Radiocarbon chronology of dolmens in the Iberian southwest: architectural sequence and temporality in the el Pozuelo megalithic complex (Huelva, Spain)

This paperes tablishes the chronologyof the ElPozuelo megalithic complexand discusses it in the context of other dolmens that have been dated in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. The working methodology combines the study of the stratigraphy and architectural sequence with the Bayesian modeling of the 27 AMS 14C dates obtained for charcoal samples from the four monuments in the Los Llanetes cluster. The most significant chronological results (at 68% probability) are (a) the antiquity and long duration of the megalithic sites, in which several monumental structures succeeded one another ca. 3970–1980 cal BC; (b) the existences of different temporalities in the LateFinal Neolithic dolmens: simple chambers (3970–3760 cal BC), elongated chambers (3790–3620 cal BC) and multiple chambers (3660–3260 cal BC; (c) the continuity of activity during the Copper Age (2980–2580 and 25302180 cal BC); and (d) the permanence of megalithism in the Early Bronze Age, through the presence of terraced enclosures with circular platforms ca. 2230–1940 cal BC. This diachronic sequence and the contextualized analysis of the 152 available radiocarbon dates (27 new, 125 published) supports the establishment of the temporal dynamics of megalithism in the Iberian southwest, introducing key aspects on the emergence, span, and rebuilding of the different dolmens (passage graves, simple chambers, elongated chambers, and multiple chambers) and establishing the phases of activity and reuse of the different architectural types.
This study has been carried out within the framework of the R D i Project “MEGA-LITHOS. Geo-archaeological study methods for the investigation of the Huelva megalithisms” (UHU- 1263153) at the University of Huelva, funded by the Operative Programme ERDF 2014-2020 and the Department of Economy and Knowledge in the Government of Andalusia. The radiocarbon dates were commissioned at the CNA by the Culture Department in the Government of Andalusia within the Exceptional Archaeological Activity under our direction. The funding of the open access charge has been assumed by the University of Huelva, thanks to the agreement established with Cambridge University Press. I am grateful to Coronada Mora Molina for her invaluable participation in the excavation and research of the Los Llanetes cluster. Juan Carlos Vera-Rodríguez and Luc Laporte, supervisors of my doctoral thesis, for their guidance and observations for the investigation. M´onica Ruiz Alonso has contributed to the anthracological study of the charcoal samples. Thanks to the reviewers for their comments and suggestions, which have improved several aspects of the work