ROBERTO ONTAÑÓN
Universidad de Cantabria, IIIPC, Faculty Member
- Prehistoric Archaeology, Rock Art (Archaeology), Prehistoric Art, Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Development of complex societies, and 10 moreCave art, Ice Age Cave Art, Cave and Karst Studies, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition, Rock Art, Iberian Prehistory (Archaeology), Prehistoric Rock Art, Cantabrian Palaeolithic, and Upper Paleolithicedit
The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. Although the spread of domesticated plants and animals has been extensively tracked, it is unclear how these nascent economies developed... more
The introduction of farming had far-reaching impacts on health, social structure and demography. Although the spread of domesticated plants and animals has been extensively tracked, it is unclear how these nascent economies developed within different environmental and cultural settings. Using molecular and isotopic analysis of lipids from pottery, here we investigate the foods prepared by the earliest farming communities of the European Atlantic seaboard. Surprisingly, we find an absence of aquatic foods, including in ceramics from coastal sites, except in the Western Baltic where this tradition continued from indigenous ceramic using hunter-gatherer-fishers. The frequency of dairy products in pottery increased as farming was progressively introduced along a northerly latitudinal gradient. This finding implies that early farming communities needed time to adapt their economic practices before expanding into more northerly areas. Latitudinal differences in the scale of dairy production might also have influenced the evolution of adult lactase persistence across Europe.
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The Magdalenian of the Cantabrian region is a well-known archaeological period with many sites contributing to the understanding of the economic and social organization dating ca. 14,800 cal BCE. Nevertheless, concerning the faunal... more
The Magdalenian of the Cantabrian region is a well-known archaeological period with many sites contributing to the understanding of the economic and social organization dating ca. 14,800 cal BCE. Nevertheless, concerning the faunal management little is known on the role of carnivores as resource during this chronology, although they appear in many sites and archeozoological collections. Generally, carnivores have been related with site formation processes as bone accumulators and modifiers although they also play an important role as a multifunctional resource.
The Lower Gallery of La Garma is a site where exceptional preservation conditions allows archaeologist to analyze and interpret faunal remains with a unique perspective, that shows how carnivores can be seen as a
resource linked with meat exploitation, fur procurement, ornament production or social/symbolic activities during the Magdalenian.
The Lower Gallery of La Garma is a site where exceptional preservation conditions allows archaeologist to analyze and interpret faunal remains with a unique perspective, that shows how carnivores can be seen as a
resource linked with meat exploitation, fur procurement, ornament production or social/symbolic activities during the Magdalenian.
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Evidence of the potential occurrence of Palaeolithic red paintings has been found in several caves in Cantabria since the 1980s. Awareness of those references led us to propose a research project aiming at exploring the caves with the... more
Evidence of the potential occurrence of Palaeolithic red paintings has been found in several caves in Cantabria since the 1980s. Awareness of those references led us to propose a research project aiming at exploring the caves with the most recent methods and techniques of graphic data acquisition and processing to the Government of
the Autonomous Community. Encouraged by the discovery of Cueva Auria in 2015, the project started in 2016. In a first stage, seven caves were selected for study with the systematic integrated application of lasergrammetry, photogrammetry, microphotography and multispectral imagery. This high-resolution study has been able to confirm the existence of six new Palaeolithic cave art sites in Cantabria. The preliminary results of the project, programed to last for another two years, are most interesting from a scientific perspective. The new cave art sites, as in the case of Cueva Auria, can be assigned to an archaic phase within Palaeolithic Art, that is to say, to a pre-Magdalenian age. With the exception of El Rejo Cave, where the main panel includes some animal figures, and an imprint of a hand of La Brazada Cave, none of the new assemblages contain either zoomorphic or human representations. Apart from parietal testimonies which could be linked to the human frequentation of the caves and not properly, to the category of graphic expressions (such as stains, small marks, imprints and other coloured
traces), these small ensembles constitute an interesting group of cave art sites mainly formed by isolated dots or integrated in geometric compositions, discs, spots, isolated or paired strokes, and, in two cases, by complex rectangular signs. The new discoveries imply a significant increase in the number of Palaeolithic Cave Art sites in the Cantabrian region, which could be related to other assemblages in the same region and other proximate areas. All together, they demonstrate the great variability of the regional parietal record in the Early Upper Palaeolithic. We can be optimistic that further research, applying the systematic approach developed by this project, will continue to improve knowledge of pre-Magdalenian cave art in northern Spain.
the Autonomous Community. Encouraged by the discovery of Cueva Auria in 2015, the project started in 2016. In a first stage, seven caves were selected for study with the systematic integrated application of lasergrammetry, photogrammetry, microphotography and multispectral imagery. This high-resolution study has been able to confirm the existence of six new Palaeolithic cave art sites in Cantabria. The preliminary results of the project, programed to last for another two years, are most interesting from a scientific perspective. The new cave art sites, as in the case of Cueva Auria, can be assigned to an archaic phase within Palaeolithic Art, that is to say, to a pre-Magdalenian age. With the exception of El Rejo Cave, where the main panel includes some animal figures, and an imprint of a hand of La Brazada Cave, none of the new assemblages contain either zoomorphic or human representations. Apart from parietal testimonies which could be linked to the human frequentation of the caves and not properly, to the category of graphic expressions (such as stains, small marks, imprints and other coloured
traces), these small ensembles constitute an interesting group of cave art sites mainly formed by isolated dots or integrated in geometric compositions, discs, spots, isolated or paired strokes, and, in two cases, by complex rectangular signs. The new discoveries imply a significant increase in the number of Palaeolithic Cave Art sites in the Cantabrian region, which could be related to other assemblages in the same region and other proximate areas. All together, they demonstrate the great variability of the regional parietal record in the Early Upper Palaeolithic. We can be optimistic that further research, applying the systematic approach developed by this project, will continue to improve knowledge of pre-Magdalenian cave art in northern Spain.
