Initial Upper Palaeolithic lithic industry at Cueva Millán in the hinterlands of Iberia

Sánchez-Yustos, Policarpo ; Marín-Arroyo, Ana B. ; Arnold, Lee J. ; Luque, Luis ; Kehl, Martin ; López-Sáez, José Antonio ; Carrancho Alonso, Ángel ; Demuro, Martina ; Sanz-Royo, Alicia (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Buckley, Michael ; Maíllo-Fernández, José Manuel ; Cuartero-Monteagudo, Felipe ; Llamazares-González, Javier ; Ruiz-Alonso, Mónica ; Luelmo-Lautenschlaeger, Reyes ; García-Soto, Ernesto ; Alcaraz-Castaño, Manuel

Resumen: The extended period of coexistence between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Europe coincided with the emergence of regionally distinctive lithic industries, signalling the onset of the Upper Palaeolithic. The Iberian Peninsula was on the periphery of pioneering Upper Palaeolithic developments, with archaeological remains primarily found in northern territories. We report the discovery of an initial Upper Palaeolithic lithic industry at Cueva Millán in the hinterlands of Iberia. This industry, termed here Arlanzian, not only represents the earliest and southernmost evidence of such industries in Iberia but also lacks a direct counterpart. However, it exhibits chronological and technological parallels with the lithic industries associated with the earliest expansion of Homo sapiens throughout Eurasia. We interpret this as potential evidence of its intrusive nature, but not necessarily associated with a migration event, as more complex scenarios derived from inter-population connectivity must be also considered. The biological identity of the Arlanzian makers remains unknown, but they coexisted with declining Neanderthal groups from neighbouring territories.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69913-3

Año: 2024

Publicado en: Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group) 14, 1 (2024), 21705 [22 pp.]
ISSN: 2045-2322

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/PID2019-105796GB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/805478/EU/Population dynamics and cultural adaptations of the last Neandertals and first Modern humans in inland Iberia: a multi-proxy investigation/MULTIPALEOIBERIA
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/818299/EU/Subsistence and human resilience to sudden climatic events in Europe during MIS3/SUBSILIENCE

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

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