Late Glacial technological evolution in NE Iberia : insights from Cova de les Borres and Cova Gran de Montserrat sequences / José Ramón Rabuñal, Juan Ignacio Morales, María Soto, [et al.]
En: Abstract Book. 28th EAA Annual Meeting. Budapest : [s.n.], 2022
Northeastern Iberia has a long-established research tradition on Late Pleistocene archaeology, resulting in an extensive record of sites that have allowed continuous discussion and refinement of the periodization models for the cultural evolution during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Post-Magdalenian assemblages (Epipalaeolithic sensulato; post-ca.14000 cal BP) have been characterized as microlaminar industries with clear Magdalenian filiation, as suggested by the stability of their general design with minor gradual modifications in the production systems and typological structure. In this paper we present unpublished technological and chronological data from the recently excavated multi-stratified sequences of Cova de les Borres (La Febró, Tarragona) and Cova Gran de Montserrat (Collbató, Barcelona), and discuss their role within the actual state-of-the-art for the post-Magdalenian sequence from both regional (NE Iberia) and macro-regional (SW Europe) perspectives. Cova de les Borres rockshelter has been excavated since 2015, opening a surface over 35m2. Within its archaeological sequence, layers 2.1 and 2 are dated to the mid GI-1, and layer 1.2 to the late GI-1 - early GS-1. These yielded abundant lithic remains, featuring similar blade and bladelet production strategies and retouched assemblages, dominated by endscrapers and backed elements, but standing out the appearance of geometric microliths in layer 1.2. At Cova Gran cave, excavated since 2018 through over 25 m2, Late Glacial occupations have been documented in two archaeological layers: layer 202, dated to the mid GI-1, and still scarcely investigated; and layer 200, which yielded well-preserved occupations dated to the GS-I and a microlaminar lithic assemblage with endscrapers, backed elements and geometric microliths. This work will contribute with new valuable chronological and techno-typological data to the discussion of major questions regarding the final Pleistocene technological and cultural evolution, such as the evolution of the post-Magdalenian techno-complexes, including the appearance of the first geometric microliths, during the Late Glacial period.
