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[EN] The Mediterranean coast of Spain is marked by several clusters of Palaeolithic sites: to the south of the Pyrenees, in the area around the Ebro River, in the central part, and on the south coast, one of the southernmost regions in Europe. The number of sites is small compared with northern Iberia, but like that region, the Palaeolithic occupations are accompanied by several rock art ensembles. The archaeological material (both biotic and abiotic resources) and radiocarbon dates presented here were obtained during archaeological fieldwork of professor J. Fortea in the Late Pleistocene deposits in Cueva Victoria, located near the modern coastline and about 150 km north of the Strait of Gibraltar. In the three occupation phases, marine resources were acquired by shell -fishing (focusing almost exclusively on the clam Ruditapes decussatus), fishing, and the use of beached marine mammals. This contrasts with the limited data about the exploitation of terrestrial resources by hunting and gathering animals and plants. The study is completed by the study of artefacts (lithic and bone industry and objects of adornment) that help to understand the subsistence strategies of the cave occupants and enable a comparison with other groups inhabiting the Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula during Greenland Interstadial 1, between ca. 15.1 and 13.6 cal BP.

The Cueva de Ardales is a hugely important Palaeolithic site in the south of the Iberian Peninsula owing to its rich inventory of rock art. From 2011-2018, excavations were carried out in the cave for the first time ever by a Spanish-German research team. The excavation focused on the entrance area of the cave, where the largest assemblage of non-figurative red paintings in the cave is found. A series of 50 AMS dates from the excavations prove a long, albeit discontinuous, occupation history spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Neolithic. The dating of the Middle Palaeolithic layers agrees with the U/Th dating of some red non-figurative paintings in the entrance area. In addition, a large assemblage of ochre lumps was discovered in the Middle Palaeolithic layers. Human visits of the cave in the Gravettian and Solutrean can be recognized, but evidence from the Aurignacian and Magdalenian cannot be confirmed with certainty. The quantity and nature of materials found during the excavations indicate that Cueva de Ardales was not a campsite, but was mainly visited to carry out non-domestic tasks, such as the production of rock art or the burial of the dead.

[EN] The Mediterranean coast of Spain is marked by several clusters of Palaeolithic sites: to the south of the Pyrenees, in the area around the Ebro River, in the central part, and on the south coast, one of the southernmost regions in Europe. The number of sites is small compared with northern Iberia, but like that region, the Palaeolithic occupations are accompanied by several rock art ensembles. The archaeological material (both biotic and abiotic resources) and radiocarbon dates presented here were obtained during archaeological fieldwork of professor J. Fortea in the Late Pleistocene deposits in Cueva Victoria, located near the modern coastline and about 150 km north of the Strait of Gibraltar. In the three occupation phases, marine resources were acquired by shell -fishing (focusing almost exclusively on the clam Ruditapes decussatus), fishing, and the use of beached marine mammals. This contrasts with the limited data about the exploitation of terrestrial resources by hunting and gathering animals and plants. The study is completed by the study of artefacts (lithic and bone industry and objects of adornment) that help to understand the subsistence strategies of the cave occupants and enable a comparison with other groups inhabiting the Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula during Greenland Interstadial 1, between ca. 15.1 and 13.6 cal BP.

The Mediterranean coast of Spain is marked by several clusters of Palaeolithic sites: to the south of the Pyrenees, in the area around the Ebro River, in the central part, and on the south coast, one of the southernmost regions in Europe. The number of sites is small compared with northern Iberia, but like that region, the Palaeolithic occupations are accompanied by several rock art ensembles. The archaeological material (both biotic and abiotic resources) and radiocarbon dates presented here were obtained during archaeological fieldwork of professor J. Fortea in the Late Pleistocene deposits in Cueva Victoria, located near the modern coastline and about 150 km north of the Strait of Gibraltar. In the three occupation phases, marine resources were acquired by shell-fishing (focusing almost exclusively on the clam Ruditapes decussatus), fishing, and the use of beached marine mammals. This contrasts with the limited data about the exploitation of terrestrial resources by hunting and gathering animals and plants. The study is completed by the study of artefacts (lithic and bone industry and objects of adornment) that help to understand the subsistence strategies of the cave occupants and enable a comparison with other groups inhabiting the Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula during Greenland Interstadial 1, between ca. 15.1 and 13.6 cal BP.

