Agustín Diez Castillo

New insights into the neolithisation process in southwest Europe according to spatial density analysis from calibrated radiocarbon dates

The agricultural way of life spreads throughout Europe via two main routes: the Danube corridor and the Mediterranean basin. Current archaeological literature describes the arrival to the Western Mediterranean as a rapid process which involves both demic and cultural models, and in this regard, the dispersal movement has been investigated using mathematical models, where the key factors are time and space. In this work, we have created a compilation of all available radiocarbon dates for the whole of Iberia, in order to draw a chronological series of maps to illustrate temporal and spatial patterns in the neolithisation process. The maps were prepared by calculating the calibrated 14C date probability density curves, as a proxy to show the spatial dynamics of the last hunter-gatherers and first farmers. Several scholars have pointed out problems linked with the variability of samples, such as the overrepresentation of some sites, the degree of regional research, the nature of the dated samples and above all the archaeological context, but we are confident that the selected dates, after applying some filters and statistical protocols, constitute a good way to approach settlement spatial patterns in Iberia at the time of the neolithisation process.

Timing the Western Mediterranean Last Hunter-Gatherers and First Farmers

The spread of domestic plants and animals from the Near East towards the Western Mediterranean region is analysed using the current radiocarbon dataset relating to the last hunter-gatherers and the first farmers in the area. In order to do this, we have selected radiocarbon dates and built summed probability distributions and density maps, as a means of investigating the processes involved in the expansion of food production economies throughout this wide territory, in a ‘longue duree’ view, in accordance with a multiscalar approach covering both the general and the regional scenarios. This approach allows us to visualise the time of the expansion in this broad area, starting at the beginning of the sixth millennium cal BC, and to discuss the implied mechanisms in what seems, at least along the coast, a very rapid process: reflecting a mix of demic and cultural models with regional nuances.

Propuesta de protocolo GIS y de utilización de un entorno 3d para la intervención arqueológica 2015 en cueva de la Cocina (Dos Aguas, Valencia)

With this paper we mean to present our procedure for the digitalization of the field information, as well as the virtual stratigraphical reconstruction, of the site of Cueva de la Cocina (Dos Aguas, Valencia). The main tool for GIS implementation has been the OpenJUMP, whilst for the 3D recreation of the cave virtual environment Meshlab, Paraview, Cloud Compare and R open software have been used. According to the data recovered during the last intervention, accomplished between June and July 2015, we present a preview of the digitalization of the stratigraphy of the excavated sectors.

Niveles de plomo en los individuos de la necrópolis tardorromana de la c/ Virgen de la Misericordia (Valencia)

El objetivo general de este estudio ha sido determinar los contenidos de plomo (Pb) en restos de huesos y suelos de la necropolis de la c/ Virgen de la Misericordia (Valencia) para reconstruir el proceso de transicion del elemento (desde el sedimento hacia los huesos y viceversa) debido a la accion de los procesos diageneticos.

Las campañas de excavación de 2010 y 2011 en el yacimiento neolítico del Mas d’Is (Penàguila, Alacant)

Las campanas de 2010 y 2011 en el yacimiento Neolitico del Mas d’Is han venido a complementar los numerosos datos conocidos hasta la actualidad. En las mismas se ha podido documentar ampliamente la morfologia de las estructuras que veniamos interpretando como fosos, por un lado; y, por otro, se ha avanzado en el conocimiento de la secuencia cronocultural del yacimiento al encontrar episodios que hasta el momento estaban pocos representados.