TY - JOUR
T1 - Microstratigraphy and diagenesis at the upper Pleistocene site of Esquilleu Cave (Cantabria, Spain)
AU - Mallol, Carolina
AU - Cabanes, Dan
AU - Baena, Javier
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is framed within two different projects: “Ecología y subsistencia de las primeras poblaciones humanas del centro de la Región cantábrica” (Consejería de Cultura, Turismo y Deporte del Gobierno de Cantabria) and “Contexto Cronológico y Cultural del final del Paleolítico Medio en el norte peninsular” (HUM2004-04679/HIST). Additional support came from ASPR (Peabody Museum, Harvard University), funding from a Marie Curie postdoctoral grant (IEF) to C. Mallol and funding from the Fundación Atapuerca to D. Cabanes. We would like to thank Takis Karkanas and Ruth Shahack-Gross for their instructive comments.
PY - 2010/3/1
Y1 - 2010/3/1
N2 - FTIR and soil micromorphology were applied to selected sediments from the archaeological deposit of Esquilleu Cave, a late Middle Palaeolithic site in Cantabria, Spain. The main goal was to assess the integrity of the archaeological record before continuing with further excavation and research at the site. Field observations and previous sedimentological studies point to diagenetic alteration of part of the deposit, but the extent and precise nature of such processes had not been established. The results show that the upper layers are composed of fresh elements and have not undergone diagenetic transformations, although their components have been physically disturbed by cryoturbation. The rest of the deposit is well preserved with mild phosphatization due to partial dissolution of bone and calcitic ash contained in the sediment, and compression from trampling. Further excavation is necessary to have a more complete picture of the taphonomic processes taking place at the site.
AB - FTIR and soil micromorphology were applied to selected sediments from the archaeological deposit of Esquilleu Cave, a late Middle Palaeolithic site in Cantabria, Spain. The main goal was to assess the integrity of the archaeological record before continuing with further excavation and research at the site. Field observations and previous sedimentological studies point to diagenetic alteration of part of the deposit, but the extent and precise nature of such processes had not been established. The results show that the upper layers are composed of fresh elements and have not undergone diagenetic transformations, although their components have been physically disturbed by cryoturbation. The rest of the deposit is well preserved with mild phosphatization due to partial dissolution of bone and calcitic ash contained in the sediment, and compression from trampling. Further excavation is necessary to have a more complete picture of the taphonomic processes taking place at the site.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.quaint.2009.10.018
DO - 10.1016/j.quaint.2009.10.018
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:76749151411
SN - 1040-6182
VL - 214
SP - 70
EP - 81
JO - Quaternary International
JF - Quaternary International
IS - 1-2
ER -