Siliceous raw material consumption during the late Upper Palaeolithic in “El Pirulejo”, South of Iberia (Priego, Córdoba)

Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 Published by the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh ISSN: 2055-0472. URL: http://journals.ed.ac.uk/lithicstudies/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 UK: Scotland License. Siliceous raw material consumption during the late Upper Palaeolithic in “El Pirulejo”, South of Iberia (Priego, Córdoba) Isabel Cánovas Calle 1, María Dolores Simón Vallejo 1, 2, 3, Lydia Calle Román 1, Victoria Aranda Sanchez 1, Rubén Parrilla Giraldez 1, Antonio Tarriño Vinagre 4, Miguel Cortés Sánchez 1, 2, 3 1. Grupo de Investigación TELLUS. Prehistoria y Arqueología en el Sur de Iberia (HUM-949). Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología. Facultad de Geografía e Historia, University of Seville. c/. Doña María de Padilla s/n. 41004. Seville, Spain. Email: Cánovas Calle: [email protected]; Vallejo: [email protected]; Calle Román: [email protected]; Aranda Sanchez: vict[email protected]; Parrilla Giraldez: [email protected]; Cortés Sánchez: [email protected] 2. University of Seville. c/. Doña María de Padilla s/n. 41004. Seville, Spain. 3. Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior, Universidade do Algarve, Portugal. 4. Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (Burgos, España). Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca, 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain. Email: [email protected] Abstract: This work presents the first results about the use of siliceous raw materials by the hunter-gatherer societies during the Late Glacial in the level 5 of El Pirulejo. El Pirulejo is located within the municipality of Priego de Córdoba (Córdoba, Spain). The archaeological level P/5 is classified as a Solutrean, according to the technological analysis of the lithic assemblage. The methodology used about the raw material is divided into four phases. During this first phase, we carried out a sampling analysis of local primary and secondary outcrops in the proximity of the site, over an area of 20 km from the site. We also performed a macroscopic and petrographic analysis of selected samples. In these phase, we describe the Veleta Formation, wich represents the main siliceous outcrop closest to the site. Once the local flint was characterized, it was compared to the lithic industry assemblage of level P/5, with the intention of observing the management and exploitation of local flint associated to knapping activities. As a result of the assemblage analysed so far, we have ruled out local operations on these chert samples and propose an area of exploitation of lithic resources that will exceed 20 kilometres around the site. We ruled out that the Veleta Formation provided a source of lithic supply for the hunter-gatherer societies. Keywords: Tardiglacial; raw materials; Veleta Formation; flint; management 92 I. Canovas Calle et al. Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 1. Introduction Studies on raw materials in archaeological assemblages of the Palaeolithic in Andalusia (South of Spain), have been limited and isolated. Works related to the supply of flint in prehistoric societies have also been few in number Late Prehistory, (Cabrero 1981; Cortés et al. 2008; Lozano et al. 2010; Morgado et al. 2009; Morgado et al. 2011; Morgado et al. 2011; Nocete Calvo, 2001; Rodríguez-Tovar et al. 2010; Vallespí et al. 1988). This work represents one of the first studies on the localization and characterization of geological siliceous outcrops in Andalusia susceptible have been exploited by Upper Palaeolithic societies. Our main goal was to locate and describe the potential siliceous sources available in a regional radius of 20 km around the Late Upper Palaeolithic occupations of El Pirulejo site (Córdoba). The petrographic analysis of the archaeological materials was contrasted with the geological information around the site in order to define which raw materials were used and their outcropping area. This study focuses on layer P/5, of El Pirulejo, and also presents the technomorphological and functional information available so far. This enables an initial insight into the dynamics governing the organization, exploitation, circulation and abandonment of the lithic materials (Mangado 2006). 