Initial insights into Aterian hunter–gatherer settlements on coastal landscapes: The example of Unit 8 of El Mnasra Cave (Témara, Morocco)

Abstract

Coastal adaptations and the exploitation of marine resources are important topics in the study of the human evolution as certain other human behaviors may be linked to them: large group size, low mobility, complex technology and wide-ranging gifting or exchange. It is therefore essential to characterize the socio-economic organization of Aterian hunter–gatherers in coastal landscapes. The example of Unit 8 of El Mnasra Cave provides some initial insights into the economic organization of Aterian groups living on the Atlantic coastal landscapes of Morocco through a combination of zooarchaeological and stone tool industry data. The lithic industries include tanged tools, which in fact encompass a mosaic of tools (points, scrapers, unmodified edges, etc.) having a long use-life and high mobility. The lithic industries also present a fragmented reduction system associated with a large range of mainly local raw materials. The lithic assemblages are thus very flexible and include multifunctional-tools. Aterian hunter–gatherers consumed a broad range of terrestrial resources (small, medium and large ungulates, tortoises) as well as coastal ones (mollusks). The artifacts (faunal remains, lithic and osseous industries, hearths, ornaments in Nassarius sp. shells pigments) reflect diverse activities, showing that El Mnasra Unit 8 is not a single-activity site. The low density of archaeological artifacts, the small number of faunal species exploited by humans and the fragmented lithic reduction system indicate brief occupations.