Conchi Torres | Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (original) (raw)

Papers by Conchi Torres

With Experiments Past the important role that experimental archaeology has played in the developm... more With Experiments Past the important role that experimental archaeology has played in the development of archaeology is finally uncovered and understood. Experimental archaeology is a method to attempt to replicate archaeological artefacts and/or processes to test certain hypotheses or discover information about those artefacts and/or processes. It has been a key part of archaeology for well over a century, but such experiments are often embedded in wider research, conducted in isolation or never published or reported. Experiments Past provides readers with a glimpse of experimental work and experience that was previously inaccessible due to language, geographic and documentation barriers, while establishing a historical context for the issues confronting experimental archaeology today. This volume contains formal papers on the history of experimental methodologies in archaeology, as well as personal experiences of the development of experimental archaeology from early leaders in the...

Durante los últimos años, la investigación sobre el Paleolítico en la región de Madrid ha proporc... more Durante los últimos años, la investigación sobre el Paleolítico en la región de Madrid ha proporcionado nuevos yacimientos y datos que permiten llevar a cabo una actualización de nuestro conocimiento del poblamiento humano de esta región durante el Pleistoceno superior. Las condiciones geo-litológicas de la cuenca sedimentaria madrileña, sumada a la peculiar fisiografía de sierra, pie de monte y cuenca drenada por una densa red fluvial, proporciona un contexto singular en el que el poblamiento parece organizarse funcionalmente atendiendo a los rasgos que cada contexto posee. Las comunidades musterienses supieron sacar provecho de una ordenada estructuración funcional del espacio. En este trabajo además de realizar una actualización del conocimiento en la región, planteamos como los grupos musterienses organizaron de manera planificada y complementaria la explotación de los distintos recursos en nuestra región respondiendo a patrones similares al de otras regiones europeas.

New investigations carried out over the last few years in the Madrid Tertiary basin have revealed... more New investigations carried out over the last few years in the Madrid Tertiary basin have revealed a large number of Acheulean sites used for the exploitation of flint. The find is significantly important because it adds context to the understanding of the intense human activity in the central parts of the Iberian Peninsula during the middle Pleistocene. The sites are spread across an extensive zone of 500 ha; Set on a vast platform on the watershed between the Manzanares and Jarama rivers. The Tertiary sedimentary succession that forms the surface of the platform is comprised of about 20 m of thick green clay interbedded with several layers of flint from the Miocene Intermediate unit of the Madrid basin. During the second half of the Middle Pleistocene, seasonal flows of streams eroded the clay, leaving large numbers of flint nodules visible to the hominids. Investigations show a sustained period of active quarrying, with much of the liberated material converted into hand crafted flint axes (Through the direct manipulation of the flint nodules). The find is valuable especially due to STI exceptional state of preservation ; fossilized by sandy fluvial deposits, whose sedimentation is controlled by complex localised subsidences caused by karstic processes. The current study provides geoarchaeological background and explores different models for the formation of the sites and provides a preliminary analysis of the main Acheulean assemblages and techniques for working flint nodules. The research also adds a new, rich perspective to our understanding of the region and the organized human exploitation of raw materials in the Acheulean period. The study complements the well-known river terrace sites in the wider area showing the intensity and prevalence of flint extraction and use during the period, and the handaxe tradition typology of the Madrid region

Durante los últimos años y gracias a la estrecha colaboración del Departamento de Prehistoria y A... more Durante los últimos años y gracias a la estrecha colaboración del Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, la
empresa Argea S.L y la Dirección General de Patrimonio de la Comunidad de Madrid, se viene desarrollando un
modelo mixto de formación e investigación en el yacimiento paleolítico de Los Ahijones (Vicávaro-Madrid) en el que
los alumnos de prácticas de campo del Máster de Arqueología y Patrimonio de nuestra Universidad participan activamente.
En este trabajo presentamos tanto las metodologías docentes aplicadas en dicho yacimiento, como los
resultados preliminares de la investigación resultado de las campañas de 2013-15. Los datos obtenidos muestran la
enorme y compleja actividad de talla que los grupos achelenses pusieron en práctica en las zonas del interfluvio
Jarama-Manzanares a lo largo de la segunda mitad del Pleistoceno medio.

