Middle Magdalenian human occupation at Coímbre Cave, Zone A (Asturias, northern Iberia)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6433239 |
|---|---|
| Authors | David Álvarez-Alonso (0000-0002-5752-9007, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, corresponding author), M De Andrés-Herrero (0000-0002-8280-9115, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Verónica Estaca-Gómez (0000-0003-1598-7672, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Sergio Martín-Jarque (0000-0002-4376-4057, Universidad de Salamanca), José Yravedra Sainz De Los Terreros (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 69 |
| Pages | 105492-105492 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-20 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Archaeological Science Reports (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2352-409X • E-ISSN: 2352-4103 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105492 |
| OpenAlex | W4416404724 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
AMS. • Middle Magdalenian. • raw materials. • site-catchment analysis. This paper presents the results of the interdisciplinary study of level Co.A.3 in Zone A of Coímbre Cave (Peñamellera Alta, Asturias, northern Iberian Peninsula), corresponding to a human occupation attributed to the Middle Magdalenian. Despite the limited extent of the excavation, the stratigraphic integrity, contextual coherence, and volume of recovered materials allow for meaningful comparisons with other sectors of the site, particularly Zone B. Flint provenance analysis reveals a marked eastern orientation in raw material procurement, suggesting long-distance acquisition networks or exchange systems, in contrast to the low representation of western sources despite their geographic proximity. The zooarchaeological study indicates a subsistence strategy focused primarily on ibex and red deer, with evidence of systematic processing and a broad age range among the hunted individuals. Spatial modelling through cost-distance analysis defines a restricted catchment area of 57.96 km 2 , shaped by the rugged topography between the Sierra del Cuera and the Picos de Europa, and suggests predominantly east–west mobility patterns along the Cares River. Finally, AMS radiocarbon dates confirm the presence of a chronological hiatus between the Lower and Middle Magdalenian occupations, consistent across both excavated areas. Altogether, these findings provide new insights into settlement dynamics, mobility strategies, and regional interaction patterns during the Middle Magdalenian, supporting the hypothesis of a cultural and territorial reconfiguration in the Cantabrian region at the onset of this phase.
Cave · Lithic technology · Magdalenian · Middle Paleolithic · Middle Stone Age · Provenance · Radiocarbon dating · Subsistence agriculture · Taphonomy · Evolution and Paleontology Studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
Selection and Exploitation of Macro‐Vertebrate Resources During the Upper Palaeolithic in Northern Spain. New Evidence from Coímbre Cave (Peñamellera Alta, Asturias)
Flint as raw material in prehistoric times
Raw Materials and Lithic Production During the Early Magdalenian in Cantabrian Spain
Prehistoric Economy in the Mount Carmel Area of Palestine
Approaching raw material functionality in the Upper Magdalenian of Coímbre cave (Asturias, Spain) through geometric morphometrics
The Magdalenian sequence at Coímbre cave (Asturias, Northern Iberian Peninsula)
Lithic tool kits
The Magdalenian settlement of the Cantabrian region (Northern Spain)
Lexique typologique du Paléolithique supérieur
The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curve (0–55 cal kBP)
Turning Art into Hammers
Black chert and radiolarite
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |