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This study presents quantitative data on the rates of anterior tooth wear in a Pleistocene human population. The data were obtained for the hominin sample of the Sima de los Huesos site in Atapuerca, Spain. The fossil record belongs to a minimum of 28 individuals of the same biological population, assigned to the species Homo heidelbergensis . We have estimated the original and the preserved crown height of the mandibular incisors (I1 and I2) of 11 individuals, whose age at death can be ascertained from the mineralization stage and tooth eruption. Results provide a range of 0.276–0.348 and 0.288–0.360 mm per year for the mean wear rate of the mandibular I1 and I2, respectively, in individuals ≈16–18 years old. These data suggest that incisors' crowns would be totally worn out toward the fifth decade of life. Thus, we expect the life expectancy of this population to be seriously limited. These data, which could be contrasted with results obtained on hominins at other sites, could be of interest for estimating the death age of adult individuals.

Durante los últimos años se ha debatido mucho acerca de cuándo tuvo lugar el poblamiento de Europa. Los yacimientos de la Península Ibérica han aportado datos que permiten afirmar que los humanos ocuparon Europa hace más de un millón de años. En el yacimiento de Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos) se han descubierto restos faunísticos, líticos y humanos (Homo antecessor) que datan de ca. 800,000 años. En Fuente Nueva 3 y Barranco León 5 (Granada) se han recuperado restos faunísticos y artefactoslíticos que podríantener una cronología de 1,3 millones de años. Además hay hallazgos aislados en terrazas fluviales del Noroeste, Centro y Sur de la Península que son menos concluyentes. Todos los objetos líticos recuperados pertenecen al Modo técnico 1. Por último, se discute la posibilidad de un acceso a la Península a través de Gibraltar. During the last years researches has debated about when the European settlement took place. The sites of the Iberian Peninsula have shown data that allow us to affirm that humans arrived to Europe morethan one million of years ago. In the deposit of Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos) was found a sample of faunal, lithic and human remains (Homo antecessor) dating about 800,000 years ago. In Fuente Nueva 3 and Barranco León 5 (Granada)there have recovered faunistic remains and lithic artifacts that may be able to have a chronology of 1,3 million years. In addition there are isolated findings in river terraces of the Northwest, Center and South of the Peninsula that are less conclusive. All the lithic objects recovered belong to the technical Mode 1. Finally, the possibility of an access to the Peninsula through Gibraltar is discussed. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia BXX2000-1258-C03-03 Junta de Castilla y León

International audience; Hominid remains found in 1994 from the stratified Gran Dolina karst-filling at the Atapuerca site in NE Spain were dated to somewhat greater than 780 ka based on palaeomagnetic measurements, making these the oldest known hominids in Europe (sensu stricto). We report new ESR and U-series results on teeth from four levels of the Gran Dolina deposit which confirm 2 the palaeomagnetic evidence, and indicate that TD6 (from which the human remains have been recovered) dates to the end of the Early Pleistocene. The results for the other levels are consistent with estimates based mainly on microfaunal evidence, and suggest that TD8, TD10 and TD11 date to the Middle Pleistocene.

Technological analysis of lithic artefacts recovered at the Aurora stratum of Atapuerca-TD6 shows that this Lower Pleistocene assemblage is similar to Mode I Technology (=Oldowan tradition) documented at many African sites. Diachronic comparison of the different levels of Gran Dolina allows us to conclude that this particular form of early European technology lacks the production of big flakes to manufacture large tools such as bifaces and cleavers. Rather, it is characterized by the presence of small artefacts, including flakes, denticulates, notches, and side-scrapers, many of which bear use-wear traces of butchery and woodworking. The dominant production technique is orthogonal, which is also reflected in the core recovered at the slightly older level of TD4. The raw materials also found in the Middle Pleistocene occupations at Atapuerca, though with significant proportion differences, have a local origin and include varieties of flint, quartzite and sandstone as well as limestone and quartz. TD6 small artefacts were made from most of these, although the retouched pieces seem to have been preferentially made of the best quality flint, i.e., Cretaceous flint, pointing to the existence of differential use of lithic material, and therefore, some degree of planned knapping behaviour. Most of the “chaines operatoires” or reduction sequences took place inside the cave, although some artefacts, elaborated on Cretaceous flint, seem to have been retouched off site, possibly near the supply sources.

