Bioarchaeologocal approaches to reconstructing Upper Palaeolithic environments in the Cantabrian Region, Northern Spain.

Summary

The Cantabrian Region of Northern Spain was an important refugium during the harsh conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheets covered much of Northern Europe and populations were pushed further south. Late Upper populations in the Cantabrian region thrived at this time, and there is an increase in the density of archaeological sites is seen, in addition to cultural changes such as the creation of rich cave art assemblages. Understanding the climatic and environmental conditions experienced by humans and animals in the region is key to understanding the region’s importance during the Upper Paleolithic. Specifically, what the environment like was on both an individual site level and regional level is crucial in understanding the conditions experienced by the humans living during the Upper Palaeolithic. The use of δ13C and δ15N stable isotope analysis of animal bone collagen from hunted ungulates, in combination with more traditional environmental proxies can produce detailed palaeoclimatic reconstructions directly linked to the moments when these sites were being occupied. Results show that environmental and palaeoclimatic changes were occurring in the region at this time, impacting on the behaviour of Upper Palaeolithic humans and animals, observable on an individual site level and regional level.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Upper Paleolithic Transitional "Moments" on the Iberian Peninsula

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16777