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Several stalagmite records have yielded important but discontinuous insights into northern Iberian climate since the Last Glacial. Here we present the first continuous Iberian stalagmite-based reconstruction of climate since the... more
Several stalagmite records have yielded important but discontinuous insights into northern Iberian climate since the Last Glacial. Here we present the first continuous Iberian stalagmite-based reconstruction of climate since the Bølling-Allerød interstadial, from a single stalagmite sample (GAR-01 from La Garma Cave, Cantabria). The ~13.5 ka GAR-01 record provides the opportunity for replication, continuation, and aggregation of previously published records from northern Spain. The GAR-01 record reveals shifts in oxygen isotope ratios that are inexplicable by appealing to a single control (i.e., exclusively temperature, rainfall amount, etc.). Herein we explore the potential role of rainfall and temperature seasonality shifts on the new d 18 O record using a simple Monte Carlo approach to estimate the seasonal distribution of rainfall and the annual temperature range at 100-year timeslices across the record. This model is corroborated by intervals of monthly-resolved laser ablation trace element data, providing glimpses into past Iberian seasonality shifts. The most salient features of the modelled results include extremely dry Younger Dryas winters (~12.9e11.6 ka BP) and several intervals during the mid-Holocene with almost no summer rainfall (e.g., at 4.2 and 9.0 ka BP). By 1.6 ka BP, a near-modern rainfall seasonality was established. According to the modelling results, seasonal rainfall and temperature distribution variability can account for 95% of the record. The model presented here provides a new tool for extracting critical missing seasonality information from stalagmite d 18 O records. Intervals where the model does not converge may represent transient climate anomalies with unusual origins that warrant further investigation.
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This article is an approach to the study of early social stratification in the central area of the northernmost territory of the Iberian Peninsula. The work is based on explicit methodological considerations and aspires to be consistent... more
This article is an approach to the study of early social stratification in the central area of the northernmost territory of the Iberian Peninsula.
The work is based on explicit methodological considerations and aspires to be consistent with the chosen theoretical framework. We make a
dynamic reading of the archaeological record, looking for indicators considered significant for the description of changes in subsistence and
superstructure. An interpretive attempt follows, by defining the fundamental characteristics of the socio-economic formations in Cantabrian Recent Prehistory, trying to determine the conditions that could make possible a quantitative and qualitative increase in the levels of social inequality. Finally we propose a historical interpretation, seeking to explain the phenomena of change detected which led to the establishment of incipient social stratification.
The work is based on explicit methodological considerations and aspires to be consistent with the chosen theoretical framework. We make a
dynamic reading of the archaeological record, looking for indicators considered significant for the description of changes in subsistence and
superstructure. An interpretive attempt follows, by defining the fundamental characteristics of the socio-economic formations in Cantabrian Recent Prehistory, trying to determine the conditions that could make possible a quantitative and qualitative increase in the levels of social inequality. Finally we propose a historical interpretation, seeking to explain the phenomena of change detected which led to the establishment of incipient social stratification.
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The subterranean domain houses one of the most distinctive elements of the cultural heritage of Cantabria. The relevance of this heritage has been endorsed by the inclusion of ten caves in Cantabria in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.... more
The subterranean domain houses one of the most distinctive elements of the cultural heritage of Cantabria. The relevance of this heritage
has been endorsed by the inclusion of ten caves in Cantabria in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Diverse risk factors, natural and anthropogenic, exogenous and endogenous, threaten the preservation of this extraordinary heritage. This requires the adoption of precautionary
measures that eliminate or at least minimize those risks. These measures range from the legal and administrative instruments of protection to conservation studies and actions, always guided by criteria of preventive conservation. In the following lines, we will try to sum up the main facts of what has become an interdisciplinary activity, aimed at protecting these unique ecosystems and the parietal manifestations they have preserved for millennia, and also to summarize the process that led to the inclusion of the prehistoric caves of Cantabria in the World
Heritage List.
has been endorsed by the inclusion of ten caves in Cantabria in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Diverse risk factors, natural and anthropogenic, exogenous and endogenous, threaten the preservation of this extraordinary heritage. This requires the adoption of precautionary
measures that eliminate or at least minimize those risks. These measures range from the legal and administrative instruments of protection to conservation studies and actions, always guided by criteria of preventive conservation. In the following lines, we will try to sum up the main facts of what has become an interdisciplinary activity, aimed at protecting these unique ecosystems and the parietal manifestations they have preserved for millennia, and also to summarize the process that led to the inclusion of the prehistoric caves of Cantabria in the World
Heritage List.
