Xavier Esteve

Abstract The main aim of this work is to explore the role played by human mobility in prehistoric population dynamics of a particular geographical framework:: the depressió prelitoral catalana (Catalonia, Spain). Network analysis and studies of human mobilities ...

[EN] At its origin, the expression "Sepulcros de Fosa" qualified all of the single, non-megalithic prehistoric buriaIs. In 1965, Ana M. Muñoz compiled all of the relevant sites then known, characterized this culture and proposed a first typology. Despite the small number of settlements discovered, the current data enable us to refine the Middle Neolithic chronology, and to define the diverse cultural forms, the latter being characterized based on standardized rituals. The published typologies of tombs dated to between the 5th and the middle of the 4th millennia BC have been summarized and we propase here a simplified typology of them, faci litating their cl assificat ion based on shared features. We also confront it with other variables, which enables us to propase hypotheses based on the origin and evolution of rituals and their geographic locations.[ES] La cultura de los Sepulcros de Fosa incluyó, en su origen, todas las sepulturas prehistóricas individuales no megalíticas. Ana M. Muñoz, en 1965, recopiló todos los yacimientos conocidos hasta entonces, caracterizó la cultura de los sepulcros de fosa y formuló la primera tipología. Con los datos actuales y, a falta de más hallazgos de poblados, se ha ido avanzando en la secuenciación del neolítico medio y en la definición de las diversas formas culturales, caracterizadas con ritos funerarios estandarizados. Hemos resumido las diversas tipologías publicadas de las tumbas neolíticas entre el V y mediados del IV milenio aC y ahora proponemos una tipología simplificada, que facilite la clasificación a partir de características comunes. El siguiente paso será cruzarla con otras variables que nos han de permitir plantear hipótesis sobre el origen y la evolución de los ritos y de su implantación territorial.[FR] A l'origine, l'expression «Sepulcres de Fosa» qualifie toutes les sépultures préhistoriques individuel les non mégalithiques. Ana M. Muñoz, en 1965, rassemble tous les sites concernés connus jusqu'alors, caractérise cette culture et en propase une premiere typologie. Malgré le peu de sites d'habitats découverts, les données actuelles ont permis de préciser le phasage du Néolithique moyen ainsi que la définition des diverses formes culturelles; celles-ci sont caractérisées par des rites standardisés. Les typologies publiées des tombes datées entre le Ve et la moitié du IVe millénaire av. J.-C. ont été résumées, et nous proposons ici une typologie simplifiée, qui facilite la classification a partir de caractéristiques communes. Nous la confronterons aussi a d'autres variables, ce qui nous permettra de proposer des hypotheses fondées sur l'origine et l'évolution des rites et leur implantation territoriale.Peer reviewe

Discovered in 1974, Parco's Cave has been the object of intensive and systematic excavations by the Seminari d'Estudis i Recerques Prehistoriques (SERP) of the University of Barcelona since 1987. The malacofauna remains obtained from the upper Magdalenian level (N. II) will be presented and discussed. To date, more than 40 evidences have been identified; among these taxa we distinguish the presence of exclusively fluvial species, such as Teodoxus fluviatilis, as well as exclusively marine species, such as Homalopoma sanguineum and Cyclope neritea- both being strictly of Mediterranean origins. While the origin of the former raises no question whatsoever since their catchment was done from the nearby river Segre, the procurement of marine gastropods, however, which has been identified so far exclusively in Cantabrian sites could suggest the possibility of a new doorway through the Ebro Basin, thereby strongly pointing to the possibility of a new way between the Mediterranean B...

One aspect that defines the Neolithic of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula is its funeral register. The graves are so numerous that already in the early twentieth century Professor P. Bosch Gimpera considered that they had to belong to the same culture, the culture of « Sepulcres de Fossa ». Many studies have been conducted on the funerary practices of this group, but atypical graves or human remains deposits are generally unnoticed, whereas they exist. In this paper we present some of these structures and propose a first series of reflections on these non- normative deposits.

Abstract In this article, a zooarchaeological and isotopic analysis is presented for 26 dog exemplars (Canis familiaris). These dogs were deposited in burial and ceremonial structures in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Neolithic, within the Pit Grave cultural horizon (ca. 4200–3600 cal BC). Four archaeological sites of the Catalonian coastal strip are studied: Cami de Can Grau, La Serreta, Ca l'Arnella, and Bobila Madurell (one of the most important necropolises of the Iberian Peninsula). The presence of these dogs is interpreted as evidence of accompanying offerings and represents the most ancient use of this animal in the context of burials within the studied territory. Although it is a not a globally recorded gesture during this period, in light of the present results, it can be considered as a stereotyped ritual activity and evidence of the close relationship between these animals and the human communities. The diet of most of the dogs must be considered mixed and very similar to that of the humans, including consumption of herbivores and terrestrial plants.