1.1. The site El Pirulejo site is a rock shelter built on travertine within the municipality of Priego de Córdoba (Córdoba, Spain), located at 580 m ASL, with geographic coordinates of 37° 26'32" and 4° 11'15" (Figure 1). Figure 1. Location map of “El Pirulejo” site. (Compiled by authors.) From a geological perspective, El Pirulejo belongs to the external sub-Baetic areas. In this area, all the flint outcrops catalogued on the geological map correspond to the Jurassic. On the other hand, from a physiographic point of view, the studied zone presents a SE-NW area consisting of a mountainous strip forming the regional interfluve, with mountain elevations such as the Cabra Massif (around 1,000 m ASL), the Carcabuey Pass (small I. Canovas Calle et al. 93 Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 mountains, hills and foothills) and south-central alignments between Rute and Priego (Cortés 2008). Similarly, we find the Priego-Alcaudete depression (head of the Salado River, confluent with the Guadajoz River) and the foothills from the West (Montilla countryside, Genil River and its tributaries Cabra and Anzur) (Cortés et al. 2008). El Pirulejo is associated to the travertines of Priego de Córdoba. That lithochemical construction was formed by carbonated springs located at higher altitudes that spread through various loamy and detrital materials (Díaz del Olmo & Álvarez 1995). The upwelling would cease to be active at a certain time and, once inactive, it would shape a medium-sized cavity showing a parallel gallery or a half open rock shelter in front of the travertine that was recurrently used by hunter-gatherer groups at the end of the Pleistocene and the Early Holocene. 1.2. Chrono-culture sequence The stratigraphic sequence known so far is made up of 6 archaeological levels (Cortés et al. 2008). The superficial level (P/S) provided materials corresponding to the Contemporary Period, while stratum P/1 contains materials assigned to the Late Prehistory (Cortés 2007) (Figure 2, and Table 1). Figure 2. Stratigraphic column of El Pirulejo site (Cortés 2001). On the other hand the stratigraphical series fits within the Late Upper Palaeolithic. 94 I. Canovas Calle et al. Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 Table 1. Chronological and culture sequence Stratum BP (14C) c. B.P c. cal BP Techno-Cultural Ascription P/S - >1000 - Modern-Contemporary Age P/1 - >1000 <12800 Recent prehistory and Bronze Age P/2 - 10000-11000 12800-14000 Late Mediterranean Magdalenian P/3 - 11000-12500 14000-17000 Upper Mediterranean Magdalenian P/4 A,B,C 13500-14500 13500-14500 16000-17900 Middle Mediterranean Magdalenian D - - - - P/5 - >15000 >18000 Upper Palaeolithic P/6 - - - Upper Palaeolithic 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Materials The analysed artefacts proceed from level P/5, totalizing an excavated area of 3 m². It is a level of much cemented clay sediment, of brecciated appearance and beige colours to ceiling that amalgams bone remains and lithic industry. The material recovered from level P/5 consists of 11,743 lithic pieces, of which we have analysed the lithic assemblage made of flint, turning out a total of 11,635 pieces. 20 of these pieces have been analysed in thin-section. This has enabled progress in the knowledge of raw material management during the regional Upper Palaeolithic. Table 2. Analysed lithic assemblage. Level P/5 of El Pirulejo. Type Nº %* Flakes 395 30,95 Blades 15 1,17 Bladelets 572 44,82 Cores reconditioning 170 13,32 Retouched Tools 124 9,71 Cores 41 - Chunk + chips 18 - Debris 10300 - Total 11635 100 2.2. Methods The potential areas where the flint is located have been delimited from the local and regional geology, based on the geological literature. The selected area was surveyed using the available geological maps of the area (Sheet 989, Lucena, and Sheet 990, Alcalá la Real) and considering the bibliographic references of the primary siliceous outcrops in this area. The geological prospections were carried out on the primary flint outcrops in an area of 20 kilometres from the site. The collection of geological samples will be accompanied by a systematic description of the location GPS positioning, using Garmin Etrex30X GPS equipment, as well as the geological characterization of the outcrop (Tarriño 2006). The Salado river basin, that contains flints in secondary position, was the second area prospected. I. Canovas Calle et al. 95 Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 The macroscopic analysis was carried out on the archaeological flint artefacts excavated from level P/5. A binocular loupe was used (Olympus SZX10) with the purpose of establishing siliceous varieties based on macroscopic characteristics such as colour, texture, translucency, shine, cortex, patina, inclusions and weathering (Tarriño 2006: 125). Once the siliceous varieties of the archaeological assemblage was established, 15 thin sections were made to establish petrographic characteristics of each variety. The microscopic analysis was performed by a Nikon Eclipse E200. In order to establish parallels between the archaeological and geological flint, the same analytical method was carried out. A total of 24 geological samples were observed macroscopically and 6 of them where analysed