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The geographical distribution of Upper Palaeolithic cave art in Western Europe has changed throughout the history of research. In addition to the initial nuclei that gave rise to “Franco-Cantabrian” art (Cantabria, Périgord and Pyrenees),... more
The geographical distribution of Upper Palaeolithic cave art in Western Europe has changed throughout the history of research. In addition to the initial nuclei that gave rise to “Franco-Cantabrian” art (Cantabria, Périgord and Pyrenees), new regions with remarkable concentrations, such as the Rhône in France or Andalusia and the Iberian Plateau in Spain and Portugal, have now appeared. This new reality favouring the emergence of other territories is probably the reason for certain lack of attention to the classic regions in the last two decades. However, since the beginning of the 21st century new discoveries especially on the Cantabrian side of the Pyrenees (Atxurra, Armintxe, Aitzbitarte IV, etc.) but also in the Périgord (Cussac), together with the revision of the Pyrenean “great sanctuaries” (Tuc d'Audoubert, Trois-Frères, Marsoulas, etc.) and large collections of portable art, have forced a reformulation of artistic interactions between these territories around the Bay of Biscay,
during the whole Upper Palaeolithic.
during the whole Upper Palaeolithic.
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RESUMEN: En la Prehistoria reciente de la región cantábrica, los yacimientos funerarios de carácter colectivo son fundamentalmente de dos tipos: cuevas naturales y sepulcros megalíticos. La convivencia de ambos a lo largo del Calcolítico... more
RESUMEN: En la Prehistoria reciente de la región cantábrica, los yacimientos funerarios de carácter colectivo son fundamentalmente de dos tipos: cuevas naturales y sepulcros megalíticos. La convivencia de ambos a lo largo del Calcolítico y parte de la Edad del Bronce plantea un problema arqueológico aún sin resolver. En este artículo se exponen las características de estos diferentes contextos, y se avanzan algunas posibles vías de explicación a su coexistencia a partir de su hipotética relación con áreas de explotación y uso del territorio también diferentes, aunque dentro de una misma realidad socioeconómica y cultural.
ABSTRACT: In the Recent Prehistory of Cantabrian Spain there are two major categories of collective funerary sites: natural caves and megaliths. The concurrence of both types along the Chalcolithic and the initial stages of the Bronze Age represent an archaeological dilemma still unresolved. In this paper we point out some of the main features of these different contexts, and put forward some possible ways to explain this dichotomy, mainly from their hypothetical relationship with land exploitation areas also different, but within a single socioeconomic and cultural reality.
LABURPENA: Kantauriko eskualdearen gertuko Historiaurrean, taldeko izaera duten hileta-aztarnategiak, funtsean bi motatakoak dira: kobazulo naturalak eta hilobi megalitikoak. Bi hilobi mota horiek Kalkolitikoan zehar eta Brontze aroaren zati batean zehar elkarrekin bizi izanak, oraindik ere argitu gabe dagoen arazo arkeologikoa planteatzen du. Artikulu honetan testuinguru horien ezaugarriak azaltzen dituzte egileek eta horiek aldiberean existitzeko bide posible batzuk aurreratzen dituzte, errealitate sozio-ekonomiko eta kultural beraren baitan egon arren, desberdinak ziren lurral-deko ustiapen eremu eta lurraldearen erabilerekiko harreman hipotetikoan oinarrituta.
ABSTRACT: In the Recent Prehistory of Cantabrian Spain there are two major categories of collective funerary sites: natural caves and megaliths. The concurrence of both types along the Chalcolithic and the initial stages of the Bronze Age represent an archaeological dilemma still unresolved. In this paper we point out some of the main features of these different contexts, and put forward some possible ways to explain this dichotomy, mainly from their hypothetical relationship with land exploitation areas also different, but within a single socioeconomic and cultural reality.
LABURPENA: Kantauriko eskualdearen gertuko Historiaurrean, taldeko izaera duten hileta-aztarnategiak, funtsean bi motatakoak dira: kobazulo naturalak eta hilobi megalitikoak. Bi hilobi mota horiek Kalkolitikoan zehar eta Brontze aroaren zati batean zehar elkarrekin bizi izanak, oraindik ere argitu gabe dagoen arazo arkeologikoa planteatzen du. Artikulu honetan testuinguru horien ezaugarriak azaltzen dituzte egileek eta horiek aldiberean existitzeko bide posible batzuk aurreratzen dituzte, errealitate sozio-ekonomiko eta kultural beraren baitan egon arren, desberdinak ziren lurral-deko ustiapen eremu eta lurraldearen erabilerekiko harreman hipotetikoan oinarrituta.
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The Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria is a regional Museum that, due to the quality and importance of its collections, is destined to go beyond the category of any old provincial museums It is particularly for the... more
The Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria is a regional Museum that, due to the quality and importance of its collections, is destined to go beyond the category of any old provincial museums It is particularly for the Palaeolithic a Museum of relevance at an international level. However, uncertainties about its facilities, and the lack of material and human resources have taken a downgrade on the full development of its objectives and functions. This has repeatedly marked the history of this museum, which seems fated to suffer frequent removals, from one temporary headquarters to another.
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Research Interests: Archaeology and Antiquity
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During the 1980 s, acoustic studies of Upper Palaeolithic imagery in French caves—using the technology then available—suggested a relationship between acoustic response and the location of visual motifs. This paper presents an... more
During the 1980 s, acoustic studies of Upper Palaeolithic imagery in French caves—using the technology then available—suggested a relationship between acoustic response and the location of visual motifs. This paper presents an investigation, using modern acoustic measurement techniques, into such relationships within the caves of La Garma, Las Chimeneas, La Pasiega, El Castillo, and Tito Bustillo in Northern Spain. It addresses methodological issues concerning acoustic measurement at enclosed archaeological sites and outlines a general framework for extraction of acoustic features that may be used to support archaeological hypotheses. The analysis explores possible associations between the position of visual motifs (which may be up to 40 000 yrs old) and localized acoustic responses. Results suggest that motifs, in general, and lines and dots, in particular, are statistically more likely to be found in places where reverberation is moderate and where the low frequency acoustic response has evidence of resonant behavior. The work presented suggests that an association of the location of Palaeolithic motifs with acoustic features is a statistically weak but tenable hypothesis, and that an appreciation of sound could have influenced behavior among Palaeolithic societies of this region.
