L’abri de Benzú (Ceuta). Un site avec une technologie de Mode 3-Paléolithique moyen dans le Nord de l’Afrique

Abstract

The Shelter of Benzú is located near the city of Ceuta, in North Africa. We are currently working on the final stage of the scientific report of the activities carried out in the last years. We have done an evaluation, although still not final, of geological, stratigraphic, chronological, and ecological data as well as the different resources used by prehistoric societies. We emphasize the technological data for the archaeological products and for lifestyles. Geological and paleoecological bases of the historical region of the Strait of Gibraltar provide great similarities between the European and North African shores. The shelter of Benzú has a sequence of seven archaeological levels with a clearly defined technology belonging to Mode 3 concept. The similarities with the sets of the southern Iberian Peninsula are evident. We also emphasize the exploitation of marine resources by hunter-gatherer societies since the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene sequence. With these archaeological bases and the context of recent studies in the North African region, we value the possible relationships and contacts between societies on both sides of the historical region of the Strait of Gibraltar.