Hominin multiple occupations in the Early and Middle Pleistocene sequence of Vallparadís (Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

The archaeological site at Vallparadís (Barcelona, Spain) contains a continuous archaeostratigraphic sequence that extends from the upper limit of the Jaramillo subchron (0.98 Ma) to the first half of the Middle Pleistocene (c. 0.6 Ma). Evidence of human occupation (lithic tools and cut-marks) has been identified in this sequence in the levels with reverse polarity from the Early Pleistocene (EVT7/4) and in the levels with normal polarity from the Middle Pleistocene (EVT3/2). In contrast to unit EVT7, which was excavated using an extensive archaeological methodology, the other levels were a rescue excavation. The latter yielded a reduced lithic assemblage, providing evidence of a multiple occupation sequence by hominins at Vallparadís. This evidence call into question the proposal that there was a gap in the hominin settlement before the appearance of Mode 2 technology in Europe, a hypothesis that is based on stratigraphic sequences such as Gran Dolina (Atapuerca, Spain) and the mid Loire region (Massif Central, France). Regarding the Early Pleistocene lithic tools from unit EVT7 at Vallparadís, the upper phase of the sequence (EVT4/2) shows longer chaînes opératoires, an increase in size of the lithic artefacts and the selection of better quality raw materials, which in turn indicate changes in the source areas from which they were selected.