During the last years, thanks to the collaboration between the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Argea S.L
company and the Direccción General de Patrimonio of the Community of Madrid, a mixed model of practical learning
and research has been developed in the Paleolithic site of Los Ahijones (Vicávaro-Madrid). In that site, the students
of the Master of Archaeology and Heritage of our University practice fieldwork methodologies and actively participate
in the general research. In this contribution, we present the teaching methods applied in the field, as well as some
data obtained in the research from the 2013-15 campaigns. The preliminary results demonstrate the enormous and
complex activity developed by acheulian groups in the interfluvial areas of the Jarama and Manzanares rivers during
the second half of Middle Pleistocene.

Quaternary International, 2014

The central region of the Iberian Peninsula is dominated by Mesozoic and Palaeogene sedimentary d... more The central region of the Iberian Peninsula is dominated by Mesozoic and Palaeogene sedimentary deposits
in which geochemical processes have provided a wide range of siliceous outcrops. In this context,
raw material has been exploited since the Middle Pleistocene, notably at Acheulian and Mousterian sites.
Several fieldwork projects have been embarked upon in the last 20 years with a view to studying the
human occupation of this area. As a result, several archaeological sites have been found. Of these sites,
Ca~naveral, Berrocales and Ahijones have provided a significant amount of lithic evidence, which is
currently being studied.
In this paper, we present a conceptual discussion of the terms used to understand production levels
inside the assemblage, as well as an insight into the reuse and recycling processes detected in the
workshop/quarrying sites, that could be considered as evidence for raw material abundance. This
approach takes into account a diachronical analysis of the Chaines operatoires in Acheulian, and particularly
Mousterian sites. As a preliminary hypothesis, the presence of recycling or reuse in these areas of
abundance could be due to social or economic reasons. The changes that occurred during the Lower and
Middle Paleolithic introduce important developments in social participation in the flint knapping activities
and strategies that could contribute towards explaining its presence.

In recent times, the anthropological and psycho-educational approaches in the Archaeology have dr... more In recent times, the anthropological and psycho-educational approaches in the Archaeology have drawn much attention in Prehistory in order to define in which way individual behaviors could be found in the production. This aspect is considered as the starting point for the analysis of the processes of change or continuity of techno-cultural societies of the past. Although some criticism, particularly in recent times, this individual perspective is essential for older times, in which personal relationships are a fraction of the whole group behavior. Thus, learning as a cultural transmission vehicle becomes a key concept for understanding the collective behavior. We consider that what we can do today depends not only on our natural abilities and maturity, but also on our interaction level with the biological, geographical and social frames. So, this contribution is conceived as a synthesis of several works that have helped to provide a new approach to archaeological studies particularly in the comprehension of the lithic testimonies. Learning skills essentially helps in making sense of the information received, organize, store it in memory and use it. In the analysis of learning processes, we distinguish two fundamental aspects; technical or motor variables, and technological or logical-cognitive ones: For each of them, learning develops unevenly, especially depending on the educational- social interactions produced. Discovering and analyzing learning processes in the Paleolithic record, will be a fundamental aspect in the study of the evolution of the social relations.

Recibido el 14 de marzo de 2013. Aceptado el 11 de julio de 2013 Resumen. En el verano de 2011 se... more Recibido el 14 de marzo de 2013. Aceptado el 11 de julio de 2013 Resumen. En el verano de 2011 se iniciaron trabajos de sondeo en la cueva del Higueral-Guardia (Málaga, España). Los sondeos han determinado la existencia de una importante secuencia con niveles del Paleolítico superior y medio todavía en estudio. No obstante, la actividad perpetrada por los clandestinos en la cueva, ha limitado significativamente las posibilidades de interpretación de los niveles solutrenses. En este trabajo pretendemos, además de realizar una presentación preliminar de los datos obtenidos, establecer una discusión sobre el valor que este tipo de registros puede tener de cara a establecer interpretaciones de rango mayor. Aspectos como la intensidad de la ocupación, la diacronía del registro, o la funcionalidad del sitio son discutidos en este sentido.

Inside the activities of the research project "Proyecto KURETES. Primeras ocupaciones humanas, ev... more Inside the activities of the research project "Proyecto KURETES. Primeras ocupaciones humanas, evolución paleoecológica y climática del Cuaternario de las Béticas occidentales (Serranía de Ronda)" funded by the Consejería de Cultura*** of the Government of Andalusia, in the summer of 2011 several test pits were made in the Higueral-El Guardia Cave (Málaga). The sondages have determined the existence of an important Upper Paleolithic to Middle Paleolithic levels in the sequence, still under study. However, the illegal digging activity in the cave, have significantly limited the possibilities of interpretation of the Solutrean levels. In this paper present preliminary results of the field work, and at the same time, establish a discussion of the value that such records in order to establish interpretations of higher rank. Aspects such as the intensity of the occupation, the diachrony of registration, or the functionality of the site are discussed.

title of contribution): The Heritage managementpolicyconducted bytheMadridadministration during t... more title of contribution): The Heritage managementpolicyconducted bytheMadridadministration during the last decades has revealed several new deposits inthe central plateau of Spain. The archaeological site of"El Canaveral" in another example of the Palaeolithicdepositsin the Madrid regionwhose studyrevealsimportantaspectsabout the dynamicsofoccupation and exploitation ofresources byAcheuleanandMousterian groups in central part of the Iberian Peninsula. Inthis article, we present a comparative study of themodelsand strategies employed for catchment and exploitationof lithic raw materialsbetween the twoperiods. Palabras clave: Tecnología lítica, Achelense, Musteriense.

ii y Concepción Torres Navas ii RESUMEN: Durante las últimas fases del Paleolítico antiguo, el mu... more ii y Concepción Torres Navas ii RESUMEN: Durante las últimas fases del Paleolítico antiguo, el musteriense pone de manifiesto cambios en expresiones tanto tecnológicas como económicas y culturales. Nuestra capacidad de analizar el valor de esta afirmación es limitado, pero a fecha de hoy, todo parece indicar que existen transformaciones en el seno de estos grupos humanos que podrían responder a presiones tanto antrópicas como ecológicas. Una forma de profundizar en las causas de estos cambios consiste en analizar el grado de coherencia de las últimas expresiones tecnológicas del Musteriense a nivel regional. En este trabajo, nos centramos en el estudio de estas expresiones en el marco septentrional de la Península Ibérica. Así comprobamos como las últimas expresiones tecnológicas del Musteriense pasan por el desarrollo de dominios quina, Levallois y discoide en un proceso que podría perdurar hasta fechas en las que la presencia de sapiens parece del todo confirmada en la Península.

La península Ibérica, resulta un marco especialmente importante en el estudio de la perduración d... more La península Ibérica, resulta un marco especialmente importante en el estudio de la perduración de los últimos grupos neandertales autores del tecno-complejo musteriense, así como de su posible relación con las primeras comunidades de humanos modernos. La distribución geográfica y la resolución cronológica de las últimas secuencias peninsulares, acreditan la complejidad de este momento histórico, si bien, algunas tendencias señalan a la existencia de un creciente aislamiento de estas poblaciones musterienses hacia refugios ecológicos en un marco en el que el avance de las poblaciones de sapiens parecen seguir un patrón de incursiones esporádicas que agotan los recursos de los distintos ecosistemas peninsulares. A nivel peninsular, la heterogeneidad de los grupos musterienses, parece mostrar respuestas diversas que incluyen tanto procesos adaptativos, como otros caracterizados por cambios en los patrones de explotación del entorno y ocupación de alternativas ecológicas.