[FR] Le projet de recherche appelé «Carte Archéologique du nord du Maroc», a été développé par des chercheurs de l'Université de Cadix, Université Abdelmalek Esaadi, Direction Régionale de la Culture de la Région de Tanger-Tétouan et de l'INSAP de Rabat. Nous avons fait quatre campagnes de prospection archéologique dans la région de Tétouan qui ont augmenté le registre des sites liés à des sociétés de chasseurs-cueilleurs du Paléolithique, tribales du Néolithique et de la Préhistoire Récente. Nous rapportons ici un résumé des études en L‟Abri de Marsa. Nous avons effectué en septembre 2012 une campagne de sondage stratigraphique. Ont a documenté trois niveaux archéologiques avec présence des occupations avec technologie très définie: Néolithique, Paléolithique Supérieur-Iberomaurisien-Mode 4 et Paléolithique Moyen-Mode 3. Un résumé de l'étude stratigraphique et géoarchéologique est exposé. Une avance est donnée à l'analyse des matières premières lithiques et leur origine. On présente aussi une étude de la technologie lithique taillée présente aux trois niveaux. Nous apportons aussi une étude préliminaire des faunes terrestres et marines, ainsi qu‟une analyse archéobotanique de la séquence du pollen du site. L‟Abri a prochain une Grotte avec des gravures d‟art préhistorique. Nous avons avancé dans l'étude de la mise stratigraphique dans des contextes géoarchéologiques, les types de peuplement, des études de matières premières, les processus de mobilité et types de ressources des sociétés préhistoriques. Il fait partie des études dans les environs immédiats et dans le cadre du problème historique des relations et des contacts avec les communautés de la région du Détroit de Gibraltar., [ES] El proyecto de investigación denominado "Mapa arqueológico del norte de Marruecos", fue desarrollado por investigadores de la Universidad de Cádiz, la Universidad Abdelmalek Esaadi, la Dirección Regional de Cultura de la Región de Tánger-Tetuán y la INSAP de Rabat. Llevamos a cabo cuatro estudios arqueológicos en la región de Tetuán que aumentaron el registro de sitios relacionados con las sociedades paleolíticas de cazadores-recolectores, el neolítico tribal y la prehistoria reciente. Presentamos aquí un resumen de los estudios en L'Abri de Marsa. En septiembre de 2012, realizamos una encuesta estratigráfica. Han documentado tres niveles arqueológicos con ocupaciones de presencia con tecnología muy definido: Neolítico, Paleolítico Superior-Iberomaurisien Modo 4 y el Modo Paleolítico Medio 3. Un resumen del estudio estratigráfico y geoarqueológica está expuesto. Se da un avance al análisis de las materias primas líticas y su origen. También presentamos un estudio de tecnología lítica de corte presente en los tres niveles. También proporcionamos un estudio preliminar de la fauna terrestre y marina, así como un análisis arqueobotánico de la secuencia de polen del sitio. El refugio siguiente tiene una cueva con grabados prehistóricos. Hemos avanzado en el estudio del entorno estratigráfico en contextos geoarqueológicos, tipos de asentamientos, estudios de productos básicos, procesos de movilidad y tipos de recursos de sociedades prehistóricas. Es parte de los estudios en las inmediaciones y como parte del problema histórico de las relaciones con la comunidad y los contactos en el Estrecho de Gibraltar.

