Mesolithic burials in los canes cave (Asturias, Spain)

HUMAN EVOLUTION

E Arias Dpto. de Ciencias Hist6ricas Universidad de Cantabria E-39005 Santander, Spain

M. D. Garralda Secci6n de Antropologfa Facultad de Biologia Universidad Complutense de Madrid E-28040 Madrid, Spain

Key words: Cantabrian region, Los Canes Cave, Mesolithic burials.

Vol. 11 - N. 2 (129-138) - 1996

Mesolithic burials in Los Canes cave (Asturias, Spain)

Los Canes is a small cave situated half way-up the abrupt southern slope of Cuera range, near the village of Arangas (Eastern Asturias, Spain). Three funerary structures have been discovered in the entrance of that cave. They consisted of burials (one of them, number If, reused) where the corpses of three individuals had been placed in different positions, with the legs strongly bent. Various grave goods (animal bones, pierced teeth, a perforated antler, etc.) accompanied them. The individuals found in these burials have been directly dated by AMS. Their age ranges between 6930_+95 and 6265_+75 BP (5930-5680 and 5330-5010 cal. BC). The present paper describes in detail the burials and discusses the questions raised by their datations and characteristics. Fourthermore the authors compare them with other Cantabrian funerary structures, taken into account the different mesoecological factors and living conditions of these last hunter-gatherer populations. Some preliminary anthropological data about Los Canes individual n~ I are also considered.

Introduction The Cantabrian region (Spanish northern coastal provinces) is well known in archaeological literature for its numerous and important Prehistoric sites, which provide crucial data for the study of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods in the Iberian Peninsula. A multidisciplinary program of research, focusing on the study of the earliest phases of recent Prehistory (Neolithic and Chalcolithic), was developed in the South-Eastern part of Asturias between 1985 and 1993. One of the main results of this project was the discovery in Los Canes Cave of three Mesolithic sepultures, the description of which is the aim of the present paper. Los Canes Cave, located near the village of Arangas (district of Cabrales), is open at 325 meters above sea level in the Namurian limestone of the Cuera range, dominating a narrow valley flowing to the Cares river in Arenas de Cabrales. Although the elevation of the site is moderate, the region around it is really abrupt, with contrasts of more than 2,500 m. of height across their 40 kin. of width. These geographical peculiarities must have had strong influences in both cultural and biological aspects of Human Evolution, as will be discussed later

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Description of the site and burials Los Canes Cave is a narrow cavity having 50 m. length and around 2 m. width. The archaeological vestiges of Human presence are concentrated in two zones: the end of the corridor, where supposedly Palaeolithic non-figurative rock engravings can be seen (Arias et al. 1981), and the small entrance (7 x 2 m.) which contains a complex stratigraphy from Magdalenian to Neolithic periods. From bottom to top, the stratigraphical sequence starts with an archaeologically sterile layer of clay with large stones fallen from the vault. The study of the micromammals points to the assignation of this sediment to WOrm Ill or just before (Pem~n, personal communication). Several archaeological levels corresponding to Late Glacial and, probably, to the beginning of the Holocene were found over the first sterile layer. The oldest human presence has been dated to 16,560-+200 B.P. (AA-12165) and 16,700-+210 BP (AA-12166), and corresponds to the transition from Solutrean to Lower Magdalenian periods. Upper Magdalenian and Azilian occupations have also been attested in the cave. During the earliest phase of the Holocene, an augmentation of the karstic system's hydric activity must have been produced; it caused stalagmitic layers which sealed the old deposits in some parts of the cave, and eroded those close to the North-Western wall of the vestibule. In a later period, Los Canes Cave was used as a sepulchral place (Fig. 1). Several burials, from which three structures (1, II and Ill) had been preserved, were opened at the Late Mesolithic, destroying the main part of the Late Glacial stratigraphy. Different absolute dates by AMS (all of them corresponding to the Atlantic period) were obtained for these burials from the bones of the individuals found there. The probably oldest one, appearing in structure number IIl, was dated at 6930-+95 BP (AA6071= 5930-5680 cal. BC); this grave-pit cuts the above cited sediments down to the sterile level of the base. Its eastern part was affected by the opening of the grave corresponding to structure number I, having a datation of 6,265-+75 BP (AA-5,294=5330-5010 cal. BC). Structure number II was not stratigraphically related to those previously referred to, but the dates obtained from the two corpses inhumed there, are also very similar. The oldest one was dated to 6,860-+65 B.P. (AA-5295; 5,820-5,590 cal. BC) and the more recent one to 6,770-+65 B.P. (AA-11744; 6,000-5,690 cal. BC). Above this second structure appeared a Neolithic level (C) which has been dated at 5865-+70 BP (AA-5788= 4910-4540 cal. BC). Later, the cave was abandoned, and only in a recent period was occasionally used to herd goats, without damaging the archaeological deposits. The description of these burials is as follows: Structure number I (Fig. 2).- It consisted of an oval grave-pit, parallel to the cave ESEWNW axis, measuring 108 x 50 cm. and bounded by the northern wall and a large stone block joined to the meridional one. The cadaver was placed there in decubito supino, with the legs strongly bent upwards, the feet resting on the floor near the pelvis. The lower extremities were damaged by a posterior prehistoric digging, which altered the upper part of the burial filling and cut the bones which were in an elevated position. The rest of the skeleton was relatively well preserved and in anatomical connection. The skull was slightly tilted to the right. The arms, placed along the body, had the right elbow flexed, the hand resting on the pelvis, while the left forearm crossed the abdomen, as if the hand had been supported by the right forearm, over the hip. Several objects that can be considered as grave-goods appeared beside the cadaver: A)

