Los huesos olvidados del dolmen de Carrascal (Agualva, Sintra, Portugal). Examinando los restos humanos antiguos (original) (raw)
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The history of geology intends to research biographies, ideas and controversies that have contributed to the epistemological building of knowledge, and to the products of fieldwork and laboratory investigation, and related written production on geosciences. A transversal research of all these elements allows revealing itineraries, outcrops and sites where pioneer studies have been done. Many of them still exist nowadays and are suitable for teaching and outreach activities of geoscientific literacy. An excellent example of this close link between history of geology and geoheritage can be explored in the "classical" outcrops of Salmanha (Figueira da Foz, West Central Portugal), where highly fossiliferous Upper Cretaceous carbonate units have been studied since the mid 19 th century. Extensively described by Paul Choffat, from 1886 onwards, its stratigraphic sections and Cenomanian-Turonian faunas were major contributions for the scientific knowledge of that time, and can still be used as a source of information for modern workers and as an important resource for teaching and touristic activities.
Alto do Castelo, en Alpiarça (Portugal), es un sitio reconocido sobre todo por su estrecha relación especial con las necrópolis del Bronce final de Tanchoal y Meijão. Aunque siempre se ha conectado con este momento de la Protohistoria, también se ha constatado una ocupación romanorrepublicana a partir del conjunto de materiales arqueológicos recogidos a inicios del pasado siglo, en las excavaciones que Ph. Kalb y M. Hock efectuaron en este yacimiento, pero también a partir de la identificación de una muralla y el foso doble que aparecen directamente asociados a esta fase. Sin embargo, la Casa dos Patudos conserva diversos materiales de la Edad del Hierro recuperados en los trabajos del Instituto Arqueológico Alemán, así como otros hallazgos de superficie, realizados en fechas recientes en este yacimiento. Estos materiales de la Edad del Hierro presentan unas características que permiten asociarlos con la llegada y la instalación de poblaciones mediterráneas en el valle del Tajo durante la segunda mitad y la etapa final del s. viii a. C. Esta datación permite integrar el Alto do Castelo en una densa red de establecimientos orientalizantes identificados en ambas riberas del Tagus. Se analiza el papel jugado por estos sitios y su interrelación teniendo en consideración su disposición geográfica, las áreas ocupadas y, por supuesto, los materiales arqueológicos. Palabras clave: Fenicios; Estuario del Tagus; Amphorae; Cerámica común; Cerámica gris; Red de asentamientos.
This work reports the data which has been recovered from the excavation of Sector II of Pego. Among other kinds of evidence, that area encompasses traces of funerary practices dating back to the Bronze Age. Based upon the local's choice, the structures' architectonic features, their interrelations, materials associated and stratigraphy and in the carbon dating results available we have proposed different uses and occupation phases. Although certain materials reflect human presence during later periods, the frequency of that area denounce three occupation moments datable from between the Middle Bronze Age and the Late Bronze Age. These moments are consistent with the construction of a plain grave's necropolis, probably forming familiar clusters, a hypothetic pits' necropolis and, prior to the abandonment of the area, an "enclosure". Given the interpretations presented we have discussed the possible relation between the local, certain physical characteristics and the presence of funerary practices. As a work hypothesis we consider those relations as fundamental for the places' choice. Alongside with other evidence of difficult interpretation and, perhaps, in the context of new senses meanwhile acquired by this place, these data form part of this place's biography.