As in many other regions, the periodization of the Neolithic in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula was based upon relative dating obtained through ceramic typologies. Moreover, this prehistoric period was structured using nomenclature borrowed from the Neolithization of southern France. A total of 37 new radiocarbon dates for NE Iberia have been recently obtained with appropriate sampling criteria. These results have been used in conjunction with other reliable14C dates in order to assess the validity of traditional classifications established through the study of ceramic typologies. The gradual improvement in the quality of sample choice and the available archaeological records allowed the selection of 187 dates obtained mostly from short-lived taxa. This has enabled the chronological boundaries to be adjusted as precisely as possible.

In the present work we examine early Iron Age burial contexts from two sites located in the Catalonian central coast: Mas d’en Boixos-1 (Pacs del Penedès) and Turó de la Font de la Canya (Avinyonet del Penedès). Recent excavations have revealed the reuse of silos as individual and double burials. In some cases, these inhumations were related to equine bones.

Abstract The temporal span of the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age (1300-550) saw the emergence of intense interconnectivity in the Mediterranean sea. The development of colonial trade dramatically increased cultural exchange along its coasts as can be observed in archaeological evidence. These large scale processes had an impact at all scales and territories close to the main trade routes. However, the process was extremely diverse in its forms. This work presents a case study focused on two adjacent areas in the coast of the NE Iberian Peninsula. Spatial analysis has been carried out to explore the trajectories of settlement location dynamics during the whole period. Basic geographic variables, mobility and distance to trade routes have been explored to identify key differences over periods and areas. Results indicate that the factors guiding settlements location varied between the two zones. Moreover, one of the areas was radically influenced by trade routes in the Early Iron Age while the other did not seem to be affected by this external factor. The interpretation of these analyses suggests that the rise in connectivity was not homogeneous over the Western Mediterranean, but in the regions where it took place this factor was decisive to explain their historical trajectories.

INTRODUCCIÓ El jaciment de Mas d'en Boixos -1 es situa en una suau ondulació del terreny al costat del riu Foix, al centre de la depressió prelitoral del Penedès, dins del terme municipal de Pacs del Penedès (Fig. 1). La zona, situada entre uns 217 i 225 metres sobre el nivell del mar, té una composició geològica quaternària –principalment d'argiles i graves–, encara que en el sector de llevant també hi afloren argiles miocèniques. L'espai intervingut fins ara és d'unes 6 hectàrees, si bé les restes arqueològiques semblen estendre's pels sectors limítrofs. Fins a dia d'avui s'hi ha dut a terme nou campanyes d'excavacions arqueològiques preventives en les quals s'han deixat al descobert 451 estructures excavades al subsòl que estarien associades a cabanes i altres estructures construïdes no conservades. Es tracta majoritàriament de sitges, però també s'han documentat forns, forats de pal, grans retalls, enterraments, etc., que abracen des del n...

ABSTRACT We analyse the origin of all obsidian artefacts recovered up to date from Neolithic sites of north-eastern Iberia, which are the only documented ones in the whole Iberian Peninsula. Despite the antiquity of one of the findings, they had never been studied in detail. The recent discovery of the other remains has allowed us to better clarify its context and specify its absolute chronology. All the archaeological sites where obsidian tools have been recovered can be placed somewhere between the end of the fifth millennium and the first centuries of the fourth millennium cal BC, corresponding to the full Middle Neolithic. The study about its origins shows clearly that it can be linked to the island of Sardinia, namely the SA source. Its spread can be associated to the time that the Sardinian obsidian reaches maximum intensity in its exploitation and maximum diffusion around the Mediterranean coasts. In this sense, the artefacts recovered in the Iberian sites are the ones located to a farthest distance from their source of origin, about 1200 km away. The linking of these products to individual burial grave goods, along with other non-native elements of nature, indicates that its value exceeds the strictly utilitarian.