Reviews by Conchi Torres

With Experiments Past the important role that experimental archaeology has played in the developm... more With Experiments Past the important role that experimental archaeology has played in the development of archaeology is finally uncovered and understood. Experimental archaeology is a method to attempt to replicate archaeological artefacts and/or processes to test certain hypotheses or discover information about those artefacts and/or processes. It has been a key part of archaeology for well over a century, but such experiments are often embedded in wider research, conducted in isolation or never published or reported. Experiments Past provides readers with a glimpse of experimental work and experience that was previously inaccessible due to language, geographic and documentation barriers, while establishing a historical context for the issues confronting experimental archaeology today. This volume contains formal papers on the history of experimental methodologies in archaeology, as well as personal experiences of the development of experimental archaeology from early leaders in the...

Durante los últimos años, la investigación sobre el Paleolítico en la región de Madrid ha proporc... more Durante los últimos años, la investigación sobre el Paleolítico en la región de Madrid ha proporcionado nuevos yacimientos y datos que permiten llevar a cabo una actualización de nuestro conocimiento del poblamiento humano de esta región durante el Pleistoceno superior. Las condiciones geo-litológicas de la cuenca sedimentaria madrileña, sumada a la peculiar fisiografía de sierra, pie de monte y cuenca drenada por una densa red fluvial, proporciona un contexto singular en el que el poblamiento parece organizarse funcionalmente atendiendo a los rasgos que cada contexto posee. Las comunidades musterienses supieron sacar provecho de una ordenada estructuración funcional del espacio. En este trabajo además de realizar una actualización del conocimiento en la región, planteamos como los grupos musterienses organizaron de manera planificada y complementaria la explotación de los distintos recursos en nuestra región respondiendo a patrones similares al de otras regiones europeas.

New investigations carried out over the last few years in the Madrid Tertiary basin have revealed... more New investigations carried out over the last few years in the Madrid Tertiary basin have revealed a large number of Acheulean sites used for the exploitation of flint. The find is significantly important because it adds context to the understanding of the intense human activity in the central parts of the Iberian Peninsula during the middle Pleistocene. The sites are spread across an extensive zone of 500 ha; Set on a vast platform on the watershed between the Manzanares and Jarama rivers. The Tertiary sedimentary succession that forms the surface of the platform is comprised of about 20 m of thick green clay interbedded with several layers of flint from the Miocene Intermediate unit of the Madrid basin. During the second half of the Middle Pleistocene, seasonal flows of streams eroded the clay, leaving large numbers of flint nodules visible to the hominids. Investigations show a sustained period of active quarrying, with much of the liberated material converted into hand crafted flint axes (Through the direct manipulation of the flint nodules). The find is valuable especially due to STI exceptional state of preservation ; fossilized by sandy fluvial deposits, whose sedimentation is controlled by complex localised subsidences caused by karstic processes. The current study provides geoarchaeological background and explores different models for the formation of the sites and provides a preliminary analysis of the main Acheulean assemblages and techniques for working flint nodules. The research also adds a new, rich perspective to our understanding of the region and the organized human exploitation of raw materials in the Acheulean period. The study complements the well-known river terrace sites in the wider area showing the intensity and prevalence of flint extraction and use during the period, and the handaxe tradition typology of the Madrid region

Durante los últimos años y gracias a la estrecha colaboración del Departamento de Prehistoria y A... more Durante los últimos años y gracias a la estrecha colaboración del Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, la
empresa Argea S.L y la Dirección General de Patrimonio de la Comunidad de Madrid, se viene desarrollando un
modelo mixto de formación e investigación en el yacimiento paleolítico de Los Ahijones (Vicávaro-Madrid) en el que
los alumnos de prácticas de campo del Máster de Arqueología y Patrimonio de nuestra Universidad participan activamente.
En este trabajo presentamos tanto las metodologías docentes aplicadas en dicho yacimiento, como los
resultados preliminares de la investigación resultado de las campañas de 2013-15. Los datos obtenidos muestran la
enorme y compleja actividad de talla que los grupos achelenses pusieron en práctica en las zonas del interfluvio
Jarama-Manzanares a lo largo de la segunda mitad del Pleistoceno medio.

