Mobility across the pre-Pyrenean mountain ranges during the Chalcolithic through strontium isotopes in human enamel: La Cueva de los Cristales (Sarsa de Surta, Huesca, Spain)

Abstract

There is an increasing abundance in the archaeological record in Iberia for the Late Neolithic and the beginning of the Chalcolithic periods, mostly regarding burials. The higher pre-Pyrenean areas began to be settled more frequently, but the poor weather conditions have led researchers to suggest that human presence mostly took the form of sporadic visits. This argument has provoked substantial controversy given the increase not only in the archaeological artefacts recorded but also in the number of burial sites in less accessible places. To shed more light on the knowledge of these Chalcolithic mountain groups, we have carried out strontium isotope analysis of human enamel of individuals from the funerary cave Cueva de los Cristales (Sarsa de Surta, Huesca, España), located 1,300 m above sea level (m a.s.l.). Our results point to a pre-Pyrenean origin of the Chalcolithic groups, despite differences found among the individual values, which may be related to different locations in the pre-Pyrenean area. The added value of the study resides in the large amount of data points (up to 40) of bioavailable strontium values which will be useful for future mobility studies performed in the Pyrenean territory.