Francisco Giles Pacheco

Late survival of Neanderthals at the southernmost extreme of Europe

The late survival of archaic hominin populations and their long contemporaneity with modern humans is now clear for southeast Asia. In Europe the extinction of the Neanderthals, firmly associated with Mousterian technology, has received much attention, and evidence of their survival after 35 kyr bp has recently been put in doubt. Here we present data, based on a high-resolution record of human occupation from Gorham’s Cave, Gibraltar, that establish the survival of a population of Neanderthals to 28 kyr bp. These Neanderthals survived in the southernmost point of Europe, within a particular physiographic context, and are the last currently recorded anywhere. Our results show that the Neanderthals survived in isolated refuges well after the arrival of modern humans in Europe.

Birds of a Feather: Neanderthal Exploitation of Raptors and Corvids

The hypothesis that Neanderthals exploited birds for the use of their feathers or claws as personal ornaments in symbolic behaviour is revolutionary as it assigns unprecedented cognitive abilities to these hominins. This inference, however, is based on modest faunal samples and thus may not represent a regular or systematic behaviour. Here we address this issue by looking for evidence of such behaviour across a large temporal and geographical framework. Our analyses try to answer four main questions: 1) does a Neanderthal to raptor-corvid connection exist at a large scale, thus avoiding associations that might be regarded as local in space or time?; 2) did Middle (associated with Neanderthals) and Upper Palaeolithic (associated with modern humans) sites contain a greater range of these species than Late Pleistocene paleontological sites?; 3) is there a taphonomic association between Neanderthals and corvids-raptors at Middle Palaeolithic sites on Gibraltar, specifically Gorhams, Vanguard and Ibex Caves? and; 4) was the extraction of wing feathers a local phenomenon exclusive to the Neanderthals at these sites or was it a geographically wider phenomenon?. We compiled a database of 1699 Pleistocene Palearctic sites based on fossil bird sites. We also compiled a taphonomical database from the Middle Palaeolithic assemblages of Gibraltar. We establish a clear, previously unknown and widespread, association between Neanderthals, raptors and corvids. We show that the association involved the direct intervention of Neanderthals on the bones of these birds, which we interpret as evidence of extraction of large flight feathers. The large number of bones, the variety of species processed and the different temporal periods when the behaviour is observed, indicate that this was a systematic, geographically and temporally broad, activity that the Neanderthals undertook. Our results, providing clear evidence that Neanderthal cognitive capacities were comparable to those of Modern Humans, constitute a major advance in the study of human evolution.

A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar

Significance The production of purposely made painted or engraved designs on cave walls is recognized as a major cognitive step in human evolution, considered exclusive to modern humans. Here we present the first known example of an abstract pattern engraved by Neanderthals, from Gorham’s Cave in Gibraltar. It consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into the bedrock of the cave older than 39 cal kyr. The engraving was made before the accumulation of Mousterian layer IV. Most of the lines composing the design were made by repeatedly and carefully passing a pointed lithic tool into the grooves, excluding the possibility of an unintentional or utilitarian origin. This discovery demonstrates the Neanderthals’ capacity for abstract thought and expression. The production of purposely made painted or engraved designs on cave walls—a means of recording and transmitting symbolic codes in a durable manner—is recognized as a major cognitive step in human evolution. Considered exclusive to modern humans, this behavior has been used to argue in favor of significant cognitive differences between our direct ancestors and contemporary archaic hominins, including the Neanderthals. Here we present the first known example of an abstract pattern engraved by Neanderthals, from Gorham’s Cave in Gibraltar. It consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into the bedrock of the cave that has remained covered by an undisturbed archaeological level containing Mousterian artifacts made by Neanderthals and is older than 39 cal kyr BP. Geochemical analysis of the epigenetic coating over the engravings and experimental replication show that the engraving was made before accumulation of the archaeological layers, and that most of the lines composing the design were made by repeatedly and carefully passing a pointed lithic tool into the grooves, excluding the possibility of an unintentional or utilitarian origin (e.g., food or fur processing). This discovery demonstrates the capacity of the Neanderthals for abstract thought and expression through the use of geometric forms.

The earliest pigeon fanciers

Feral Pigeons have colonised all corners of the Earth, having developed a close association with humans and their activities. The wild ancestor of the Feral Pigeon, the Rock Dove, is a species of rocky habitats, nesting typically on cliff ledges and at the entrance to large caves. This habit would have brought them into close contact with cave-dwelling humans, a relationship usually linked to the development of dwellings in the Neolithic. We show that the association between humans and Rock Doves is an ancient one with its roots in the Palaeolithic and predates the arrival of modern humans into Europe. At Gorhams Cave, Gibraltar, the Neanderthals exploited Rock Doves for food for a period of over 40 thousand years, the earliest evidence dating to at least 67 thousand years ago. We show that the exploitation was not casual or sporadic, having found repeated evidence of the practice in different, widely spaced, temporal contexts within the cave. Our results point to hitherto unappreciated capacities of the Neanderthals to exploit birds as food resources on a regular basis. More so, they were practising it long before the arrival of modern humans and had therefore invented it independently.