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During the 1980 s, acoustic studies of Upper Palaeolithic imagery in French caves—using the technology then available—suggested a relationship between acoustic response and the location of visual motifs. This paper presents an... more
During the 1980 s, acoustic studies of Upper Palaeolithic imagery in French caves—using the technology then available—suggested a relationship between acoustic response and the location of visual motifs. This paper presents an investigation, using modern acoustic measurement techniques, into such relationships within the caves of La Garma, Las Chimeneas, La Pasiega, El Castillo, and Tito Bustillo in Northern Spain. It addresses methodological issues concerning acoustic measurement at enclosed archaeological sites and outlines a general framework for extraction of acoustic features that may be used to support archaeological hypotheses. The analysis explores possible associations between the position of visual motifs (which may be up to 40 000 yrs old) and localized acoustic responses. Results suggest that motifs, in general, and lines and dots, in particular, are statistically more likely to be found in places where reverberation is moderate and where the low frequency acoustic response has evidence of resonant behavior. The work presented suggests that an association of the location of Palaeolithic motifs with acoustic features is a statistically weak but tenable hypothesis, and that an appreciation of sound could have influenced behavior among Palaeolithic societies of this region.
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Avance de los resultados preliminares de la prospección y documentación del hallazgo de los restos de un pecio por el dragado de la canal del puerto deportivo de San Vicente de la Barquera. Realizados con el objetivo de caracterizar... more
Avance de los resultados preliminares de la prospección y documentación
del hallazgo de los restos de un pecio por el dragado de la canal del puerto deportivo
de San Vicente de la Barquera. Realizados con el objetivo de caracterizar arqueológicamente el yacimiento y valorar su estado de conservación.
Preview of the preliminary results from the research and documentation of the
shipwreck’s evidences appeared during the dredging at San Vicente de la Barquera harbour, in order to define archaeologically the site and evaluate its state of conservation.
del hallazgo de los restos de un pecio por el dragado de la canal del puerto deportivo
de San Vicente de la Barquera. Realizados con el objetivo de caracterizar arqueológicamente el yacimiento y valorar su estado de conservación.
Preview of the preliminary results from the research and documentation of the
shipwreck’s evidences appeared during the dredging at San Vicente de la Barquera harbour, in order to define archaeologically the site and evaluate its state of conservation.
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Preview of the preliminary results from the research and documentation of the shipwreck’s evidences appeared during the dredging at San Vicente de la Barquera harbour, in order to define archaeologically the site and evaluate its state of... more
Preview of the preliminary results from the research and documentation of the shipwreck’s evidences appeared during the dredging at San
Vicente de la Barquera harbour, in order to define archaeologically the site and evaluate its state of conservation.
Avance de los resultados preliminares de la prospección y documentación del hallazgo de los restos de un pecio durante el dragado de la canal del puerto deportivo de San Vicente de la Barquera.
Realizados con el objetivo de caracterizar arqueológicamente el yacimiento y valorar su estado de conservación.
Vicente de la Barquera harbour, in order to define archaeologically the site and evaluate its state of conservation.
Avance de los resultados preliminares de la prospección y documentación del hallazgo de los restos de un pecio durante el dragado de la canal del puerto deportivo de San Vicente de la Barquera.
Realizados con el objetivo de caracterizar arqueológicamente el yacimiento y valorar su estado de conservación.
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Principales novedades en el estudio de la neolitización del Cantábrico. Las especias domésticas, tanto animales como vegetales, se introdujeron en la región a comienzos del V milenio cal BC, integrándose de forma paulatina en el sistema... more
Principales novedades en el estudio de la neolitización del Cantábrico. Las especias domésticas, tanto animales como vegetales, se introdujeron en la región a comienzos del V milenio cal BC, integrándose de forma paulatina en el sistema económico de comunidades indígenas que siguieron practicando una estrategia de subsistencia de espectro amplio, no muy diferente de la del Mesolítico. Será a partir del IV milenio cal BC cuando se empiecen a detectar indicios de preferencia hacia las actividades agropecuarias, junto con manifestaciones relativamente completas de comportamiento ritual.
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The aim of this paper is to give notice of an unpublished object founded at the Pagobakoitza Dolmen, in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), preserved at the Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi (San Sebastian). Its archaeological context is detailed; the... more
The aim of this paper is to give notice of an unpublished object founded at the Pagobakoitza Dolmen, in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), preserved at the Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi (San Sebastian). Its archaeological context is detailed; the piece in question is described and commented and, finally, it is considered in relation with the group of the ornamental elements documented in Cantabrian Chalcolithic.
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This paper constitutes an approach to the knowledge of the more characteristic group among the industries of the Cantabrian Chalcolithic: the lithic projectile points fabricated with the technique of invasive retouch. This attempt is... more
This paper constitutes an approach to the knowledge of the more characteristic group among the industries of the Cantabrian Chalcolithic: the lithic projectile points fabricated with the technique of invasive retouch. This attempt is based on a statistical study in which three aspects very significant for the interpretation of this technological group are involved: a contextual analysis, a morpho-evolutive view an a stylistic examination. At last it is included a series of general considerations on the socio-economic dimension of this type of industries, based on the interpretation of the preceding evidence.