During the last years, thanks to the collaboration between the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Argea S.L
company and the Direccción General de Patrimonio of the Community of Madrid, a mixed model of practical learning
and research has been developed in the Paleolithic site of Los Ahijones (Vicávaro-Madrid). In that site, the students
of the Master of Archaeology and Heritage of our University practice fieldwork methodologies and actively participate
in the general research. In this contribution, we present the teaching methods applied in the field, as well as some
data obtained in the research from the 2013-15 campaigns. The preliminary results demonstrate the enormous and
complex activity developed by acheulian groups in the interfluvial areas of the Jarama and Manzanares rivers during
the second half of Middle Pleistocene.

Quaternary International, 2014

The central region of the Iberian Peninsula is dominated by Mesozoic and Palaeogene sedimentary d... more The central region of the Iberian Peninsula is dominated by Mesozoic and Palaeogene sedimentary deposits
in which geochemical processes have provided a wide range of siliceous outcrops. In this context,
raw material has been exploited since the Middle Pleistocene, notably at Acheulian and Mousterian sites.
Several fieldwork projects have been embarked upon in the last 20 years with a view to studying the
human occupation of this area. As a result, several archaeological sites have been found. Of these sites,
Ca~naveral, Berrocales and Ahijones have provided a significant amount of lithic evidence, which is
currently being studied.
In this paper, we present a conceptual discussion of the terms used to understand production levels
inside the assemblage, as well as an insight into the reuse and recycling processes detected in the
workshop/quarrying sites, that could be considered as evidence for raw material abundance. This
approach takes into account a diachronical analysis of the Chaines operatoires in Acheulian, and particularly
Mousterian sites. As a preliminary hypothesis, the presence of recycling or reuse in these areas of
abundance could be due to social or economic reasons. The changes that occurred during the Lower and
Middle Paleolithic introduce important developments in social participation in the flint knapping activities
and strategies that could contribute towards explaining its presence.

In recent times, the anthropological and psycho-educational approaches in the Archaeology have dr... more In recent times, the anthropological and psycho-educational approaches in the Archaeology have drawn much attention in Prehistory in order to define in which way individual behaviors could be found in the production. This aspect is considered as the starting point for the analysis of the processes of change or continuity of techno-cultural societies of the past. Although some criticism, particularly in recent times, this individual perspective is essential for older times, in which personal relationships are a fraction of the whole group behavior. Thus, learning as a cultural transmission vehicle becomes a key concept for understanding the collective behavior. We consider that what we can do today depends not only on our natural abilities and maturity, but also on our interaction level with the biological, geographical and social frames. So, this contribution is conceived as a synthesis of several works that have helped to provide a new approach to archaeological studies particularly in the comprehension of the lithic testimonies. Learning skills essentially helps in making sense of the information received, organize, store it in memory and use it. In the analysis of learning processes, we distinguish two fundamental aspects; technical or motor variables, and technological or logical-cognitive ones: For each of them, learning develops unevenly, especially depending on the educational- social interactions produced. Discovering and analyzing learning processes in the Paleolithic record, will be a fundamental aspect in the study of the evolution of the social relations.

Recibido el 14 de marzo de 2013. Aceptado el 11 de julio de 2013 Resumen. En el verano de 2011 se... more Recibido el 14 de marzo de 2013. Aceptado el 11 de julio de 2013 Resumen. En el verano de 2011 se iniciaron trabajos de sondeo en la cueva del Higueral-Guardia (Málaga, España). Los sondeos han determinado la existencia de una importante secuencia con niveles del Paleolítico superior y medio todavía en estudio. No obstante, la actividad perpetrada por los clandestinos en la cueva, ha limitado significativamente las posibilidades de interpretación de los niveles solutrenses. En este trabajo pretendemos, además de realizar una presentación preliminar de los datos obtenidos, establecer una discusión sobre el valor que este tipo de registros puede tener de cara a establecer interpretaciones de rango mayor. Aspectos como la intensidad de la ocupación, la diacronía del registro, o la funcionalidad del sitio son discutidos en este sentido.

