Hanging over the Void. Uses of Long Ropes and Climbing Rope Ladders in Prehistory as Illustrated in Levantine Rock Art

Bea Martínez, Manuel (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Dídac, Román ; Domingo, Inés

Resumen: Direct or indirect evidence of ropemaking are scarce in European prehistory. Only a few references to Middle or Upper Palaeolithic remains are known to us, with more examples towards the Holocene. The archaeological contexts of ropes offer little information about possible uses, as the activities they are used for are often archaeologically invisible. However, some rock-art traditions shed some light on potential uses, worth exploring. In Spain, Levantine rock art offers the best graphic examples across Europe showing various uses of ropes, including climbing. Starting from the recently discovered climbing scene of Barranco Gómez site (Teruel, Spain), including the best preserved and more complex use of ropes seen so far in Levantine art, this paper analyses representations of ropes in this art, as well as their varieties and diverse uses. Our study suggests that different rope-making techniques were used by Levantine societies, which we believe are indicative of a complex rope-making technology, requiring a considerable investment of time and efforts. It also shows a certain variety of rope climbing techniques and rope climbing gear, illustrating that both were mastered by Levantine societies. Moreover, a preferential use of ropes in honey-hunting scenes is observed.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1017/S0959774323000173

Año: 2023

Publicado en: Cambridge Archaeological Journal 34, 1 (2023), 127-145
ISSN: 1474-0540

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.3 - Cultural Studies (Q1) - Archeology (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.843 - Archeology (Q1) - Cultural Studies (Q1) - Archeology (arts and humanities) (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/H07
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/819404/EU/ Breaking barriers between Science and Heritage approaches to Levantine Rock Art through Archaeology, Heritage Science and IT /LArcHer
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICIU/HAR2016-80693-P
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/HAR2017-85023-P

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Prehistoria (Dpto. Ciencias de la Antigüed.)