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one red deer shoulder blade, almost vertically placed near the left foot and resting on the stone block cited above; B) one ungulate rib, found over the right scapula; and C) three perforated deer canines, close to the external side of the left foot. Numerous snail shells were found mixed with the fill of the pit. It is very likely that this abnormal accumulation of snails was the result of an intentional deposit in relation to the burial (Arias & P6rez 1992). Structure number II - (Fig. 3). It was also an oval grave (measuring 1,6 x 0,75 m.) situated at the cave entrance and where a nearly complete skeleton was found (ind. n ~ II-A). Near the head, the discovery of the feet of another individual (which should have been placed in an opposite direction), demonstrated the re-use of this sepulture in Mesolithic times; this so scarcely represented individual was named n ~ II-B. The body of the most complete individual (n ~ II-A) was placed in the direction of the longest axis of the tomb, with the head in the eastern part. Its position was in decubito lateralis sinistro, with arms extended along the trunk and the legs bent. The skull, dorsal vertebrae and pelvis were displaced from their anatomical position. This individual was accompanied by the several items that can be interpreted as gravegoods. An important group appeared around the skull: a long pointed bone, a red deer antler with an oval perforation, a cobble, one perforated shell of Cyprina islandica (on the occipital), and several pierced shells of Trivia europaea and Littorina obtussata. Two forehead bones of ibex were found placed on the femora, a long cobble near the right forearm, and a perforated red deer incisor near the right talus. A few other shells (Cepaea and Patella) appeared also within the skeleton as well as in the fill of the burial. Structure number !I! - (Fig. 4). This grave consisted of another oval pit (120x83x54 cm) filled with earth and stones arranged in an orderly fashion. A human body had been placed there in decubito supino position. The legs were strongly bent, allowing the knees to be around 30 cm higher than the pelvis. The head was slightly turned to the right; the arms extended along the sides of the body, the left elbow flexed to permit the hand to rest on the venter, with the right one leaning against the external side of the leg. The skeleton was well preserved with the exception of the skull and a part of the thorax, damaged by small animals which burrowed in the vicinity of the left forearm and the head. Above the knees appeared some bones in anatomical connection (mainly ibex and wild boar), which might be interpreted as grave-goods. In the rest of the burial, the only remarkable findings were a microburin and a few pierced shells.

Discussion

In order to understand the interest of Los Canes findings, we must consider them in the evolutionary context of the last hunter-gatherers/first farmers of the lberian Peninsula, especially with respect to the Cantabrian region. During the Dryas III and Pre-Boreat periods, the Azilian cultural complex (dated between the second half of the XIlth mill. and the middle of the Xth mill. BP) expanded throughout all the Cantabrian territory. The Azilian economy showed an evolution towards systems less specialized than the earliest phases of the Magdalenian, and towards the use of a broader spectrum of resources. The Azilian is the last period of Cantabrian Prehistory to show a relative cultural homogeneity along the region. Later, several local archaeological assemblages can be de-