... Autores: Xavier Esteve; Localización: La aplicación de los SIG en la arqueología del paisaje / Ignacio Grau Mira ( aut. ), 2006, ISBN 84-7908-863-X , págs. 99-108. Fundación Dialnet. Acceso de usuarios registrados. Acceso de usuarios registrados Usuario. Contraseña. Entrar. ...

Page 1. ^íjaámnt à Montíkó '(pmtsiSansor, Ctfdanya, ÜàkJ per Javier Mangado, Oriol Mercadal, Josep Maria Fullola, Xavier Esteve, Mathieu Langlais, Ma, Mercè Bergadà, Jordi Nadai, Alicia Estrada, Jordi Grimao. ** * Malgrat ...

The Sepulcros de Fosa is a historical period which has an extensive bibliographical record for northeastern Iberia. It has been attributed to the Middle Neolithic and dated to c.4000-3600 cal. BC. However, recent archaeological research and several new radiocarbon dates indicate that the Sepulcros de Fosa culture emerged earlier, during the Postcardial Neolithic period for nearly 800 years until the middle of 4th millennium cal. BC. These dates were obtained as part of the project «Aproximación a las primeras comunidades neolíticas del NE Peninsular a través de sus prácticas funerarias». The data indicate that the Sepulcros de Fosa began first in the Penedès region and then moved to the Vallès region, where it reached its peak at c. 3500-3450 cal. BC.

El jaciment de Montlleó ha estat una de les grans novetats del Paleolític Superior pirinenc en general i català en particular dels darrers anys. La seva localització a la Cerdanya ja era un repte per si mateix, i l’antiguitat que ens han marcat el material arqueològic i el radiocarboni ens ha confirmat el seu interès cabdal. Aquest treball és, de fet, la primera notícia extensa que es publica, després de les primeres campanyes d’excavacions entre 2000 i 2003. Descriurem el procés de descobriment del jaciment, fet per un dels signants de l’article (JG), l’entorn en el qual es troba i els primers resultats cronoculturals i socioeconòmics que ens ha ofert.

Horses and red deers are the most important big game preys in Upper Palaeolithic sites from the Mediterranean basin of Iberian Peninsula. Only wild goats can be even more important on some sites located in rough or mountainous areas. In spite of few climate requirements in both species, we can check a clear relationship between the coldest episodes of the end of Pleistocene and horse hunting activities and the presence of red deer remains in archaeological sites during the warmer moments. Our results indicate the existence of some kind of bioclimatic border Equus/Cervus that moved from south to north on the Mediterrean basin of Iberia along the Upper Palaeolithic.

Amb aquesta publicació es pretén fer la presentació d’un projecte de llarga durada, tant pel que fa a les fases de treballs de camp, que com veurem es desenvoluparen entre els anys 2008 i 2010, com pel que fa a la recerca que encara resta per endavant. En el marc de la remodelació dels enllaços de l’autopista AP-7, entre els anys 2009 i 2010 es van excavar un total de tres jaciments: Cinc Ponts (enllaç Vilafranca Nord), la Serreta (enllaç Vilafranca Centre) i Mas Pujó (enllaç Vilafranca Sud). Les intervencions arqueològiques han donat com a resultat la documentació de 240 estructures negatives i han permès obtenir una completa informació de l’ocupació humana de la zona des del neolític cardial fins a l’època contemporània. L’etapa més ben representada és la prehistòrica, ja que s’aprecia una especial intensitat de l’ocupació durant el neolític antic postcardial (tipus Molinot), el neolític mitjà i el bronze inicial. La tipologia i la funció de les estructures, entre les quals destaq...

Résumé/Abstract Horses and red deers are the most important big game preys in Upper Palaeolithic sites from the Mediterranean basin of Iberian Peninsula. Only wild goats can be even more important on some sites located in rough or mountainous areas. In spite of few ...

... Autores: Xavier Esteve; Localización: Actes de les Jornades d'Arqueologia i Paleontologia 2001 : Comarques de Barcelona 1996-2001 : La Garriga, 29 i 30 de novembre, 1 de desembre de 2001 / coord. por Margarida Genera i Monells, Vol. 3, 2004, ISBN 84-688-8882-6 , págs. ...

... Autores: Xavier Esteve; Localización: La aplicación de los SIG en la arqueología del paisaje / Ignacio Grau Mira ( aut. ), 2006, ISBN 84-7908-863-X , págs. 99-108. Fundación Dialnet. Acceso de usuarios registrados. Acceso de usuarios registrados Usuario. Contraseña. Entrar. ...