Stratigraphy and formation processes of the Upper Pleistocene deposit at Gruta da Oliveira, Almonda karstic system, Torres Novas, Portugal
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Publication Date
5-1-2009
Abstract
Gruta da Oliveira is a cave located in the Almonda karstic system in central Portugal. Its Upper Pleistocene fill is made up of gravitational sediments with varied biogenic and anthropogenic inputs. The archaeological sequence (35–70 ka) is fairly homogeneous, reflecting a predominantly moist climatic context modulated by millennial‐scale variations. Human occupation was almost continuous throughout. In the richer archaeological layers (8–14), the anthropogenic components are in primary position, and post‐depositional processes are restricted, although penecontemporaneous biological activity—such as hyena scavenging—overprinted the record. In layers 15–19, the excavated area corresponds to the footslope of a talus, where accumulation proceeded mainly through runoff and where the lithics and bones derive from occupations situated ca. 5m outward. The base of the deposit is >2m from the current base of the excavation, suggesting that Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS)‐4 and OIS‐5 sediments underlay the deposit already exposed. This study confirms the archaeological integrity of the Mousterian assemblages found in the different layers, and, given the dates for layer 8, supports the hypothesis that Neanderthals survived in western Iberia until at least 35,000–38,000 calendar years ago.
Keywords
Sediments (Geology), Excavations (Archaeology), Caves, Europe, Portugal, Torres Novas, Santarém
Geographic Subject
Europe; Portugal; Torres Novas; Santarém
Document Type
Article
Notes
Volume 24, Issue 3 34 p.
Identifier
K26-05474
Recommended Citation
Angelucci, Diego E. and Zilhão, João, "Stratigraphy and formation processes of the Upper Pleistocene deposit at Gruta da Oliveira, Almonda karstic system, Torres Novas, Portugal" (2009). KIP Articles. 5223.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/5223