Late Middle Pleistocene Occupations and Adaptations at Almonda, Estremadura, Portugal

在国家科学基金会的支持下，Anthony Marks博士和合作者将在位于葡萄牙Estremadura地区的Galeria Pesada考古遗址进行两个野外季节的研究。Galeria是位于断层构造的东南向悬崖上的许多充填洞穴之一。对一系列地下隧道的检查发现了旧石器时代文物的存在，在NSF的支持下，马克斯博士在几个填充区进行了试掘，试图找到就地材料。佩萨达山脉的一个试验坑发现了一系列叠加的地层，富含岩屑和人类改造的动物群遗骸。类型学分析和初步的电子自旋共振测年表明，该遗址可归属于中更新世晚期，从而证明了旧石器时代文化从下到中的转变。由于只挖掘了一小块区域，发现的文物相对较少，马克斯博士将在两个野外季节中开辟更大的区域。增加岩屑样本量将使他能够：提供对岩屑组合及其组成部分的准确和全面的描述；测量整个岩屑组合中技术和类型的连续性和变化的性质和程度；并测试不同原材料导致岩屑制造技术差异的命题。大动物和小动物的遗骸都有代表，通过他们的分析，马克斯博士将试图重建生存策略，并确定与拾荒相反的有目的的狩猎活动的程度。西欧在大约50万年前首次由原始人(早期人类)居住，尽管考古学家已经大致追踪到了文化的主要阶段变化，但在理解上仍然存在重大差距。早期的居民生产了一种工业，其中包括与旧世界其他地区相似的大型双面加工的“手斧”。在后来的某一天，出现了明显的以薄片为基础的工业，这些工业发展成了与尼安德特人相关的工业。然而，考古学家不明白这种转变是如何发生的--是渐进的还是突然的，以及它是涉及替换还是原址开发。关于尼安德特人和他们的祖先的能力，特别是他们猎杀大型动物的能力，存在着激烈的分歧。Galeria Pesada的矿藏跨越了这一关键时期，Mark博士的研究有可能为人类发展的这一重要时期提供新的线索。

With National Science Foundation support Dr. Anthony Marks and collaborators will conduct two field seasons of research at the archaeological site of Galeria Pesada, located in the Estremadura region of Portugal. The Galeria is one of a number of infilled cavities located in a fault structured southeast-facing cliff. Examination of a series of underground tunnels revealed the presence of Paleolithic artifacts and with NSF support Dr. Marks conducted trial excavations in several infilled areas in an attempt to locate in situ material. A test pit in the Galeria Pesada revealed a series of superimposed strata rich in both lithic and anthropogenically modified faunal remains. Typological analysis as well as preliminary electron spin resonance dating indicates that the site can be assigned to the late Middle Pleistocene and therefore documents the shift from Lower to Middle Paleolithic cultures. Because only a small area has been excavated and relatively few artifacts recovered, Dr. Marks will, over the course of two field seasons open a larger area. Increased lithic sample size will allow him to: provide an accurate and comprehensive description of the assemblages and their constituent parts; measure the nature and degree of technological and typological continuity and change throughout the assemblages; and test the proposition that different raw materials are responsible for differences in lithic manufacture techniques. Remains of both large and small animals are represented and through their analysis Dr. Marks will attempt to reconstruct subsistence strategies and determine the extent to which purposeful hunting, as opposed to scavenging was practiced.Western Europe was first inhabited by hominids (early humans) ca. 500,000 years ago and although archaeologists have traced in broad outline major stages of culture change significant gaps in understanding remain. Early inhabitants produced an industry which included large bifacially worked "hand axes" similar to those found in other regions of the Old World. At some later date distinct flake based industries appeared and these developed into the industry associated with Neanderthal peoples. Archaeologists however do not understand how this transition took place - whether it was gradual or abrupt and whether it involved replacement or in situ development. Lively disagreement exists on the capabilities of Neanderthals and their predecessors, especially their ability to hunt large animals. The deposits at the Galeria Pesada span this crucial period and Dr. Mark's research, has the potential to shed new light on this important period of human development.