Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals
This paper analyses the taphonomic modifications of the human remains identified within Cueva Palomera, the main entrance to Ojo Guareña karstic system (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). The human skeletons were found deposited over the cave floor of two high, narrow and hard-to-reach sectors...
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Elsevier
2023-10-01
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Series: | Quaternary Science Advances |
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Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033423000527 |
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author | Borja González-Rabanal Ana B. Marín-Arroyo Marco Vidal-Cordasco Miguel Ángel Martín Ana Isabel Ortega |
author_facet | Borja González-Rabanal Ana B. Marín-Arroyo Marco Vidal-Cordasco Miguel Ángel Martín Ana Isabel Ortega |
author_sort | Borja González-Rabanal |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This paper analyses the taphonomic modifications of the human remains identified within Cueva Palomera, the main entrance to Ojo Guareña karstic system (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). The human skeletons were found deposited over the cave floor of two high, narrow and hard-to-reach sectors called Terraza del Enterramiento de la Galería Principal and Galería Sepulcral de la Sima Dolencias. Both sites represent primary depositions, in anatomical association and preserved partial joints but without grave goods. These humans are directly dated between 2000–1750 cal BC, suggesting that both events took place within a short time frame during the Early Bronze Age. The anthropological and taphonomic studies show that two adult male individuals suffered different types of lesions in their cranium, clavicle, and ribs, including traumatisms and cut marks. Taphonomic techniques have identified diagenetic and biostratinomic modifications, helping the assessment of their postmortem and perimortem interval. The morphological features of these modifications confirm that both individuals suffered lesions performed during the perimortem interval, suggesting their likely cause of death. The concentration of the injuries and the contemporaneity of both individuals are coherent with intentional anthropic action, indicating that they could result from a violent conflict. |
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issn | 2666-0334 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:29:48Z |
publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
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series | Quaternary Science Advances |
spelling | doaj.art-35d820298bc4494782ed21e8e78de00f2023-10-13T11:05:58ZengElsevierQuaternary Science Advances2666-03342023-10-0112100120Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individualsBorja González-Rabanal0Ana B. Marín-Arroyo1Marco Vidal-Cordasco2Miguel Ángel Martín3Ana Isabel Ortega4Grupo de I+D+i EvoAdapta (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, Spain; Corresponding author.Grupo de I+D+i EvoAdapta (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, SpainGrupo de I+D+i EvoAdapta (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, SpainSociedad Española de Espeleología y Ciencias del Karst, SpainCENIEH –Centro Nacional sobre la Evolución Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain; Fundación Atapuerca, Carretera Logroño km 44, 09198, Ibeas de Juarros, Burgos, SpainThis paper analyses the taphonomic modifications of the human remains identified within Cueva Palomera, the main entrance to Ojo Guareña karstic system (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). The human skeletons were found deposited over the cave floor of two high, narrow and hard-to-reach sectors called Terraza del Enterramiento de la Galería Principal and Galería Sepulcral de la Sima Dolencias. Both sites represent primary depositions, in anatomical association and preserved partial joints but without grave goods. These humans are directly dated between 2000–1750 cal BC, suggesting that both events took place within a short time frame during the Early Bronze Age. The anthropological and taphonomic studies show that two adult male individuals suffered different types of lesions in their cranium, clavicle, and ribs, including traumatisms and cut marks. Taphonomic techniques have identified diagenetic and biostratinomic modifications, helping the assessment of their postmortem and perimortem interval. The morphological features of these modifications confirm that both individuals suffered lesions performed during the perimortem interval, suggesting their likely cause of death. The concentration of the injuries and the contemporaneity of both individuals are coherent with intentional anthropic action, indicating that they could result from a violent conflict.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033423000527Northern iberiaRecent prehistoryHuman remainsTaphonomyLethal injuries |
spellingShingle | Borja González-Rabanal Ana B. Marín-Arroyo Marco Vidal-Cordasco Miguel Ángel Martín Ana Isabel Ortega Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals Quaternary Science Advances Northern iberia Recent prehistory Human remains Taphonomy Lethal injuries |
title | Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals |
title_full | Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals |
title_fullStr | Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals |
title_full_unstemmed | Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals |
title_short | Early Bronze Age violence in Ojo Guareña (Merindad de Sotoscueva, Burgos, Spain). Perimortem modifications in two male individuals |
title_sort | early bronze age violence in ojo guarena merindad de sotoscueva burgos spain perimortem modifications in two male individuals |
topic | Northern iberia Recent prehistory Human remains Taphonomy Lethal injuries |
url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033423000527 |
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