ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL AND TAPHONOMIC STUDY OF NEOLITHIC BONE SAMPLES FROM THE CUEVA DE AMBROSIO (VÉLEZ BLANCO, ALMERÍA, SPAIN)
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Abstract
The Ambrosio Cave (Vélez-Blanco, Almería, Spain) is known for being one of the most important Solutrean sites in Southeastern Iberia. However, it has also provided evidence from other periods, such as the Epipaleolithic and the Neolithic. Since existing information about these periods is scarce, this study focuses on the zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the faunal samples found in the Neolithic level of this site. The analyzed samples come from level 1 excavated by Professor E. Ripoll during the 1960s, and are deposited in the Archaeological Museum of Almería. Our results show a set dominated by wild species such as deer, horse, lynx, fox, and rabbit. Alongside these animals, domestic species like ovicaprids are also found. These results are consistent with Neolithic zooarchaeological samples from other sites in Southeastern Iberia, suggesting the presence of well-established herding human groups in the region. Mortality patterns indicate a high representation of adult individuals among ovicaprids, suggesting that these animals may have been used for wool or dairy production. Additionally, the identification of cut marks on various individuals suggests they were also utilized for their meat. Regarding wild species, evidence indicates that foxes, rabbits, and various herbivores were also carnivorously exploited by humans.