave (Malaga, Andalusia, Spain) is one of the main sites for the study of prehistoric groups in the Western Mediterranean. An extensive archaeological and palaeontological sequence has been recovered in its entrance rooms, including remains from the Gravettian, Solutrean, Magdalenian, Epipalaeolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic chrono-cultures. From the discovery of the cave (1959) to the present day, this sedimentary deposit has been examined by different research teams, resulting in extensive scientific and cutting-edge knowledge (including numerous radiocarbon dates) about the prehistoric inhabitants of Southwest Europe 2-6 .
|
Auteur(s) |
Mª Ángeles Medina-Alcaide
1
, Ségolène Vandevelde
2, 3
, Anita Quiles
4
, Edwige Pons-Branchu
2, 5
, Iñaki Intxaurbe
6
, José Luis Sanchidrián
7
, Hélène Valladas
2, 5
, Damien Deldicque
8
, Catherine Ferrier
1
, Eva Rodríguez
7
, Diego Garate
9
1
PACEA -
De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie
( 205557 )
- Université de Bordeaux - Bâtiment B8 - CS50023 - Allée Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire - 33615 Pessac Cedex
- France
2
LSCE -
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement [Gif-sur-Yvette]
( 518 )
- Bât. 12,
avenue de la Terrasse,
F-91198 GIF-SUR-YVETTE CEDEX
- France
3
Archéologies environnementales
( 102298 )
- Maison René Ginouvès UMR 7041 21 allée de l'université F 92023 NANTERRE cedex
- France
4
IFAO -
Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire
( 238153 )
- 37, rue al-Cheikh Ali Youssef B.P. 11562 Qasr al-Aïny 11441 Le Caire
- Égypte
5
GEOTRAC -
Géochrononologie Traceurs Archéométrie
( 578523 )
- LSCE. CEA Paris-Saclay. Orme des merisiers. 91190 Saint-Aubin.
- France
6
UPV/EHU -
Universidad del Pais Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea [Espagne]
( 302177 )
- Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia
Campus d'Álava : Vice-Rectorado, San Antonio 41, 01005 Vitoria ;
campus de Biscaye et services centraux : Apdo 1397, 48080 Bilbao ;
campus de Guipúzcoa : Vice-Rectorado, Fuenterrabia 13-1° , 20006 San Sebastián
- Espagne
7
Universidad de Córdoba = University of Córdoba [Córdoba]
( 154991 )
- Avd. Medina Azahara, 5 14071 Córdoba
- Espagne
8
LGENS -
Laboratoire de géologie de l'ENS
( 1308 )
- 24 Rue Lhomond 75231 PARIS CEDEX 05
- France
9
IIIPC -
Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantrabria [Santander]
( 502256 )
- Edificio Interfacultativo Avda. de los Castros,s/n Tel. 942 202090 E-39005 Santander Cantabria
- Espagne
|
Audience |
Internationale
|
Vulgarisation |
Non
|
Comité de lecture |
Oui
|
Langue du document |
Anglais
|
Nom de la revue |
|
Date de publication |
2023-04-11
|
Volume |
13
|
Numéro |
1
|
Page/Identifiant |
5901
|
Domaine(s) |
|
Projet(s) ANR |
|
DOI | 10.1038/s41598-023-32544-1 |
Origine :
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