La secuencia prehistórica de la cueva de Abittaga (Amoroto, Bizkaia): evaluación de las excavaciones de J.M. Barandiarán (1964-1966) /
The prehistoric sequence of Abittaga cave (Amoroto, Biscay): review of J.M. Barandiarán excavations (1964-1966)
Joseba Rios-Garaizar, Aixa San Emeterio, Maitane Larrea Robles, Miriam Cubas, Andrea García-Sagastibelza, Diego Garate Maidagan, Rita Peyroteo Stjerna, Carmen Núñez-Lahuerta, Asier Gómez-Olivencia
-- Donostia: Aranzadi Zientzia Elkartea, 2020
- pp. 73-89
- 2020
- 71 .
(Munibe Antropologia-Arkeologia).
El yacimiento de la cueva de Abittaga, excavado por J.M. Barandiarán entre 1964 y 1965, contiene una secuencia arqueológica con ocupaciones del Magdaleniense Superior y de la Prehistoria Reciente. Este yacimiento apenas ha participado en los debates de la prehistoria vasca de los últimos 40 años, fundamentalmente porque el yacimiento había sido estudiado de manera parcial y porque la información estratigráfica resultaba confusa. En este trabajo presentamos la revisión la colección arqueológica de Abittaga (industria lítica, ósea, cerámica, macrofauna y restos humanos). Se presentan además nuevas dataciones para las ocupaciones magdalenienses (nivel VII), y las de la Prehistoria Reciente (niveles I-III), y los resultados de la intervención arqueológica realizada en 2016. Estos resultados proporcionan una visión actualizada de un yacimiento usado con fines sepulcrales en la Edad del Bronce y como campamento ocasional, dentro de una amplia red de emplazamientos en la cuenca del Lea, durante el Magdaleniense Superior. J.M. Barandiaranek, 1964 eta 1965 artean, Goi Madeleine aldiko eta Historiarre Hurbileko okupazioak dituen Abittaga kobazuloko aztarnategiaren segida arkeologikoa induskatu zuen. Aztarnategi horrek oso parte-hartze txikia izan du euskal historiaurrearen inguruan azken 40 urteotan egin izan diren eztabaidetan; horretarako arrazoiak bi dira batez ere: aztarnategia modu partzialean aztertu zutelako eta informazio
estratigrafikoa nahasia zelako. Lan honetan, Abittagako bilduma arkeologikoaren (industria litikoa, hezurrak, zeramikoa, makrofauna eta giza aztarnak) berrikusketa aurkezten dugu. Gainera, Madeleine aldiko okupazioetarako datazio berriak (VII. maila) eta Historiaurre Hurbilekoak (I-III mailak), eta 2016an egindako lan arkeologikoko emaitzak aurkezten dira. Emaitza hauek aztarnatergiaren ikuspegi eguneratua eskaintzen dute.
Brontze Aroan kobazuloa hilobi gisa erabilia izan zen. Bestalde, Goi Madeleine aldian Lea ibaiaren arroan garai horrentan zegoen kokaleku sareko aldizkako kanpamentua bezala erabilia izan zen. The archaeological site of Abittaga cave, excavated by J.M. Barandiarán between 1964 and 1965, has yielded a stratigraphic sequence with Late Magdalenian and Recent Prehistory occupations. For several reasons, this site has barely contributed to the debates about the Basque Prehistory during the last 40 years, debates such as the subsistence strategies and cultural transformations of the last hunter gatherers in the region, or the use of caves by the first farmer communities. This can probably be explained not only by the absence of a complete comprehensive analysis of the site and the archaeological materials, but also because some of the information provided by J.M. Barandiarán about the site, specially about its stratigraphy, was rather confusing.
In this work we present the systematic revision of the archaeo-palaeontological collection, and we offer new data about the lithic tools, bone industry, pottery, and faunal and human remains. The analysis of the documentation of the site recorded by J.M. Barandiarán and J.M. Apellániz complemented with the results of the excavation made in 2016 at the site, suggest that the archaeological deposits excavated by J.M. Barandiarán probably correspond with deposits in primary position preserved only by the right wall of the entrance hall of the cave. The
analysis of the pottery assemblage suggests different uses of the cave between the III and the I millennium cal BC. The presence of a single human individual buried in levels I-III, directly dated between 1895-1689 cal BC, indicates a funerary use of the cave during the Bronze Age.
Levels IV-VI are really poor in archaeological materials and thus very difficult to interpret. Level VII presents the bulk of the archaeological material and it has been dated between 14321-14051 cal BP. In this level, the lithic assemblage is well preserved, with different refitting series. Almost all the lithic artifacts have been knapped using Flysch flint, but there are examples of flint varieties coming from more than 50 km of distance. We have recognized an in situ bladelet production obtained from carinated burins and small blocks, and the production of larger blades outside the cave, that were subsequently carried to Abittaga. The retouched toolkit is composed basically by burins, partially retouched blades
and backed bladelets, with a remarkable absence of endscrapers. On the other hand, the bone industry is rich and varied, with bone points, single-row barbed harpoons, and rods. This lithic and bone industry is similar to other coeval sites in the same region such as Santa Catalina or Atxurra. The Late Magdalenian occupation of Abittaga cave is interpreted as a short-term occupation which was part of a wider settlement
network that existed at that time in the Lea basin.