The newly identified Paleolithic site Sima de Las Palomas de Teba hosts an almost seven-m-thick sediment profile investigated here to elucidate the rock shelter's chronostratigraphy and formation processes. At its base, the sediment sequence contains rich archeological deposits recording intensive occupation by Neanderthals. Luminescence provides a terminus ante quem of 39.4 +/- 2.61 ka or 44.9 +/- 4.1 ka (OSL) and 51.4 +/- 8.4 ka (TL). This occupation ended with a rockfall event followed by accumulation of archeologically sterile sediments. These were covered by sediments containing few Middle Paleolithic artifacts, which either indicate ephemeral occupation by Neanderthals or reworking as suggested by micromorphological features. Above this unit, scattered lithic artifacts of undiagnostic character may represent undefined Paleolithic occupations. Sediment burial ages between about 23.0 +/- 1.5 ka (OSL) and 40.5 +/- 3.4 ka (pIRIR) provide an Upper Paleolithic chronology for sediments deposited above the rockfall. Finally, a dung-bearing Holocene layer in the uppermost part of the sequence contains a fragment of a human mandible dated to 4032 +/- 39 C-14 yr BP. Overall, the sequence represents an important new site for studying the end of Neanderthal occupation in southern Spain. (C) 2016 University of Washington. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This contribution shows the application of terrestrial laser scanning in an integrative approach for the documentation and analyses of the Ardales Cave, southern Spain, which is in many respects an important geoarchaeological site. For the survey of the cave, a combination of the Riegl LMS Z420i laser scanner with a real-time kinematic global positioning system (RTK-GPS) from Topcon and further tachymetric measurements were used. The achieved three-dimensional (3D) model of the cave and the surrounding hill documents the current topography and dimensions of the cave. Additional geoarchaeological data were successfully integrated in a 3D geographical information system (GIS) database and high-resolution records of a structured-light scanner were combined with the 3D model of the cave. The 3D model is further used for the estimation of the ceiling thickness that reveals areas for additional entrances. Lighting simulations based on path tracing were conducted for the determination of areas that are reached by natural direct or indirect light. In this case, the weight and size of the instrument was a logistic constraint to reach certain areas and to achieve a complete model of the cave. Overall, the method is feasible for the documentation of this cave and the investigations based on the derived 3D models. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The newly identified Paleolithic site Sima de Las Palomas de Teba hosts an almost seven-m-thick sediment profile investigated here to elucidate the rock shelter's chronostratigraphy and formation processes. At its base, the sediment sequence contains rich archeological deposits recording intensive occupation by Neanderthals. Luminescence provides a terminus ante quem of 39.4 +/- 2.61 ka or 44.9 +/- 4.1 ka (OSL) and 51.4 +/- 8.4 ka (TL). This occupation ended with a rockfall event followed by accumulation of archeologically sterile sediments. These were covered by sediments containing few Middle Paleolithic artifacts, which either indicate ephemeral occupation by Neanderthals or reworking as suggested by micromorphological features. Above this unit, scattered lithic artifacts of undiagnostic character may represent undefined Paleolithic occupations. Sediment burial ages between about 23.0 +/- 1.5 ka (OSL) and 40.5 +/- 3.4 ka (pIRIR) provide an Upper Paleolithic chronology for sediments deposited above the rockfall. Finally, a dung-bearing Holocene layer in the uppermost part of the sequence contains a fragment of a human mandible dated to 4032 +/- 39 C-14 yr BP. Overall, the sequence represents an important new site for studying the end of Neanderthal occupation in southern Spain. (C) 2016 University of Washington. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This contribution shows the application of terrestrial laser scanning in an integrative approach for the documentation and analyses of the Ardales Cave, southern Spain, which is in many respects an important geoarchaeological site. For the survey of the cave, a combination of the Riegl LMS Z420i laser scanner with a real-time kinematic global positioning system (RTK-GPS) from Topcon and further tachymetric measurements were used. The achieved three-dimensional (3D) model of the cave and the surrounding hill documents the current topography and dimensions of the cave. Additional geoarchaeological data were successfully integrated in a 3D geographical information system (GIS) database and high-resolution records of a structured-light scanner were combined with the 3D model of the cave. The 3D model is further used for the estimation of the ceiling thickness that reveals areas for additional entrances. Lighting simulations based on path tracing were conducted for the determination of areas that are reached by natural direct or indirect light. In this case, the weight and size of the instrument was a logistic constraint to reach certain areas and to achieve a complete model of the cave. Overall, the method is feasible for the documentation of this cave and the investigations based on the derived 3D models. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Estado actual del conocimiento de la Sima del complejo kárstico de Palomas. Se ha presentado su enmarque geográfico y geológico y se ha valorado la historia de las investigaciones desarrolladas. Se han expuesto las actividades y tareas arqueológicas desarrolladas, así como una serie de analíticas científicas que ha realizado un equipo amplio de investigadores españoles y alemanes de diversas universidades y centros de investigación.