Lithic taphonomy and the use of the spatial information: assessing Palaeolithic sequence of Cova de les Cendres (Teulada-Moraira, Spain)

The formation processes of archaeological deposits determine the potential information that could be obtained in a site, so they influence the interpretations about past societies. This paper presents the lithic taphonomy study of the Aurignacian, Gravettian and Solutrean levels of Cova de les Cendres. For this purpose, lithic refits and typological characteristics of the lithic industry are analysed in statistical and spatial terms. The use of density maps of refitting connection lines is an innovative procedure that stands out in this study. Most of the connections are intra-level and long vertical connections are very scarce. In addition, lithic morphotypes characteristic of each period show a coherent archaeostratigraphical distribution. Results suggest that most of the levels preserve some degree of integrity. Furthermore, the post-depositional alterations had a deeper impact horizontally, whereas their influence in the vertical sense is not that deep. The spatial analysis shows vertical and horizontal variations throughout the sequence, highlighting spatial information as an essential aspect to reach a complete image of the deposits in these critical analyses. This work underscores the necessity to extend these taphonomic studies to other Upper Palaeolithic sequences and cave contexts to make more accurate interpretations about cultural evolution.

Automated summary

This study examines the lithic taphonomy of Cova de les Cendres, analyzing lithic refits and typological characteristics to understand the formation processes of archaeological deposits. The results indicate that most levels have preserved their integrity to some degree and spatial analysis is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the deposits.