ISSN 1132-2217 eISSN 2172-4555
Magdaleniense Superior
Prehistoria Reciente
Industria ósea
Industria lítica
Cerámica
Macrofauna
Restos humanos
Artículo científico
El yacimiento de la cueva de Abittaga, excavado por J.M. Barandiarán entre 1964 y 1965, contiene una secuencia arqueológica con ocupaciones del Magdaleniense Superior y de la Prehistoria Reciente. Este yacimiento apenas ha participado en los debates de la prehistoria vasca de los últimos 40 años, fundamentalmente porque el yacimiento había sido estudiado de manera parcial y porque la información estratigráfica resultaba confusa. En este trabajo presentamos la revisión la colección arqueológica de Abittaga (industria lítica, ósea, cerámica, macrofauna y restos humanos). Se presentan además nuevas dataciones para las ocupaciones magdalenienses (nivel VII), y las de la Prehistoria Reciente (niveles I-III), y los resultados de la intervención arqueológica realizada en 2016. Estos resultados proporcionan una visión actualizada de un yacimiento usado con fines sepulcrales en la Edad del Bronce y como campamento ocasional, dentro de una amplia red de emplazamientos en la cuenca del Lea, durante el Magdaleniense Superior. J.M. Barandiaranek, 1964 eta 1965 artean, Goi Madeleine aldiko eta Historiarre Hurbileko okupazioak dituen Abittaga kobazuloko aztarnategiaren segida arkeologikoa induskatu zuen. Aztarnategi horrek oso parte-hartze txikia izan du euskal historiaurrearen inguruan azken 40 urteotan egin izan diren eztabaidetan; horretarako arrazoiak bi dira batez ere: aztarnategia modu partzialean aztertu zutelako eta informazio
estratigrafikoa nahasia zelako. Lan honetan, Abittagako bilduma arkeologikoaren (industria litikoa, hezurrak, zeramikoa, makrofauna eta giza aztarnak) berrikusketa aurkezten dugu. Gainera, Madeleine aldiko okupazioetarako datazio berriak (VII. maila) eta Historiaurre Hurbilekoak (I-III mailak), eta 2016an egindako lan arkeologikoko emaitzak aurkezten dira. Emaitza hauek aztarnatergiaren ikuspegi eguneratua eskaintzen dute.
Brontze Aroan kobazuloa hilobi gisa erabilia izan zen. Bestalde, Goi Madeleine aldian Lea ibaiaren arroan garai horrentan zegoen kokaleku sareko aldizkako kanpamentua bezala erabilia izan zen. The archaeological site of Abittaga cave, excavated by J.M. Barandiarán between 1964 and 1965, has yielded a stratigraphic sequence with Late Magdalenian and Recent Prehistory occupations. For several reasons, this site has barely contributed to the debates about the Basque Prehistory during the last 40 years, debates such as the subsistence strategies and cultural transformations of the last hunter gatherers in the region, or the use of caves by the first farmer communities. This can probably be explained not only by the absence of a complete comprehensive analysis of the site and the archaeological materials, but also because some of the information provided by J.M. Barandiarán about the site, specially about its stratigraphy, was rather confusing.
In this work we present the systematic revision of the archaeo-palaeontological collection, and we offer new data about the lithic tools, bone industry, pottery, and faunal and human remains. The analysis of the documentation of the site recorded by J.M. Barandiarán and J.M. Apellániz complemented with the results of the excavation made in 2016 at the site, suggest that the archaeological deposits excavated by J.M. Barandiarán probably correspond with deposits in primary position preserved only by the right wall of the entrance hall of the cave. The
analysis of the pottery assemblage suggests different uses of the cave between the III and the I millennium cal BC. The presence of a single human individual buried in levels I-III, directly dated between 1895-1689 cal BC, indicates a funerary use of the cave during the Bronze Age.
Levels IV-VI are really poor in archaeological materials and thus very difficult to interpret. Level VII presents the bulk of the archaeological material and it has been dated between 14321-14051 cal BP. In this level, the lithic assemblage is well preserved, with different refitting series. Almost all the lithic artifacts have been knapped using Flysch flint, but there are examples of flint varieties coming from more than 50 km of distance. We have recognized an in situ bladelet production obtained from carinated burins and small blocks, and the production of larger blades outside the cave, that were subsequently carried to Abittaga. The retouched toolkit is composed basically by burins, partially retouched blades
and backed bladelets, with a remarkable absence of endscrapers. On the other hand, the bone industry is rich and varied, with bone points, single-row barbed harpoons, and rods. This lithic and bone industry is similar to other coeval sites in the same region such as Santa Catalina or Atxurra. The Late Magdalenian occupation of Abittaga cave is interpreted as a short-term occupation which was part of a wider settlement
network that existed at that time in the Lea basin.
ISSN 1132-2217 eISSN 2172-4555
Magdaleniense Superior
Prehistoria Reciente
Industria ósea
Industria lítica
Cerámica
Macrofauna
Restos humanos
Artículo científico