Inside the activities of the research project "Proyecto KURETES. Primeras ocupaciones humanas, ev... more Inside the activities of the research project "Proyecto KURETES. Primeras ocupaciones humanas, evolución paleoecológica y climática del Cuaternario de las Béticas occidentales (Serranía de Ronda)" funded by the Consejería de Cultura*** of the Government of Andalusia, in the summer of 2011 several test pits were made in the Higueral-El Guardia Cave (Málaga). The sondages have determined the existence of an important Upper Paleolithic to Middle Paleolithic levels in the sequence, still under study. However, the illegal digging activity in the cave, have significantly limited the possibilities of interpretation of the Solutrean levels. In this paper present preliminary results of the field work, and at the same time, establish a discussion of the value that such records in order to establish interpretations of higher rank. Aspects such as the intensity of the occupation, the diachrony of registration, or the functionality of the site are discussed.

title of contribution): The Heritage managementpolicyconducted bytheMadridadministration during t... more title of contribution): The Heritage managementpolicyconducted bytheMadridadministration during the last decades has revealed several new deposits inthe central plateau of Spain. The archaeological site of"El Canaveral" in another example of the Palaeolithicdepositsin the Madrid regionwhose studyrevealsimportantaspectsabout the dynamicsofoccupation and exploitation ofresources byAcheuleanandMousterian groups in central part of the Iberian Peninsula. Inthis article, we present a comparative study of themodelsand strategies employed for catchment and exploitationof lithic raw materialsbetween the twoperiods. Palabras clave: Tecnología lítica, Achelense, Musteriense.

ii y Concepción Torres Navas ii RESUMEN: Durante las últimas fases del Paleolítico antiguo, el mu... more ii y Concepción Torres Navas ii RESUMEN: Durante las últimas fases del Paleolítico antiguo, el musteriense pone de manifiesto cambios en expresiones tanto tecnológicas como económicas y culturales. Nuestra capacidad de analizar el valor de esta afirmación es limitado, pero a fecha de hoy, todo parece indicar que existen transformaciones en el seno de estos grupos humanos que podrían responder a presiones tanto antrópicas como ecológicas. Una forma de profundizar en las causas de estos cambios consiste en analizar el grado de coherencia de las últimas expresiones tecnológicas del Musteriense a nivel regional. En este trabajo, nos centramos en el estudio de estas expresiones en el marco septentrional de la Península Ibérica. Así comprobamos como las últimas expresiones tecnológicas del Musteriense pasan por el desarrollo de dominios quina, Levallois y discoide en un proceso que podría perdurar hasta fechas en las que la presencia de sapiens parece del todo confirmada en la Península.

La península Ibérica, resulta un marco especialmente importante en el estudio de la perduración d... more La península Ibérica, resulta un marco especialmente importante en el estudio de la perduración de los últimos grupos neandertales autores del tecno-complejo musteriense, así como de su posible relación con las primeras comunidades de humanos modernos. La distribución geográfica y la resolución cronológica de las últimas secuencias peninsulares, acreditan la complejidad de este momento histórico, si bien, algunas tendencias señalan a la existencia de un creciente aislamiento de estas poblaciones musterienses hacia refugios ecológicos en un marco en el que el avance de las poblaciones de sapiens parecen seguir un patrón de incursiones esporádicas que agotan los recursos de los distintos ecosistemas peninsulares. A nivel peninsular, la heterogeneidad de los grupos musterienses, parece mostrar respuestas diversas que incluyen tanto procesos adaptativos, como otros caracterizados por cambios en los patrones de explotación del entorno y ocupación de alternativas ecológicas.