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This paper presents the results of an initial thermoluminiscence dating of prehistoric engravings. This method has enabled us to determine the chronology of two stalagmitic crusts covering the engravings in the Ventalaperra cave. The... more
This paper presents the results of an initial thermoluminiscence dating of prehistoric engravings. This method has enabled us to determine the chronology of two stalagmitic crusts covering the engravings in the Ventalaperra cave. The results confirm that all the engravings date from the early Upper Paleolithic. Together with a certain stratigraphic and radiometric evidence, they confirm the existence of cave art during that period of Cantabrian prehistory.
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We present the recently developed study of the Paleolithic graphic manifestations of Cueva de Solviejo, in Voto (Cantabria). Due to the themes, the execution techniques used and their morpho-stylistic characters, the ensemble is... more
We present the recently developed study of the Paleolithic graphic manifestations of Cueva de Solviejo, in Voto (Cantabria). Due to the themes, the execution techniques used and their morpho-stylistic characters, the ensemble is attributable to an early phase of the Upper Paleolithic, with characteristics that point towards the Gravettian
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El bien incluido en la Lista de Patrimonio Mundial está formado por dieciocho sitios: Altami-ra, en la lista desde 1985, y diecisiete cuevas inscritas en 2008 como una extensión del bien original. Estos lugares constituyen uno de los más... more
El bien incluido en la Lista de Patrimonio Mundial está formado por dieciocho sitios: Altami-ra, en la lista desde 1985, y diecisiete cuevas inscritas en 2008 como una extensión del bien original. Estos lugares constituyen uno de los más importantes conjuntos con arte paleolítico del mundo. Localizado en cuevas, desde la entrada a las partes más profundas de estas formaciones kársticas, despliegan todos los elementos necesarios para garantizar la autenti-cidad y la integridad del bien: la investigación realizada desde el último tercio del s. XIX ha do-cumentado una amplia variedad de las representaciones, técnicas y temas que caracterizan a este fenómeno, cuya cronología abarca unos 30.000 años. Otra característica destacable del arte paleolítico cantábrico es el buen estado de conservación de las manifestaciones parietales. Preservadas durante milenios en el medio ambiente protegido de las cuevas pro-fundas, es nuestra obligación conservarlas para las generaciones futuras. En consecuencia, las autoridades responsables de los sitios desarrollan una serie de medidas administrativas y protectoras que tratan de eliminar o, al menos, disminuir los riesgos de deterioro. Esto puede variar en cierto grado dependiendo de un factor importante: la apertura de las cuevas al pú-blico, lo que hace su gestión más compleja.
The World Heritage property is formed by eighteen sites: Altamira, on the List since 1985, and seventeen caves inscribed in 2008 as an extension of the original property. These sites constitute one of the most important ensembles of Palaeolithic art in the World. Located in caves, from the entrances to the deepest parts of these karst formations, it displays all the necessary elements to guarantee the authenticity and the integrity of the property: research carried out since the last third of the nineteenth century has documented a wide variety of the representations, techniques and themes that characterise this phenomenon , whose chronology spans about 30 Ky. Another remarkable feature of Cantabrian Cave Art is the good state of conservation of the parietal manifestations. Preserved in the protected environment of the deep caves for millennia, it is our obligation to conserve it for future generations. Accordingly, the authorities responsible for the sites deploy a range of administrative and curative measures which try to eliminate or, at least, diminish the risks of deterioration. These vary to some extent depending on an important factor: the opening of the caves to the public, which makes their management more complex.
The World Heritage property is formed by eighteen sites: Altamira, on the List since 1985, and seventeen caves inscribed in 2008 as an extension of the original property. These sites constitute one of the most important ensembles of Palaeolithic art in the World. Located in caves, from the entrances to the deepest parts of these karst formations, it displays all the necessary elements to guarantee the authenticity and the integrity of the property: research carried out since the last third of the nineteenth century has documented a wide variety of the representations, techniques and themes that characterise this phenomenon , whose chronology spans about 30 Ky. Another remarkable feature of Cantabrian Cave Art is the good state of conservation of the parietal manifestations. Preserved in the protected environment of the deep caves for millennia, it is our obligation to conserve it for future generations. Accordingly, the authorities responsible for the sites deploy a range of administrative and curative measures which try to eliminate or, at least, diminish the risks of deterioration. These vary to some extent depending on an important factor: the opening of the caves to the public, which makes their management more complex.
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Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly... more
Pleistocene skinning and exploitation of carnivore furs have been previously inferred from archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, the evidence of skinning and fur processing tends to be weak and the interpretations are not strongly sustained by the archaeological record. In the present paper, we analyze unique evidence of patterned anthropic modification and skeletal representation of fossil remains of cave lion (Panthera spelaea) from the Lower Gallery of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain). This site is one of the few that provides Pleisto-cene examples of lion exploitation by humans. Our archaeozoological study suggests that lion-specialized pelt exploitation and use might have been related to ritual activities during the Middle Magdalenian period (ca. 14800 cal BC). Moreover, the specimens also represent the southernmost European and the latest evidence of cave lion exploitation in Iberia. Therefore, the study seeks to provide alternative explanations for lion extinction in Eurasia and argues for a role of hunting as a factor to take into account.
