Alex Solé

First fossil evidence of an “interglacial refugium” in the Pyrenean region

A refugium is generally understood as an area where temperate species survive cold periods, such as the Iberian, Italian, or Balkan Peninsulas in Europe. Strictly speaking, this definition refers to what is known as a glacial refugium. However, there are various types of lesser-known refugia such as the interglacial refugium, which denotes a mountainous region at low latitudes, such as the Pyrenees, where species adapted to the cold survive during interstadial periods. The small-vertebrate association from the sequence of Cova Colomera, which is located on the southern face of the Pyrenees and contains the final cold spell of the Late Pleistocene and the beginnings of the temperate period in which we currently find ourselves (the Holocene), could constitute the first fossil evidence of such an interglacial refugium, thus providing new paleoecological data on the phenomenon.

Hearth-Related Wood Remains from Abric Romaní Layer M (Capellades, Spain)

The tufa sedimentary environment of the Middle Paleolithic layers of Abric Romaní has resulted in particularly well-preserved wood remains. Level M, dated to ca. 50 kyr bp, has yielded a very well preserved assemblage, including 114 wood imprints. The present study is based on the morphological characterization of the wood remains, their taphonomic analysis, and the spatial distribution of hearth-related assemblages. This evidence allows discussion of wood gathering for fuel by Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, based on typological analyses of wood remains according to size and distribution patterns. In addition, we discuss the significance of the presence and distribution of fuel remains related to the occupation of layer M.

Taphonomy of Level J of Abric Romaní

The taphonomic study of level J (sublevels Ja and Jb) includes macrovertebrates, microvertebrates, wood and charcoal. The association of level J has, in general, a good state of conservation, although there are several taphonomic modifications. No mechanisms or taphonomic processes which may have distorted any of these associations have been detected. This study shows how Neanderthals were the main collecting agent of animals and wood and the main agent of modification. Moreover, the water activity (water flow, dry periods and reactivitation) were the main postdepositional agent. The burial of the remains was probably relatively fast in both sublevels. There are abundant similarities in the temporary sequences of formation in both sublevels. The fossilization process of level J is consistent with a karst taphosystem in a travertine deposit. The main feature of this taphosystem is a microenvironment characterized by a relative humid environment, marked by wet conditions and reactivations of water flows. Once the remains were buried, the fossildiagenetic phase was tremendously preservative and allowed the exceptional conservation of the remains found at the site.

Hearth Functioning and Forest Resource Exploitation Based on the Archeobotanical Assemblage from Level J

The aim of this chapter is to present the archeobotanical record related to the hearth structures from level J from Abric Romani. For this study we include charcoal, phytoliths and wood imprints that from different methodological approaches provide data on hearth functioning and firewood management. The results yielded by these archeobotanical assemblages point out that wood was the basic fuel used by Neanderthals for maintaining hearths and pine wood was the most appreciated. Other fuels such as grasses are also recorded and might have specific uses during the combustion processes. Finally wood imprints, even if in level J are scarce, point out the use of wood for other purposes than firewood. This study points out the complexity of Neanderthal behavior in relation to the management of fire involving fuel management and hearth functioning.