Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean
Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain) is one of the most important Neolithic impressed ware culture archaeological sites in the Western Mediterranean. It has been widely referenced since it was excavated in the 1920s, due partly to the relatively early excavation and publication of the site, and partly...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/10/342 |
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| author | Domingo C. Salazar-García Pablo García-Borja Sahra Talamo Michael P. Richards |
| author_facet | Domingo C. Salazar-García Pablo García-Borja Sahra Talamo Michael P. Richards |
| author_sort | Domingo C. Salazar-García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain) is one of the most important Neolithic impressed ware culture archaeological sites in the Western Mediterranean. It has been widely referenced since it was excavated in the 1920s, due partly to the relatively early excavation and publication of the site, and partly to the qualitative and quantitative importance of its archaeological remains. Unfortunately, as it was an older excavation and lacked present-day rigorous methodological approaches, this important site has been somewhat relegated to the background in the reviews about the Neolithic at the end of the 20th century. However, during the last few years, both the site itself and its archaeological remains have been the object of new studies that hopefully will return the site to the forefront of discussions about the Mediterranean Neolithic. We here present the most relevant results of the research carried out by our group (i.e., pottery study, radiocarbon dating, and isotope analysis), and contextualize them within the dense research history of the cave and the studies carried out by other colleagues with the purpose of revisiting its materials and increasing the knowledge available from the site. Radiocarbon dates on human remains show that the cave was used during prehistoric times as a funerary space longer than expected, and also sporadically afterwards. The characterization of the pottery assemblage concludes that most materials belong to the Early Neolithic. Isotopic analysis portrays an overall similar diet based on terrestrial C<sub>3</sub> resources throughout prehistoric times, with a possible varied dietary protein input between individuals during the Early Neolithic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:13:32Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:13:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj.art-32f3993fcb554455ad6c3887cced16802023-11-19T16:38:31ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082023-09-016106547656910.3390/heritage6100342Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western MediterraneanDomingo C. Salazar-García0Pablo García-Borja1Sahra Talamo2Michael P. Richards3Departament de Prehistòria, Arqueologia i Història Antiga, Universitat de València, 46010 València, SpainCentro Asociado Alzira-València, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, 46014 València, SpainDepartment of Chemistry G. Ciamician, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaCova de la Sarsa (València, Spain) is one of the most important Neolithic impressed ware culture archaeological sites in the Western Mediterranean. It has been widely referenced since it was excavated in the 1920s, due partly to the relatively early excavation and publication of the site, and partly to the qualitative and quantitative importance of its archaeological remains. Unfortunately, as it was an older excavation and lacked present-day rigorous methodological approaches, this important site has been somewhat relegated to the background in the reviews about the Neolithic at the end of the 20th century. However, during the last few years, both the site itself and its archaeological remains have been the object of new studies that hopefully will return the site to the forefront of discussions about the Mediterranean Neolithic. We here present the most relevant results of the research carried out by our group (i.e., pottery study, radiocarbon dating, and isotope analysis), and contextualize them within the dense research history of the cave and the studies carried out by other colleagues with the purpose of revisiting its materials and increasing the knowledge available from the site. Radiocarbon dates on human remains show that the cave was used during prehistoric times as a funerary space longer than expected, and also sporadically afterwards. The characterization of the pottery assemblage concludes that most materials belong to the Early Neolithic. Isotopic analysis portrays an overall similar diet based on terrestrial C<sub>3</sub> resources throughout prehistoric times, with a possible varied dietary protein input between individuals during the Early Neolithic.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/10/342CN stable isotopesradiocarbon datingpottery studyNeolithicEastern Iberiaprehistory |
| spellingShingle | Domingo C. Salazar-García Pablo García-Borja Sahra Talamo Michael P. Richards Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean Heritage CN stable isotopes radiocarbon dating pottery study Neolithic Eastern Iberia prehistory |
| title | Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean |
| title_full | Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean |
| title_fullStr | Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean |
| title_short | Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean |
| title_sort | rediscovering cova de la sarsa valencia spain a multidisciplinary approach to one of the key early neolithic sites in the western mediterranean |
| topic | CN stable isotopes radiocarbon dating pottery study Neolithic Eastern Iberia prehistory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/10/342 |
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