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fined. The nearest to the site we are dealing with is the "Asturian". This local "culture" has been dated between 9,000 and 6,500 B.P., during Boreal and Atlantic periods, and extends along Eastern Asturian and Western Cantabrian coast. There is an important bias that we must note: "Asturian" has been studied mostly in coastal caves and rockshelters. In fact, the typical "Asturian" sites are large shell-middens, mainly composed of limpets (Patella), topshells (Monodonta lineata) and other stuarine invertebrates. But in spite of the great archaeological visibility of the often perfectly preserved shells, this cultural complex does not seem to be the result of a specialized system. Current views (Arias 1992) describe "Asturian" as a typical example of the Mesolithic "broad spectrum revolution" (Flannery 1969). Its economy would probably have been based on the exploitation of coastal forests resources (red deer, wild boar, roe deer, plants), including also marine species (fish, molluscs, crustacea) and mountain mammals, such as chamois (Rupicapra rupricapra) and ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Thus, typical "Asturian" sites seem to be just a part of larger economic systems, which certainly would have included inland activities, as the presence of some sites in the coastal mountain ranges (sometimes more than 500 m. above sea level) suggests. This might be confirmed by isotopical analysis on stuarine molluscs. Though only a limited number of samples have been studied, the available 180 analysis on Asturian shells (Deith and Shackleton 1986) are quite consistent presenting shellfish gathering as a cold season (mostly winter) activity. A problem that arises from the previous discussion is the depth of the penetration of "Asturian" groups towards the mountains. Did they stop in the coastal ranges, or did they go up to the interior valleys and the high mountains of Picos de Europa?. This question remains unanswered at the moment, but sites like Los Canes Cave might give us some clues. At present, the only available data are the astonishing frequency of marine shells in Los Canes Mesolithic structures, in spite of the difficulties to reach the seaside from the site, which is only 11 kin. from the present shore as the crow flies, but which is separated from it by steep mountains more than 1,000 m. high. So, it must be decided whether the groups that buried their deceased in Los Canes were related to the coastal (i.e. "Asturian") sites or, on the contrary, lived permanently in the interior, but made occasional raids to the coast to gather shellfish. Comparisons of Los Canes anthropological remains with samples from coastal sites, and isotopical analysis seem to be the main possibilities of advancing towards the resolution of that problem. Both typical "Asturian" sites and Los Canes Cave seem to be strongly linked to the earliest Neolithic in the region, which starts about 6,000 BP, not much later than some of the radiocarbon dates cited above. The transition to Neolithic in the Cantabrian region has been defined as several processes of acculturation of the local Mesolithic populations, which probably maintained contacts with Neolithic groups living in the nearby Upper Ebro valley. The results of those processes were very particular Neolithic assemblages, strongly similar to local Mesolithic in lithic technology, economic trends, and funerary rites, in spite of the timid introduction of important novelties, such as pottery, polished axes, agriculture and pastoralism (Arias 1991). In order to compare funerary customs throughout this early Holocene sequence, we will exclusively consider here another Cantabrian finding, carefully described and dated; it is also the only Azilian burial found in the Iberian Peninsula, that of Los Azules Cave (also in Asturias), studied by Fern;indez-Tresguerres (1976, 1980) and Garralda (1986). But, this burial is aJoout three thousand years older than those of Los Canes, and, consequently, reflects a different cultural world and some differences in ritual. In Los Azules we documented the use of ochre, especially around the head of the individual, who was placed in a

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Fig. 2 - Loc C a n e s Cave. Structure n u m b e r I

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M E S O L I T H I C BURIALS IN LOS C A N E S

F i g u r e 3 - Los Canes Cave. Structure n u m b e r 11

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Fig. 4 - Los Canes C a v e . Structure n u m b e r 1II

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decubito supino position, with the right hand over the venter and the left arm parallel to the body; two fiat stones had been placed over the tibia. Atypical faunal remains, painted cobbles and different instruments of sitex and bone can be considered as grave-goods. Another contextual difference between Los Azules and Los Canes is that the tomb of the first site was opened in a cave of habitat although it seems that the human group was not living inside the cave, but in the rockshelter nearby), while the Mesolithic communities used the cave only for burial purposes and might have lived in another cave nearby, which is just starting to be studied. The anthropological remains found in Los Canes Cave are being carefully restored, but a first study permits the presentation of some interesting results. The skeleton from grave number I corresponds to a female individual, of medium height and very gracile, although the accentuation of the muscular attachments reveals patterns of active physical effort in daily living. Morphologically, the skull, of small dimensions, shows an elongated face (leptene) with narrow nose and sub-quadrangular orbits. The x-ray revealed the aplasia of both frontal sinuses. This same individual offers a somewhat complete dental pathology, with caries, abscesses and alveolar reabsorption affecting both maxillae. The data furnished by this individual from Los Canes are very important in the evolutionary context of the Cantabrian Population. Several fossils have been found in various sites of this region, as for example, the Azilian man from Los Azules previously cited, and the remains assigned with more or less reliability to the "Asturian" culture: the Cuartamentero skull (Garralda 1982), the Mazaculos and Balmori mandibular fragments (Garralda 1981), as well as the Molino de Gasparfn burial (Carballo 1960; Garralda 1989). Some of the fossils cited previously are quite different from Los Canes individuals, displaying an accentuated robustness with some archaic features. Furthermore, regarding dental pathology nothing was observed in Los Azules man, and only traces of periodontal disease on the Mazaculos mandibular fragment. Los Azules man displayed a marked attrition, especially on the anterior teeth, but it is very much unlike that observed in Los Canes I, corresponding surely to economical and nutritional differences. We can suppose that the dissimilarities in dental pathology and wear, so marked in the Mesolithic woman, are the result of the fact that both these individuals represent two cultural groups, having important differences in their respective economy and nutrition. Very probably the woman of Los Canes had a more important ingestion of elements rich in carbohydrates, that is, of vegetable products in a higher amount than in previous times. The oral pathology she suffered is similar to that presented by some other of the South-European Mesolithic samples, as is the case of the Muge sites (Portugal), having a similar chronology. The studies made by Frayer (1988) and Meiklejohn (et al. 1988) demonstrated the marked differences between the oral pathology and kind of attrition of these individuals in comparison, for instance, to those of the North-European groups. But, very probably, the people of Los Canes had a different diet from that of the Muge series, with a lower marine component in their diet. This interesting problem will surely be solved not only by more detailed archaeological and anthropological data, but also with the help of the stable isotope analyses which will be performed. ACKr~OWLEDGEMZNTs--Thispaper was written within the framework of the E.U. Human Capital and Mobility Program (CHRX-CT93-0193), to whom we express our thanks for its support.

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