microscopically. The petrographic analysis was carried out systematically following the database designed and published by Tarriño (2001). In the next work, a petrologic study will be extended by X ray diffraction analysis, and it will be completed with a geochemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence. (Tarriño 2001) 3. Results 3.1. Geological context of the siliceous outcrops The primary flint outcrops we studied as potential abiotic resource catchment areas make up part of the Sub-external Baetic System. All the territories that form the Baetic System (internal and external areas as well as the Gibraltar Complex), include various techto-stratigraphic units derived from the pre-existing palaeogeographic territories, evolved during the Mesozoic Era to the Phynopaleozoic megacontinent of Pangea, formed during the extension of the Central Atlantic platform (Vera 1969). (Figure 3). The Internal Areas of the System shows a deep deformation which affects the bedrock, accompanied by metamorphism, whereas the External Areas are located on the edges of the European and African plates. (Garcia et al. 1985). García Dueñas et al. (1980) divides the External Areas into four minor palaeogeographic territories: two surroundings (intermediate and Middle Sub-Baetic territories) and two ascendant areas, with sections belonging to the Upper Jurassic (external and internal Sub- Baetic) (Morgado & Lozano 2014). The primary geological flint outcrops analysed are located in the middle areas of the external Sub-Baetic areas. The Middle Sub-Baetic palaeogeography belonging to the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods consists of a lithostratigraphic series structured in several sedimentary formations (Vera Torres & Molina Cámara 1998). (Figure 4). The flint of prime outcrop fits into the Veleta Formation, included in the Gaena Unit. This unit is an allochthonous set, which is on the Camarena-Lanchares Unit, separated from other sub-baetic units by Triassic materials that form the Gaena basis. The Gaena Unit presents a dolomitic limestone set, which is divided into the Gavilán Formation, described as a dolomitic limestone set with Lower Domerian ammonites on its (upper part), the Zegrí Formation, which is composed of Domerian Middle-Aalenian and Veleta Formation marly limestones, marls and limestones, first described by Molina in 1987, and composed of pale grey folded limestone with abundant flint nodules and Lower Aalenian- Bajocian bedrocks (Molina 1987). The Veleta Formation has been the aim of our prospecting work since it is the most important formation with flint, and the closest one to the archaeological site. It has been prospected and sampled at six different points for subsequent petrographic analysis (Molina & Vera Torres 1996), (Molina et al. 2004), (Figure 5). 96 I. Canovas Calle et al. Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 Figure 3. Geological maps. Baetic System based in Vera 2004. 1. Volcanic. 2. Basic Plutonics. 3. Acid plutonics. 4. Aljibe Unit. 5. Algeciras Unit. 6. Other Units. 7. Nevado- Filabride Complex. 8. Nevado-Filabride Complex. Alpujarride Complex. 10. Alpujarride Complex. 11. Alpujarride Complex. 12 Malaguide Complex. 13. Dorsaliano Complex. 14. Internal Subbetic. 15. Subbetic Medium. 16. Subbetic External. 17. Intermediate Units. 18. Internal Prebetic. 19. External Prebetic. 20. Tabular Covarage. 21. Common Terms. 23. Area sub-portuguesa. 24. Central-Iberian Zone. 25. Sierra de Aracena Dominian. 26. Domain Elvas-Cumbres Mayores. 27. Domain Olivenza- Monesterio. 28. Domain Zafra-Alanis-Córdoba. 29. Sierra Albarrana Domain. 30. Domain Valencia de Torres-Cerro. 31. Obejo-Valsequillo Domain. I. Canovas Calle et al. 97 Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 Figure 4. Maps of the Veleta Formation. Prospected areas. (Compiled by the authors.) 98 I. Canovas Calle et al. Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 Figure 5. Stratigraphic columns of Gavilan, Zegri, Veleta and Amonitic Formation. (Prepared by the authors, based on Molina (1987).) The scale bar on is 5 m tall (divided into 1_ m sections). I. Canovas Calle et al. 99 Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 3.2. Macroscopic and petrographic characterization 3.2.1. Geological flint From a macroscopic point of view, the geological flint shows a wide range of shades, from greyish to almost whitish. It is a semi-translucent flint, very jointed and fractured, ruling out a conchoidal fracture of the nodules found in primary outcrops (Figure 6). Figure 6. Primary outcrop of the Veleta Formation flint. Ruler segments are 20 cm each. 106 I. Canovas Calle et al. Journal of Lithic Studies (2016) vol. 3, nr. 2, p. 91-107 doi:10.2218/jls.v3i2.1872 Morgado, A., & Lozano, J. A. 2014. 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