On Galeria Pesada (Estramadura, Portugal)

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

This is another one of the papers recently published in PALEO (see my  recent post in the Bookyard Board).

Marks, A.E., J.-Ph. Brugal, V.P. Chabai, K. Monigal, P. Goldberg, B. Hockett, E. Peman, M. Elorza, and C. Mallol. 2002. Le gisement Pléistocène moyen de Galeria Pesada (Estrémadure, Portugal): premiers résultats.

English title: Excavations at the Middle Pleistocene Cave site of Galeria Pesada (Estramadura, Portugal): first results.

Abstract (verbatim -- but for a minor correction []):

Excavations at the Middle Pleistocene Cave site of Galeria Pesada in Portuguese Estramadura have uncovered a series of lithic assemblages associated with abundant faunal remains (Excavations 1997-1999). The lithic assemblages are all similar and consist of a combination of a few classic Acheulean tools, a rich series of bifacial tools (foliates, small assymmetric bifaces, Keilmesser, etc.) and a lartge number of scrapers, often on quartz. These assemblages, unknown to date in Iberia, are associated with Cervid and Equid [bone remains on which are found numerous cut marks, indicative of] extensive carcass modification and consumption by hominids.

Given time, I'll try to come up with some meaty comments, as it were. All I can say for now is that this work is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Jacques Cinq-Mars

[Daryl Habel]

More on Galeria Pesada - human remains this time - in this month's JHE:
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Journal of Human Evolution
Volume 45, Issue 3 , September 2003, Pages 219-226
 
doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2003.07.001     Cite or link using doi  
Copyright © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Later Middle Pleistocene human remains from the Almonda Karstic system, Torres Novas, Portugal

Erik Trinkaus, , a, Anthony E. Marks, b, Jean-Philip Brugal, c, Shara E. Bailey, d, W. Jack Rink, e and Daniel Richter, e

a Department of Anthropology, Campus Box 1114, Washington University, St. Louis MO 63130, USA
b Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275, USA
c UMR 6636 du CNRS, MMSH - BP 647, 5 rue du Château de l'Horloge, 13094 Aix-en-Provence, France
d Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, 2110 G Street, Washington, DC 20052, USA
e School of Geography and Geology, McMaster University 1280 Main Street, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada

Received 13 May 2003;  accepted 31 July 2003. ; Available online 20 October 2003.

Abstract
Later Middle Pleistocene archeological deposits of the Galeria Pesada (Gruta da Aroeira), Almonda Karstic System, Torres Novas, Portugal, yielded two archaic human teeth, a mandibular canine and a maxillary third molar. The C1presents moderate and asymmetrical shoveling with a stout root. The slightly worn M3exhibits at least four cusps with a large hypocone, three roots with large radicular plates, and an absence of taurodontism. They are moderately large for later Middle Pleistocene humans in their buccolingual crown diameters, although the M3mesiodistal diameter is modest. The C1exhibits labial calculus and multiple linear hypoplastic defects, but the M3is lesion free. Both teeth are morphologically similar to those of other Middle Pleistocene European humans and reinforce a pattern of dental hypertrophy among these archaic Homo.

Author Keywords: Human paleontology; Europe; Middle pleistocene; Dentition