Gran Dolina is part of an archaeological and paleontological complex located in the Sierra de Atapuerca karstic system (Burgos, Spain). The Trinchera del Ferrocarril sites were discovered as a consequence of the construction of a railway for the transport of minerals at the end of the nineteenth century. The systematic excavation of the upper Gran Dolina levels was initiated in 1981. In 1993, a 6 m(2)biostratigraphic survey pit was started, reaching level TD6 in 1994. This level was excavated during four consecutive years, yielding human fossils, identified as Homo antecessor, in association with lithic and faunal remains, dating to more than 0.78 m.y.a.

The Middle Pleistocene site of Sima de los Huesos in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain, has yielded around 2,500 fossils from at least 33 different hominid individuals. These have been dated at more than 200,000 years ago and have been classified as ancestors of Neanderthals. An almost complete human male pelvis (labelled Pelvis 1) has been found, which we associate with two fragmentary femora. Pelvis 1 is robust and very broad with a very long superior pubic ramus, marked iliac flare, and a long femoral neck. This pattern is probably the primitive condition from which modern humans departed. A modern human newborn would pass through the birth canal of Pelvis 1 and this would be even larger in a female individual. We estimate the body mass of this individual at 95 kg or more. Using the cranial capacities of three specimens from Sima de los Huesos, the encephalizaton quotients are substantially smaller than in Neanderthals and modern humans., This research is partly funded by the Junta de Castilla y León, the Dirección General de Enseñanza Superior of Spain (PB93-0066-C03), Comunidad de Madrid (CAM 06/0037/1997) and Unidades Asociadas (CSIC).

It has been suggested that European Middle Pleistocene humans, Neandertals, and prehistoric modern humans had a greater sexual dimorphism than modern humans. Analysis of body size variation and cranial capacity variation in the large sample from the Sima de los Huesos site in Spain showed instead that the sexual dimorphism is comparable in Middle Pleistocene and modern populations.

The oldest human remains and tools that have been discovered in southern Europe (from 780,000 years ago) were described in two recent reports: "Lower Pleistocene hominids and artifacts from Atapuerca TD6 (Spain)," by E. Carbonell et al. and "Paleomagnetica ge for hominid fossils at Atapuerca archaeological site, Spain,"b y J. M. Paresa nd A. Perez-Gonzale(z1 1 Aug., pp. 826 and 830, respectively). Additional studies of the lower Pleistocene human fossils, recently found in level 6 (TD6) of the Gran Dolina cave site at Sierra de Atapuerca provide evidence of anthropophagy. Striations on the small temporal bone fragment ATD6-16 (4 by 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters) were noticed during excavation, and subsequenta nalysesa fterc arefulc leaning have revealed similar marks on two podial phalanges. Scanning electron microscope analysis of replicas obtained from these human bones show clear features characteristico f cut-marks( Fig. 1). Comparison with marks on faunal remains indicate similarf eaturesp, robablyc reatedb y an identical type of stone tool raw material

Institut Catala de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolucio Social (IPHES), C/Escorxador s/n, 43003 Tarragona, Spain; Area de Prehistoria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002 Tarragona, Spain (Carbonell, Caceres, Lozano, Saladie, Rosell, Lorenzo, Vallverdu, Huguet, Canals) (icaceresprehistoria.urv.cat)/Visiting Professor, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of Beijing (IVPP; Carbonell)/Centro Nacional de Investigacion sobre Evolucion Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca, s/n 09002, Burgos, Spain (Bermudez de Castro). 15 II 11

This paper presents a study of the cores (neutral BNIG) from the Atapuerca Middle Pleistocene sites (Burgos, Spain). An analysis and study of the Atapuerca knapping methods is made, as well as one of the relationship between the knapping methods and the by-products (flakes, BP). On the other hand, an approach to the diachronic differences observed in the stratigraphies is outlined. Finally, some general conclusions are reached about the technology, in order to characterize the period recorded at these sites., Este trabajo presenta fundamentalmente un estudio de los núcleos (BNIG neutras) recuperados en las excavaciones de los yacimientos mesopleistocenos de Atapuerca (Burgos). Se analizan y estudian los métodos de talla utilizados y las relaciones técnicas que existen entre éstos y sus productos, las lascas (BP). Por otra parte, se pretende una aproximación a las diferencias diacrónicas observadas en los rellenos, que, en alguno de los yacimientos, cubren la práctica totalidad del Pleistoceno Medio. Por último, se extrae una serie de conclusiones de tipo tecnológico que nos ayudan a caracterizar el periodo registrado en los yacimientos.

