Subsistence activities and settlement dynamics of the first anatomically modern humans in the central–eastern Mediterranean Iberia: New insights from Cova de les Cendres (Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

The Aurignacian is documented in a large number of sites on the Iberian Peninsula, but the chronologies and characteristics of the technocomplexes associated with the first anatomically modern humans (AMHs) varies depending on the region. In the central-eastern Iberian Mediterranean region the well-dated stratigraphic series from several sites confirm that the beginning of the Aurignacian sequence coincides with the Evolved Aurignacian. Lithic and bones industries, as well as chronological context, have been already well-published, however, data on subsistence activities and the occupation and mobility patterns from this human groups are still scarce. We present the results of the archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis of the macromammal assemblage from Cova de les Cendres, a site from this region with an extensive Palaeolithic stratigraphy, including several Aurignacian levels. Spanish ibex and red deer are the main species, and the presence of small-medium carnivores is noteworthy. Both carnivores and humans are responsible of the accumulations, but the changes observed between levels point to a process of intensification of human occupations, with a loss of carnivore modifications. There are similarities with the Neanderthal assemblages, and some differences with the later Upper Palaeolithic periods. In a framework with few data on the first AMHs behaviour, Cova de les Cendres provides new relevant information about the animal resource exploitation and enables the establishment of mobility dynamics during the Evolved Aurignacian of the Iberian Mediterranean region.