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The aim of this paper is to present the results of the research we have carried out to this day in regard to the phase of the Recent Prehistory that (using the traditional terminology of culture-historical subdivisions) covers the Final... more
The aim of this paper is to present the results of the research we have carried out to this day in regard to the phase of the Recent Prehistory that (using the traditional terminology of culture-historical subdivisions) covers the Final Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods in Cantabrian Spain. We have initiated our work by studying the cultural evidences that exist in the archaeological record of Cantabria, of which this note is a synthesis.
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RESUMEN Se ofrece un panorama del proyecto de investigación que se está desarrollando desde 1996 para el estudio, con-servación y puesta en valor del Complejo Arqueológico de La Garma. Se incide especialmente en los complejos pro-blemas... more
RESUMEN Se ofrece un panorama del proyecto de investigación que se está desarrollando desde 1996 para el estudio, con-servación y puesta en valor del Complejo Arqueológico de La Garma. Se incide especialmente en los complejos pro-blemas que conlleva la conservación de los restos arqueo-lógicos superficiales y el conjunto de arte rupestre de la Galería Inferior, y las actuaciones desarrolladas al respec-to. Finalmente, se valora la situación de la Zona Arqueo-lógica de La Garma en relación con el contexto socio-económico regional, y se exploran sus potencialidades y li-mitaciones como sitio de uso y disfrute social. ABSTRACT This paper presents a general account of a research project that has been carried on since 1996 for the investigation , preservation and social use of the Archaeological District of La Garma (Cantabria, Spain). Special emphasis is placed on the problems involved in the conservation of the surface archaeological remains and the Palaeolithic rock art of the Galería Inferior Subsequently, the role of La Gar-ma inside its local socioeconomic context is evaluated. Finally , the possibilities and limitations of public use of the La Garma area are also discussed. Palabras clave: Paleolítico. Magdaleniense. Mesolitico. Calcolitico. Edad del Bronce. Arte rupestre. Suelos de ocu-(*) Dpto. de Ciencias Históricas. Universidad de Cantabria. Av. de los Castros s/n. 39005 Santander, pablo.arias@unican.es gonzalec@unican.es mourea@unican.es roberto.ontanon@ unican.es http://grupos.unican.es/prehistoria El artículo fue remitido en su versión final el 19-IX-2000. pación. Castros. Arqueología pública. Gestión del Patrimo-nio. Conservación del Patrimonio.
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Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has become fundamental in prehistoric research since it enables chemical studies that preserve the integrity of rock art or other investigated archaeological objects. This unique and fragile... more
Portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has become fundamental in prehistoric research since it enables chemical studies that preserve the integrity of rock art or other investigated archaeological objects. This unique and fragile expression of our ancestors requires the use of non-invasive and non-destructive in situ analytical techniques. This provides significant sources of physicochemical information for enhancing the comprehension of the symbolic and ideological realm of past societies. Thus, XRF data acquired in the field allow giving more detailed insights into the pigment used by Palaeolithic artists, the rock art organisation inside the cave and the different frequentation periods of it. However, if the qualitative study is now well established and routinely used, quantitative evaluation encounters difficulties linked to the context of the study (karstic environment in our case) and the heterogeneous nature of the analysed material (nature of the pigments used, presence of several layers, conservation state of the rock art, type of the rock art support). Moreover, the non-invasive nature of this technique is faced with a large number of data since it offers the acquisition of statistically relevant data by multiple measurements of different spots on the same figure. The present work struggles with the issue of filling the gap of well-adapted quantitative procedures devoted to caves or rock-shelters analyses, and offers efficient tools and methodologies, which take into account the specificities of the studied rock art and its context. Additionally, the evaluation procedures of the high volume of data have to be effective. The analyses of drawings, monochrome and polychrome paintings of three Palaeolithic key cave sites, namely Rouffignac and Font-de-Gaume in Dordogne, Southern-France, and La Garma in Cantabria, Northern Spain, illustrate the new approaches and procedures developed in this study.
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ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to approach the Bell-Beaker phenomenon not as an isolated manifestation but as a cultural element integrated into the socio-economic dynamics of the Chalcolithic societies. We discard here the... more
ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to approach the Bell-Beaker phenomenon not as an isolated manifestation but as a cultural element integrated into the socio-economic dynamics of the Chalcolithic societies. We discard here the descriptive study of material culture, i.e. the typological-comparative approach, highly developed in an eminently empiricist tradition of research and furthermore unnecessary for the progress of this work. First, we examine the archaeological evidence focusing on find contexts in order to adequately characterize the Bell-Beaker presence in Cantabria. Subsequently, a consideration on the involvement of the Bell Beaker components in the exchange models and the funerary practices of the Cantabrian Chalcolithic allows us to suggest several hypotheses concerning its participation in the socio-economic change processes documented in this spatial- temporal realm. The aim is to offer an alternative interpretation of this archaeological reality, that, despite its undeniable distinctiveness, when regarded in this way loses that phenomenal character and turns out to be a part of the interacting elements within a socio-economic formation immersed in a process of change.Este artículo pretende una aproximación al fenómeno campaniforme considerado no como una manifestación aislada, sino en su imbricación dentro de las estructuras y las dinámicas socioeconómicas de las sociedades calcolíticas del Cantábrico. Obviamos el estudio descriptivo y formal de los materiales, la aproximación tipológico-comparativa que, ya desarrollada en un marco de investigación eminentemente empirista, no resulta esencial para el progreso del trabajo. En primerlugar se examinan las evidenciasdocumentadas desde una perspectiva contextual, con el fin de proponer una adecuada caracterización de la presencia campaniforme en el registro cantábrico. A continuación, un análisis de la participación de los materiales campaniformes en los modelos de intercambio y las prácticasfunerarias del Calcolíticocantábrico permite plantear algunas hipótesis acerca de su intervención en los procesos de cambio socioeconómico detectados en ese ámbito espaciotemporal. Se trata, en definitiva, de ofrecer alternativas interpretativas en el estudio de esta realidad arqueológica; una manifestación que, a pesar de sus innegables especificidades, considerada de este modo pierde en gran parte ese carácter fenoménico y pasa a formar parte de la integración de elementos e instancias sociales y económicas que interactúan en la configuración de una formación económico-social inmersa en un proceso de cambio.