The Atapuerca railway Trench and Ibeas sites near Burgos, Spain, are cave fillings that include a series of deposits, ranging from below the Matuyama/Bruhnes reversal up to the end of Middle Pleistocene. The lowest fossil-bearing bed in the Trench contains an assemblage of large and small Mammals including Mimomys savini, Pitymys gregaloides, Pliomys episcopalis, Crocuta crocuta, Dama sp, and Megacerini; the uppermost assemblage includes Canis lupus, Lynx spelaea, Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Felis sylvestris, Equus caballus steinheimensis, E. c. germanicus, Pitymys subterraneus. Microtus arvalis agrestis, Pliomys lenki, and also Panthera toscana, Dicerorhinus hemitoecbus, Bison schoetensacki, which are equally present in the lowest level. The biostratigraphic correlation and dates of the sites are briefly discussed, as are the paleoclimatic interpretation of the Trench sequences. Stone artifacts are found in several layers; the earliest occurrences correspond to the upper beds containing Mimomys savini. A set of preserved human occupation floors has been excavated in the top fossil-bearing beds. The stone-tool assemblages of the upper levels are of upper-medial Acheulean to Charentian tradition. The rich bone breccia SH, in the Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo, Ibeas de Juarros, is a derived deposit, due to a mud flow that dispersed and carried the skeletons of many carnivores and humans. The taxa represented are, Ursus deningeri (largely dominant), Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Vulpes vulpes, Homo sapiens var. Several traits of both mandibular and cranial remains are summarized. Preliminary attempts at dating suggest that the Ibeas fossil man, is older than the Last Interglacial, or Oxygen-isotope stage 5., RESUMEN: La Trinchera del ferrocarril de Atapuerca y yacimientos de Ibeas cerca de Burgos, España, son rellenos de cuevas que incluyen una serie de depósitos, que datan desde por debajo de la inversión Matuyama/Bruhnes hasta el final del Pleistoceno Medio. El nivel fosilífero de la Trinchera contiene un conjunto de grandes y pequeños Mamíferos incluyendo Mimomys savini, Pitymys gregaloides, Pliomys episcopalis, Crocuta Crocuta, Dama sp. y Megacerini; el conjunto más superior incluye Canis lupus, Lynx spelaea, Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Felis sylvestris, Equus caballus steinheimensis, E. c. germanicus, Pitymys subterraneus, Microtus arvalis agrestis, Pliomys lenki y también Panthera toscana, Dicerorhinus hemitoechus, Bison schoetensacki, que están igualmente presentes en el nivel más inferior. La correlación bioestratigráfica y las edades de los yacimientos se discuten brevemente, al igual que la interpretación paleoclimática de las secuencias de Trinchera. Los artefactos de piedra se encuentran en varios niveles, las primeras apariciones corresponden a los niveles superiores que contienen Mimomys savini. Se ha excavado un conjunto de suelos que preservan ocupación humana en la parte superior de los niveles fosilíferos. Los conjuntos de herramientas de piedra de los niveles superiores son del Achelense superior-medio a la tradición Charentiense. La rica brecha fosilífera SH, en la Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo, Ibeas de Juarros, es un depósito derivado, debido a un flujo de lodo que dispersó y transportó los esqueletos de muchos carnívoros y humanos. Los taxones representados son, Ursus deningeri (muy predominante), Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Vulpes vulpes, Homo sapiens var. Se resumen los rasgos de los restos mandibulares y craneales. Los intentos preliminares de datación sugieren que el hombre fósil de Ibeas, es más antiguo que el último Interglacial, o estadio de oxígeno isotópico 5.

