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| Titel |
Sediment sequence and site formation processes at the Arbreda Cave, NE Iberian Peninsula, and implications on human occupation and climate change during the Last Glacial |
| VerfasserIn |
M. Kehl, E. Eckmeier, S. O. Franz, F. Lehmkuhl, J. Soler, N. Soler, K. Reicherter, G.-C. Weniger |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1814-9324
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Climate of the Past ; 10, no. 5 ; Nr. 10, no. 5 (2014-09-09), S.1673-1692 |
| Datensatznummer |
250117048
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/cp-10-1673-2014.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
The Arbreda Cave provides a detailed archaeological record of the
Middle to Upper Palaeolithic and is a key site for studying human
occupation and cultural transitions in NE Iberia. Recently, studies
of lake archives and archaeological sites presented new evidence on
climate changes in NE Iberia correlating with Heinrich events. It,
therefore, needs to be determined whether climate signals can be
identified in the cave sequence of Arbreda, and if so, whether these
signals can be correlated with stratigraphic indicators suggesting
the continuity or discontinuity of human occupation.
We conducted a high-resolution sedimentological and geochemical
study, including micromorphological investigations, to shed light on
stratigraphy, processes of sediment accumulation and
post-depositional alteration in the cave.
Seven major sediment units were distinguished which partly correlate
with archaeological levels. The lower part of the sequence including
Mousterian levels J and K consists of fluvial deposits truncated by
a sharp erosional disconformity between Mousterian levels J and
I. Strong enrichment with phosphorus and strontium reflect zoogenic
inputs. The transition from Mousterian to Archaic Aurignacian in
levels I and H, respectively, is reflected by more gradual changes
in colour, grain size and geochemical composition. However, a peak
in potentially wind-blown particles (40–125 μm in
diameter) reflects higher aeolian input, and banded microstructure
suggests reworking of sediments at the interface. Both properties
correlate with low density of finds suggesting low intensity of
human occupation related to a dry spell. More arid conditions than
during the Holocene are indicated for the Gravettian to Solutrean
levels. These findings are in agreement with previous palaeoclimatic
interpretations as based on palaeontological proxies.
The detailed multi-proxy analyses of the sequence adds to our
understanding on sediment accumulation and alteration in the Arbreda Cave. The transition from the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic
probably includes a gap in human occupation. Assessing the
significance and duration of this gap and correlating the climate
signal requires three-dimensional reconstructions of find densities
and more reliable geochronological control. |
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