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En el área de La Embestida se estudió un pecio moderno del que se han documentado materiales que han permitido conocer la estructura del buque. Como consecuencia del proyecto de construcción de un emisario submarino con salida por Cala... more
En el área de La Embestida se estudió un pecio moderno del que se han documentado materiales que han permitido conocer la estructura del buque. Como consecuencia del proyecto de construcción de un emisario submarino con salida por Cala Reona, se estudió con carácter de urgencia la bahía, documentándose un pecio tardorromano y el área de Cala Reona y Cala Flores al objeto de buscar posibles alternativas al emisario.
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En el área de La Embestida se estudió un pecio moderno del que se han documentado materiales que han permitido conocer la estructura del buque. Como consecuencia del proyecto de construcción de un emisario submarino con salida por Cala... more
En el área de La Embestida se estudió un pecio moderno del que se han documentado materiales que han permitido conocer la estructura del buque. Como consecuencia del proyecto de construcción de un emisario submarino con salida por Cala Reona, se estudió con carácter de urgencia la bahía, documentándose un pecio tardorromano y el área de Cala Reona y Cala Flores al objeto de buscar posibles alternativas al emisario.
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The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several levels of galleries interconnected by vertical shafts. La Garma houses an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examS.... more
The archaeological site of the Garma (Cantabria) is part of an active karst system with several levels of galleries interconnected
by vertical shafts. La Garma houses an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examS.
Cuezva, et al. 2016. Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte...
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ples of Palaeolithic cave art and settlement floors in an amazing state of preservation, as well as valuable evidence of
symbolic behavior of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers. Its heritage values have made it worthy of their inclusion on the
World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2008. The conservation of this site is a priority and it has been recently launched
a program of preventive conservation. The main objective of this project is to achieve a better knowledge of the underground
ecosystem and the impact of human presence in the underground microenvironment, both for purposes
of sound management and research of the cavity as well as for a hypothetical opening to the public in the future.
The underground karst system of La Garma, with various levels of galleries and directly connected with active water
table, involves a complex movement of matter (water, air masses and aerosols) and energy. To achieve an adequate
knowledge of environmental dynamics, our research group is conducting a multidisciplinary study since February
2015 by employing specific methodologies for each interface involved: microclimate (cavity in three internal levels
of karst and external atmosphere), hydrochemical (water infiltration and condensation), isotope geochemistry (air,
soil) and microbiological contamination (air, soil, rock). Early data show very marked seasonal changes in the general
ventilation pattern of the cavity (air renewal in winter) and areas with different microenvironmental stability, including
sectors with a greater degree of isolation from the regime of general circulation of air in the cavity.
by vertical shafts. La Garma houses an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examS.
Cuezva, et al. 2016. Investigación aplicada a la conservación preventiva del sistema kárstico de La Garma (Omoño, Ribamontán al Monte...
308
ples of Palaeolithic cave art and settlement floors in an amazing state of preservation, as well as valuable evidence of
symbolic behavior of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers. Its heritage values have made it worthy of their inclusion on the
World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2008. The conservation of this site is a priority and it has been recently launched
a program of preventive conservation. The main objective of this project is to achieve a better knowledge of the underground
ecosystem and the impact of human presence in the underground microenvironment, both for purposes
of sound management and research of the cavity as well as for a hypothetical opening to the public in the future.
The underground karst system of La Garma, with various levels of galleries and directly connected with active water
table, involves a complex movement of matter (water, air masses and aerosols) and energy. To achieve an adequate
knowledge of environmental dynamics, our research group is conducting a multidisciplinary study since February
2015 by employing specific methodologies for each interface involved: microclimate (cavity in three internal levels
of karst and external atmosphere), hydrochemical (water infiltration and condensation), isotope geochemistry (air,
soil) and microbiological contamination (air, soil, rock). Early data show very marked seasonal changes in the general
ventilation pattern of the cavity (air renewal in winter) and areas with different microenvironmental stability, including
sectors with a greater degree of isolation from the regime of general circulation of air in the cavity.
