Taphonomic, taxonomic and spatial analysis of the archaeofaunisticremains from Level III-a, Sublevels III-a1 and III-a2

HAMMOND HEIDI; LEANDRO ZILIO

Tarragona

Workshop; WorkshopTeixoneres 2022; 2022

Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social IPHES

Unit III-a from Teixoneres cave was divided into two geologically-defined stratigraphic subunits, which have been named III-a1 and III-a2. Subunit III-a is represented by a layer of sediments with the presence of limestone blocks along almost all its surface, albeit with a higher density of materials in the inner area. Underneath this subunit there is a thin layer of sediment, approximately 5-25 cm thick, and is characterized by the almost total absence of limestone blocks. This subunit III-a2 corresponds to a period during which there was no detachments of limestone blocks in the cave.Due to the existence of geological and sedimentary differences between the two sublevels, the aim of this work is to analyse whether or not there are taxonomic and taphonomic differences between the faunal remains recovered in each sublevel. The results of the taxonomic, taphonomic and spatial analysis of all the archaeofaunal remains recovered in subunits III-a1 and III-a2 of Teixoneres from 2003 to 2020 are discussed.As a result, similarities are observed in preservation of the bone remains recovered in the two stratigraphic subunits. The differences have to do with the greater representation of remains of immature individuals in sublevel III-a2 and a greater presence of humidity in this same level related to the greater representation of manganese coatings and root marks. Sublevel III-a1 presents a significantly higher density of archaeological remains and a large amount of thermally altered faunal remains.