A Neanderthal Hunting Sanctuary in the Interior of the Iberian Peninsula (Pinilla de Valle, Madrid, España)

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Embodied Essence: Anthropological, Historical, and Archaeological Perspectives on the Use of Body Parts and Bodily Substances in Religious Beliefs and Practices" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In the Des-Cubierta Cave, in the Central System Range of the Iberian Peninsula, 35 crania of large herbivores (Bison priscus, Bos primigenius, Cervus elaphus, and Stephanorhinus hemitoechus) were recovered in an area where the main gallery widens and rounds off. Some of the crania are associated with small hearths. It seems that the heads had the mandibles removed outside the cave, and at least some maxillae inside the cave. Moreover, the brains were extracted from the crania by resting them on anvils and using large hammerstones found next to them. However, what is really exceptional is that postcranial bones are anecdotally represented. The introduction by Neanderthals of these skulls with percussion, cut, and fire marks has occurred on several occasions over time. The interpretation of the site with no apparent subsistence activity seems to be linked to some rite whose nature eludes us but is very probably related to the hunting activity of Neanderthal groups. One might think of celebration, initiation, passage, and propitiatory rites. The most parsimonious interpretation from the cognitive point of view, and without excluding other possible explanations, is that these crania were turned into hunting trophies. It has been proven that Neanderthals had symbolic capacity.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Embodied Essence: Anthropological, Historical, and Archaeological Perspectives on the Use of Body Parts and Bodily Substances in Religious Beliefs and Practices   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38547.0