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Resumen Las innovaciones geomáticas han impactado de lleno en la forma de registrar, analizar y representar las evidencias arqueológicas. Su aplicación en Arqueología permite el diseño de protocolos ajustados a las necesidades de cada... more
Resumen Las innovaciones geomáticas han impactado de lleno en la forma de registrar, analizar y representar las evidencias arqueológicas. Su aplicación en Arqueología permite el diseño de protocolos ajustados a las necesidades de cada investigación arqueológica, abriendo nuevas formas de abordar problemas y encontrar entornos de solución, lo que hace relativamente poco tiempo no era posible ni en planteamiento ni en ejecución. Aquí pretendemos trabajar con dos conjuntos de arte rupestre que, según su localización dentro la Galería Inferior de La Garma, únicamente pudieron haber sido creados y visualizados mediante algún tipo de dispositivo de luz artificial (lámparas de grasa animal). A través de un modelo volumétrico de la cueva, obtenido con laser-escáner, y el empleo de software de diseño 3D hemos simulado y explorado diferentes condiciones de luz artificial sobre ambos casos. Primero, en un panel con motivos zoomorfos emplazado en una zona accesible y con libertad de movimientos; y segundo, en una zona de difícil movilidad (techos bajos) donde se conservan manos pintadas. Nuestro propósito es aproximarnos a diferentes posibilidades en la configuración de luces en función de dos acciones (producción y visualización), así como la estimación del espacio necesario para llevarlas a cabo. Palabras clave: arte paleolítico, iluminación de cuevas, Soft Computing, simulación de escenas Abstract Geomatic innovations fully impacted on how we record, analyze and represent archaeological evidences. Their application in Archaeology allows us to design tighter protocols related with the needs of each archaeological research, open new ways to address problems and finding solution environments which weren't possible neither approach nor execution until recent times. This proposal aims to work with two sets of rock art that according to their location, in the Lower Gallery of La Garma, they have been created and displayed by some kind of artificial light device (e.g. fat-burning lamps). Through a volumetric model of the cave – obtained with laser scanning technology– and the use of 3D design software, we have simulated and explored different conditions of artificial lighting on both study cases. At first, on a panel with zoomorphic motives located in an accessible area with freedom of movement; second one is located in a reduced mobility place where painted hands are preserved. Our purpose is to approach different possibilities in light configuration linked to two sets of actions (production and visualization of art) and to estimate the potential space needed for them.
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This paper describes the general lines of the management model and the conservation issues applied in the Cantabrian region to one of the most distinguishing features of its cultural heritage, the caves with Palaeolithic Rock Art. After a... more
This paper describes the general lines of the management
model and the conservation issues applied in the
Cantabrian region to one of the most distinguishing
features of its cultural heritage, the caves with Palaeolithic
Rock Art. After a brief description of the legal and
administrative protection for this cultural manifestation,
we set out the main problems that the protection of the
archaeological sites have to deal with (external and
internal, natural and anthropic), and then detail the
corrective measures engaged within the “Cantabria’s Rock
Art Management Plan” to eliminate or, at least, minimize
the risks of deterioration (legal and administrative
measures, direct performances). Finally, a specific aspect
of great significance for the preservation of this part of
the cultural heritage is highlighted: the need for a
“sustainable management” of cave art in relation with
tourism, i.e. the compatibility between preservation and
touristic exploitation of the caves.
model and the conservation issues applied in the
Cantabrian region to one of the most distinguishing
features of its cultural heritage, the caves with Palaeolithic
Rock Art. After a brief description of the legal and
administrative protection for this cultural manifestation,
we set out the main problems that the protection of the
archaeological sites have to deal with (external and
internal, natural and anthropic), and then detail the
corrective measures engaged within the “Cantabria’s Rock
Art Management Plan” to eliminate or, at least, minimize
the risks of deterioration (legal and administrative
measures, direct performances). Finally, a specific aspect
of great significance for the preservation of this part of
the cultural heritage is highlighted: the need for a
“sustainable management” of cave art in relation with
tourism, i.e. the compatibility between preservation and
touristic exploitation of the caves.
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Located in a coastal environment, the Cueva de los Gitanos site (Castro Urdiales, Spain) provides interesting data about the introduction and development of a productive economy on the coastal strip of northern Spain. This paper... more
Located in a coastal environment, the Cueva de los Gitanos site (Castro Urdiales, Spain) provides interesting data about
the introduction and development of a productive economy on the coastal strip of northern Spain.
This paper summarizes the results obtained from different kinds of studies (archaeozoology, archaeomalacology,
archaeobotany, ceramics and lithic assemblages) carried out on the different stratigraphic sub-levels. The palaeo-economic traits of the groups occupying the cave from the fifth to the third millenia cal BC are considered in the context of the social and economic development characterizing the process of introduction and consolidation of a productive
economy in the region
the introduction and development of a productive economy on the coastal strip of northern Spain.
This paper summarizes the results obtained from different kinds of studies (archaeozoology, archaeomalacology,
archaeobotany, ceramics and lithic assemblages) carried out on the different stratigraphic sub-levels. The palaeo-economic traits of the groups occupying the cave from the fifth to the third millenia cal BC are considered in the context of the social and economic development characterizing the process of introduction and consolidation of a productive
economy in the region
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Contiene los resúmenes con las principales actuaciones arqueológicas de gestión realizadas en Cantabria entre 2000 y 2003
Research Interests: Cantabrian Palaeolithic, Cantabrian Region, Cantabrian Wars, Cantabria, Museo De Arqueología Y Prehistoria De Cantabria, and 2 moreCantabria (Spain) and Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Archaeological Iron, Castro Urdiales (Cantabria, Spain), Cantabrian Wars, Archaeological Metals, Metals Romans, Romanization, I and II Centuries BC
Contiene los resúmenes de las principales actuaciones arqueológicas de gestión realizadas en Cantabria entre 2004 y 2011