Biochronological data inferred from the early Pleistocene Arvicolinae (Mammalia, Rodentia) of the El Chaparral site (Sierra del Chaparral, Cádiz, southwestern Spain)

ABSTRACT In this paper are described the arvicolines from El Chaparral site (Villaluenga del Rosario, Cadiz, Southwestern Spain). Due to their wide geographical distributions and rapid evolutionary rates, arvicolines are especially useful for biostratigraphical purposes. The stratigraphic layers of El Chaparral have yielded arvicolines remains of the genera Allophaiomys, Iberomys, Pliomys, and Terricola. The presence of these rodents together the other vertebrates recovered allows to determinate the age of the El Chaparral site and compare our data with other Iberian Pleistocene sites, such as of the Sierra de Atapuerca. El Chaparral site ranges between the Jaramillo Subchron (1.07–0.99 Ma) and shortly after the Brunhes-Matuyama transition at 0.78 Ma covering a important time span for the knowledge of the earliest humans occupations in western Europe.

Variation in Lithic Technological Strategies among the Neanderthals of Gibraltar

The evidence for Neanderthal lithic technology is reviewed and summarized for four caves on The Rock of Gibraltar: Vanguard, Beefsteak, Ibex and Gorham’s. Some of the observed patterns in technology are statistically tested including raw material selection, platform preparation, and the use of formal and expedient technological schemas. The main parameters of technological variation are examined through detailed analysis of the Gibraltar cores and comparison with samples from the classic Mousterian sites of Le Moustier and Tabun C. The Gibraltar Mousterian, including the youngest assemblage from Layer IV of Gorham’s Cave, spans the typical Middle Palaeolithic range of variation from radial Levallois to unidirectional and multi-platform flaking schemas, with characteristic emphasis on the former. A diachronic pattern of change in the Gorham’s Cave sequence is documented, with the younger assemblages utilising more localized raw material and less formal flaking procedures. We attribute this change to a reduction in residential mobility as the climate deteriorated during Marine Isotope Stage 3 and the Neanderthal population contracted into a refugium.

Arte paleolítico en Gorham's Cave (Gibraltar)

grandes expectativas respecto a la posibilidad de la existencia de enclaves con este tipo de registro e incluso algunos autores apuntaron la presencia de algunos indicios en la cueva de St. Michael (Breuil 1921 y 1922) o en la de Sewel (Palao 1966). No obstante, estas noticias nunca fueron adecuadamente publicadas ni contrastadas con posterioridad (Simón et al. 2005). Esta situación cambia notablemente cuando, coincidiendo con el desarrollo de trabajos arqueológicos, se descubrieron pinturas y grabados parietales en el tramo interior de Gorham (Giles et al. 2000). A partir de este hallazgo se desarrolla una campaña de prospección del arte de la cavidad que termina por definir la existencia, de forma fehaciente, de arte rupestre paleolítico en el yacimiento y por extensión en Gibraltar (Balbín et al. 2000). Por otra parte, este tipo de INTRODUCCIÓN

Bray, una cueva sepulcral de la Edad del Bronce en el Peñón de Gibraltar

Las excavaciones en la Cueva de Bray en Gibraltar han documentado una serie de enterramientos de la Edad de Bronce, esto supone una nueva aportacion al conocimiento de la ocupacion prehistorica del Penon de Gibraltar y se convierte en una referencia regional para el estudio de los rituales funerarios de este periodo.

MANANTIALES SALINOS Y AFLORACIONES DE OFITAS: EVIDENCIAS GEOARQUEOLOGICAS EN LA PREHISTORIA DEL INTERIOR DE CADIZ

Gran parte de la provincia de Cadiz posee importantes afloramientos de aguas salobres relacionadas con las formaciones geologicas del Triasico en su facies Keuper. Las explotaciones salineras aparecen asociadas a asentamientos de poblaciones prehistoricas e historicas. En varios de sus entornos se documentan ofitas que fueron la base para la fabricacion de utiles pulimentados de epocas prehistoricas.

Myths, Moors and Holy War: Reassessing the History and Archaeology of Gibraltar and the Straits, ad 711-1462

