Advances in the analysis of households in the early neolithic groups of the Iberian Peninsula: Deciphering a partial archaeological record

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the data related to the households of the first farmers in the Iberian Peninsula during the early Neolithic and discuss the theoretical and archaeological constraints on their recognition. Information is limited by different factors, such as the traditional excavation exclusively of caves and the difficulties in preserving the archaeological record at open-air sites. Most of these sites present diverse types of structures, from production-consumption, storage or waste areas, to different types of possible dwellings. We argue that the most common type of settlement within these groups were farms, which would constitute basic units of productive and social organization. Lastly, we highlight the research approach involving the open-air excavation at settlements large enough to allow the identification of domestic units.