TY - JOUR
T1 - Osteological and paleodietary investigation of burials from Cova de la Pastora, Alicante, Spain
AU - McClure, Sarah B.
AU - García, Oreto
AU - Roca de Togores, Consuelo
AU - Culleton, Brendan J.
AU - Kennett, Douglas J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Fieldwork and laboratory analyses were supported by the National Geographic Society (McClure and García; Grant #8281-07), the National Science Foundation (McClure; OISE-0701241; and Culleton; GRFP-2006022778), the University of Valencia, the University of Oregon, the Museo de Prehistória Valencia, Servicio de Investigación Prehistórica, and the Museum Arqueologic Municipan Camil Visedo Moltó, Alcoi. We are grateful to Helena Bonet, Joan Bernabeu, Bernat Martí, Lluis Molina, Josep M Segura, María Jesus de Pedro, and Albert Sanchez, for their help and support on various aspects of this project, and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and insights. John Southon (UCI-KCCAMS) and David Harris (UCD Stable Isotope Facility) generously shared their technical expertise.
PY - 2011/2
Y1 - 2011/2
N2 - We present results of osteological and isotopic analyses of human remains from Cova de la Pastora (Alcoi, Alicante, Spain) and discuss the implications in light of a new sequence of radiocarbon dates indicating that the cave was used as a burial site in the Late Neolithic (ca. 3800-3000 cal BC), Chalcolithic (ca. 3000-2500 cal BC), Bell Beaker Transition (Horizonte Campaniforme Transicional - HCT; ca. 2500-2200 cal BC) and the Bronze Age (ca. 2200-1500 cal BC). Similarities in stable isotopic values of C and N indicate little variation in subsistence between men and women, and a similar nutritional base from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This pattern of stability is augmented by evidence of trauma and disease found on numerous skulls in the collection. Since no clear associations of specific grave goods with certain individuals based on sex or age could be determined, the only suggestion of social inequality lies in the burial practice itself, where certain individuals were interred in caves while others were not.
AB - We present results of osteological and isotopic analyses of human remains from Cova de la Pastora (Alcoi, Alicante, Spain) and discuss the implications in light of a new sequence of radiocarbon dates indicating that the cave was used as a burial site in the Late Neolithic (ca. 3800-3000 cal BC), Chalcolithic (ca. 3000-2500 cal BC), Bell Beaker Transition (Horizonte Campaniforme Transicional - HCT; ca. 2500-2200 cal BC) and the Bronze Age (ca. 2200-1500 cal BC). Similarities in stable isotopic values of C and N indicate little variation in subsistence between men and women, and a similar nutritional base from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age. This pattern of stability is augmented by evidence of trauma and disease found on numerous skulls in the collection. Since no clear associations of specific grave goods with certain individuals based on sex or age could be determined, the only suggestion of social inequality lies in the burial practice itself, where certain individuals were interred in caves while others were not.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2010.09.023
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2010.09.023
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78649505604
SN - 0305-4403
VL - 38
SP - 420
EP - 428
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
IS - 2
ER -
