Reconstructing occupational models: Bone refits in Level I of Abric Romani

The archaeological record is the result of different long-acting processes, difficult to identify without the contribution of several techniques and disciplines. One of these techniques is the combination between Zooarchaeological data and faunal refits, which allows reconstructing some of the natural and cultural processes involved in the formation of the sites. The aim of this paper is to present the application of this methodology and the results obtained in the Level I of Abric Romani (Capellades, Spain), which chronology was determined around 46 Kyrs by means of U/Th ages. Starting from the characterization of faunistic assemblages, throughout anatomic, taxonomic and taphonomic study, it is possible to define exploitation of the animals. Bone refits are made in this way: remains analysis for each squares (differentiation of anatomical elements depending on taxon and size), by closest square, and in overview, by analysing all the squares of the area (considering greatest accumulation). Once the refits are carried out, all the data has been analysed and processed to obtain the spatial patterns of the investigated level. The main aim is to explore the anthropogenic use of the site, in particular during the occupation of Level I, and to validate the degree of synchronicity between the different identified structures, such as hearths and the activity areas. This kind of analysis can be used in order to evaluate the differences between occupational patterns, subsistence activities, domestic areas, level of group's sophistication and duration of employment of the sites. This fact shows the importance of these studies to understand the diversity of occupational patterns and ways of life of the human communities of the European Middle Palaeolithic. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.