Abstract WHEN DOCUMENTING GIBRALTAR’s medieval history and that of its eponymous Straits, there is a tendency to accept at face value the historical accounts that relate the existential struggle for control of this strategic area between Christianity and Islam through time. For Gibraltar’s history this entailed a continuous occupation from at least the 11th or even the 8th century to the present day. Fieldwork at Gibraltar over the last 20 years is transforming this picture. Instead of a slow diachronic development of the town and fortifications of Gibraltar, new evidence suggests relatively late, mainly Islamic construction work, mostly undertaken in the 13th and 14th centuries in response to the newly encroaching Christian forces from the north. In this scenario the Straits became a hotly contested battleground at that time, even one invested with religious significance by some observers, between competing Muslim and Christian factions. The archaeology of Gibraltar helps elucidate these shifting patterns of hegemony for control of the Straits, culminating in the Castilian victory in the 15th century. Abstract Mythes, Maures et guerre sainte: réévaluation de l’histoire et de l’archéologie de Gibraltar et du détroit, 711–1462 par Kevin Lane, Clive Finlayson, Uwe Vagelpohl, Francisco José Giles Guzmán et Francisco Giles Pacheco Quand on étudie l’histoire médiévale de Gibraltar et celle de son détroit éponyme, on a tendance à accepter d’emblée les récits historiques relatant la lutte existentielle entre la chrétienté et l’islam pour le contrôle de cette zone stratégique à travers les siècles. Pour l’histoire de Gibraltar, ceci s’est traduit par une occupation continue depuis au moins le 11ème siècle, voire le 8ème siècle, jusqu’à nos jours. Les recherches de terrain effectuées à Gibraltar depuis 20 ans transforment cette perspective. Au lieu d’un développement diachronique de la ville et des fortifications, de nouveaux éléments suggèrent des travaux de construction relativement tardifs, surtout islamiques, réalisés principalement aux 13ème et 14ème siècles, en réaction aux forces chrétiennes venant du Nord qui gagnaient du terrain. Dans ce scénario, le détroit serait devenu à l’époque un champ de bataille très contesté, et aurait même été investi par certains observateurs d’une signification religieuse, entre les factions musulmanes et chrétiennes opposées. L’archéologie de Gibraltar nous aide à élucider l’évolution de ces différentes hégémonies pour contrôler le détroit, qui allait culminer par la victoire castillane du 15ème siècle. Abstract Mythen, Mauren und Heiliger Krieg: Neubewertung der Geschichte und Archäologie von Gibraltar und der Meerenge, ad 711–1462 von Kevin Lane, Clive Finlayson, Uwe Vagelpohl, Francisco José Giles Guzmán und Francisco Giles Pacheco Bei der Dokumentierung der mittelalterlichen Geschichte von Gibraltar und der gleichnamigen Meerenge besteht eine Tendenz, historische Berichte für bare Münze zu nehmen, die vom existenziellen Kampf zwischen Christentum und Islam um die Macht in diesem strategisch wichtigen Grenzbereich im Laufe der Zeiten erzählen. Für die Geschichte Gibraltars beinhaltete das eine durchgängige Besetzung von mindestens dem 11 oder sogar dem 8 Jahrhundert bis in die heutige Zeit. Feldforschung in Gibraltar in den letzten 20 Jahren verändert nun dieses Bild. Anstatt einer langsamen, diachronischen Entwicklung der Stadt und der Befestigungen von Gibraltar lassen neue Fundstücke auf relativ späte, zumeist islamische Bautätigkeit schließen, die hauptsächlich im 13. und 14. Jahrhundert als Reaktion auf die von Norden erneut eindringenden christlichen Truppen durchgeführt wurde. In diesem Szenario wurde während dieser Zeit die Meerenge ein heiß umkämpftes Schlachtfeld zwischen muslimischen und christlichen Parteien, dem manche Beobachter sogar eine religiöse Bedeutung beimaßen. Die Archäologie von Gibraltar trägt dazu bei, diese sich verschiebenden Muster der Vorherrschaft über die Meerenge zu erhellen, die im Sieg der Kastilier im 15 Jahrhundert gipfelten. Abstract Miti, Mori e Guerra santa: riesame della storia e dell’archeologia di Gibilterra e dello stretto, 711–1462 d.C. di Kevin Lane, Clive Finlayson, Uwe Vagelpohl, Francisco José Giles Guzmán e Francisco Giles Pacheco Nel documentare la storia medievale di Gibilterra e dello stretto omonimo c’è la tendenza ad accettare letteralmente i resoconti storici che si riferiscono alla lotta esistenziale tra cristianesimo e islam per il controllo di questa zona strategica. Per la storia di Gibilterra ciò ha comportato un’occupazione ininterrotta fino ai giorni nostri a partire almeno dall’XI, ma forse anche dall’VIII secolo. La raccolta di dati sul campo condotta a Gibilterra negli ultimi vent’anni sta trasformando questo scenario. Anziché trattarsi di un lento e diacronico sviluppo della città e delle fortificazioni di Gibilterra, dalle nuove testimonianze emerge che in un periodo relativamente tardo furono intrapresi lavori di costruzione prevalentemente da parte islamica, per lo più durante il XIII e il XIV secolo, per fronteggiare i nuovi invasori cristiani provenienti dal nord. In quell’epoca lo stretto divenne quindi un teatro di battaglia tra le fazioni musulmana e cristiana, ferocemente conteso e, secondo alcuni osservatori, perfino investito di significato religioso. L’archeologia di Gibilterra contribuisce a chiarire il mutevole avvicendarsi delle egemonie per il controllo dello stretto, culminate con la vittoria della Corona di Castiglia nel XV secolo.