Situada en el casco urbano de Cáceres (Extremadura, España), la cueva de Maltravieso es una formación cárstica de la red de cavidades del "Calerizo de Cáceres". Su interior alberga pinturas y grabados del Paleolítico superior, destacando las figuras de manos. En el año 2002 se iniciaron los trabajos de excavación arqueológica y un programa de monitorización de la temperatura y humedad relativa del interior de la cavidad. Los resultados obtenidos manifiestan un alto grado de estabilidad de las condiciones internas respecto a las externas. Los trabajos arqueológicos realizados durante la campaña del año 2002, así como otras actividades de investigación y gestión, no provocaron alteraciones significativas en las condiciones naturales de la cavidad.

An aid to more expeditious and accurate recording of archaeologicalfeatures requiring neither a power source nor specialized training to operate has been developed in Germany and is currently in use on excavations in several European countries. This article presents the specifications of the Kartomat field-drawing machine, provides examples of its application, and offers suggestions for its production and use in the United States.

Carbonell Eudald, Guilbaud Michel, Mora Raphaël. Amplification du système analytique avec la classification des techno-complexes à galets taillés. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 81, n°7, 1984. pp. 203-206.

RESUME La fouille d'un colluvion d'une haute terrasse du Ter (Gérone, Espagne) a fourni une industrie archaïque en quartz, probablement mindélienne ; l'étude typologique, originale, est basée sur l'analyse du débitage., Carbonell E., Collina-Girard J., Mora R., Sala Robert, Guilbaud M. Le gisement Pléistocène moyen de Puig d'en Roca (Espagne). In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 85, n°7, 1988. pp. 204-209.

Human remains dating to more than 780,000 years ago are associated with a rich faunal and lithic assemblage in the Pleistocene cave site of Gran Dolina (TD), Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain. The micromammal species represent the late Biharian (Mimomys savini zone), and the lithic objects represent pre-Acheulean technology (Mode 1) and comes from the TD6 level below the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary. The Gran Dolina hominid fossils cannot be comfortably accommodated in any of the defined Homo species. They could be considered a primitive form of Homo heidelbergensis, but a new species might be named in the future if the sample is enlarged. The new human fossil evidence demonstrates that Western Europe was settled at least since the late early Pleistocene.

Three important fossil hominids were found in July 1992 in the Middle Pleistocene cave site called Sima de los Huesos (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Northern Spain). One is a complete calvaria (cranium 4), the second a virtually complete cranium (cranium 5), the third represents a more fragmentary cranium of an immature individual (cranium 6). There is a large difference in size between the two adult specimens (for example endocranial volume 1,125 cm3 versus 1,390 cm3). The Atapuerca human remains are dated to > 300,000 years. The Atapuerca cranial sample fits within the 'archaic Homo sapiens' group, but is well differentiated from the Asian Homo erectus group. The extensive Atapuerca human collection is the most complete sample of Middle Pleistocene humans yet discovered from one site, and appears to document an early stage in Neanderthal evolution.

The question concerning the place of origin of humankind was widely debated for decades. Since it has been established that this was in Africa, much current research is focused on the age of the settlement of Eurasia. This work reviews three hypotheses concerning the age of the occupation of Europe. These hypotheses may be termed "Young," "Mature," and "Old" Europe, according to which systematic settlement took place either less than 500,000 years ago, somewhat before 0.78 mya (million years ago), or before 1.5 mya, respectively. The arguments for and weaknesses of each hypothesis are discussed, and the "Mature Europe" hypothesis is argued to be supported by the strongest current evidence.

This paper revises the current state of the debate about the earliest hominin dispersals out of Africa. First we review the archaeological evidence for the earliest occupation of Asia and Europe. Next we summarize the environmental parameters related to the earliest phases of human evolution--specifically, climatic implications for human adaptations andfaunal dispersals. We discuss which were the first hominins to leave Africa, and we propose the invention of technology as a fundamental step for the development of our genus, likely related to changes in subsistence and diet during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. From our point of view, hominins were able to generalize the use of technology, as well as to generate, integrate, and diffuse new information into their collective social behavior. We refer to this concept as "socialization." Hence, technology and the socialization thereof became integral aspects of the ecological niche of hominins.

Chapitre d'ouvrage de vulgarisation