[EN]The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of sedimentary deposits to be used for the reconstruction of Holocene environmental changes in the Campo Lameiro area (NW Spain). We focused on the evolution of landforms as a key factor in the configuration of alluvial and colluvial sequences. The geomorphological and sedimentological studies indicate that the distribution of landforms is a main factor to understand the formation of colluvial soils. Granitic macroforms dominate the present landscape, constituted by alveolar depressions surrounded by crests and slabs. The thickest sedimentary deposits were found in the depressions. We identified two main stratigraphic units: a basal inorganic layer represented by alluvio‑ colluvial sediments, formed in a highly energetic environment, probably dating to the Younger Dryas (>11000 years BP), and a younger unit of thick sandy, blackish, organic matter rich, colluvium. The oldest radiocarbon age obtained for this unit indicates that it may have started to form by 11240‑11130 cal. BP. The Holocene colluvial soils show discontinuities in grain size, soil reaction, elemental composition of the inorganic phase and molecular composition of the soil organic matter. These features are evidence of the occurrence of several phases of rosion/sedimentation (i.e. landscape instability), some of which were coeval with known periods of Holocene abrupt climate change – the 8.2 ka event, the beginning of the Neoglaciation (ca. 6 ka BP) or the 2.8 ka wet/cold event. But some of the most intense phases coincided with increased human pressure on landscape during the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman Period, and the Middle Ages. Charcoal layers, burnt soil layers and the highly aromatic nature of the soil organic matter point to frequent fire episodes. Pollen studies also indicated a sharp decrease in forest cover beginning by ca. 6000 cal BP, which seems to have been accompanied by a progressive soil acidification with time. Our research suggests that both climate and human activities played an important role in the formation of colluvial deposits in the area, confirming that they are valuable geoarchives of Holocene environmental change from a geoarchaeological approach. [PO]Neste trabalho estudaram‑se os depósitos sedimentares na área da estação arqueológica de Campo Lameiro (NW Espanha), com o objetivo de avaliar o seu potencial para a reconstrução das mudanças ambientais holocénicas, no que diz respeito à evolução do relevo como um fator determinante na configuração das sequências aluviais e coluviais. Os estudos geomorfológicos e sedimentológicos indicam que a distribuição das geoformas é um fator principal para comprender a formação dos solos coluviais. Na paisagem atual da área de estudo dominam as macroformas graníticas, constituídas por depressões alveolares rodeadas por cristas e lajes. Os depósitos sedimentares mais espessos ocorrem nas depressões. Identificaram‑se duas unidades estratigráficas principais: uma camada basal inorgânica, representada por sedimentos aluvio‑coluvionares, formados em ambiente altamente energético, provavelmente datados do Dryas recente (> 11000 anos BP) e uma unidade mais recente, arenosa, escura, rica em matéria orgânica, de solos coluviais. A datação mais antiga, obtida por radiocarbono para esta unidade, indica que ela pode ter começado a formar‑se há 11240‑11130 cal. BP. Os solos holocénicos coluviais apresentam descontinuidades na dimensão das partículas, na reação do solo, na composição da fase inorgânica e na composição molecular da matéria orgânica do solo. Estas características comprovam a ocorrência de diversas fases de erosão / sedimentação (ou seja, de instabilidade da paisagem), algumas das quais são contemporâneas dos períodos de mudança climática abrupta conhecidos no Holocénico – o evento a 8,2 ka, no início da Neoglaciação (ca. 6 ka BP) ou o evento húmido e frio a 2,8 ka. Mas, algumas das fases mais intensas coincidiram com o aumento da pressão humana sobre a paisagem durante o Neolítico, a Idade do Bronze, o Período Romano e na Idade Média. A ocorrência de camadas de carvão, de solos queimados e a natureza distintamente aromática da matéria orgânica do solo apontam para episódios de incêndios frequentes. Os estudos polínicos também indicaram uma diminuição acentuada da cobertura florestal, com início a ca. 6500 cal BP, que parece ter sido acompanhada por uma progressiva acidificação do solo ao longo do tempo. O trabalho de investigação realizado, sugere que as mudanças climáticas e as atividades humanas desempenharam ambos um papel importante na formação dos depósitos coluviais na área. De acordo com estudos anteriores, isto indica que os referidos depósitos são geoarquivos valiosos para reconstruir as mudanças ambientais holocénicas, a partir de uma abordagem geoarqueológica.
2008
This paper compiles the data regarding the Chalcolithic occupation of the Beira Interior known and published to date. We analyse the contexts, the models of spatial implantation, the most significant materials and the available radiocarbon dates. The absence of research projects specifically concerned with the study of the problematic of this period in this region is responsible for the weakness of much of the available information. With the exception of the megalithism of the South of the region, which has been studied over the past years, the Neolithic background is insufficiently known. For this reason, the chronological and cultural limits between the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic remain cloudy. Within the current state of the question, the Chalcolithic pottery of the region constitutes an important cultural indicator that reflects different influences from southern Beira or from the Meseta. We also analyse the situation of the Bell Beaker phenomenon, apparently little expressive in this region. The first metal productions, copper axes and weapons (some impure and others with arsenic), are also discussed.
Osteological and paleodietary investigation of burials from Cova de la Pastora, Alicante, Spain
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2011
We present results of osteological and isotopic analyses of human remains from Cova de la Pastora (Alcoi, Alicante, Spain) and discuss the implications in light of a new sequence of radiocarbon dates indicating that the cave was used as a burial site in the Late Neolithic (ca. 3800e3000 cal BC), Chalcolithic (ca. 3000 e2500 cal BC), Bell Beaker Transition (Horizonte Campaniforme Transicional -HCT; ca. 2500e2200 cal BC) and the Bronze Age (ca. 2200e1500 cal BC). Similarities in stable isotopic values of C and N indicate little variation in subsistence between men and women, and a similar nutritional base from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This pattern of stability is augmented by evidence of trauma and disease found on numerous skulls in the collection. Since no clear associations of specific grave goods with certain individuals based on sex or age could be determined, the only suggestion of social inequality lies in the burial practice itself, where certain individuals were interred in caves while others were not.