Early Neolithic Ritual Funerary Behaviours in the Westernmost Regions of the Mediterranean

New Insights from Dehesilla Cave (Southern Iberian Peninsula)

Authors

  • Daniel García Rivero University of Seville, Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Spain
  • Ruth Taylor University of Seville, Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Spain
  • Cláudia Umbelino University of Coimbra, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Portugal
  • Miriam Cubas University of Oviedo, Department of History, Spain
  • María Barrera Cruz University of Valencia, Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, Spain
  • Manuel J. Díaz Rodríguez University of Seville, Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.48.8

Keywords:

Neolithic, ritual, human skull, pottery jar, residue analysis

Abstract

An intact archaeological context named Locus 1 has recently been discovered at Dehesilla Cave (southern Spain). The ritual funerary deposition consists of a complete pottery jar with part of a human calvarium over the mouth, and was occulted by large stone blocks. This paper offers a presentation of the new data provided mainly by the stratigraphic, osteological, pottery, lithic and radiocarbon analyses. A systematic review of the relevant evidence in the Iberian Peninsula during the Early Neolithic (c. 5600–4800 cal BC) provides a context for this finding and supports its interpretation with reference to several possible anthropological scenarios.

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Published

01.06.2021 — Updated on 25.11.2021

How to Cite

García Rivero, D., Taylor, R., Umbelino, C., Cubas, M., Barrera Cruz, M., & Díaz Rodríguez, M. J. (2021). Early Neolithic Ritual Funerary Behaviours in the Westernmost Regions of the Mediterranean: New Insights from Dehesilla Cave (Southern Iberian Peninsula). Documenta Praehistorica, 48, 298–327. https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.48.8

Issue

Vol. 48 (2021)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Daniel García Rivero, Ruth Taylor, Cláudia Umbelino, Miriam Cubas, María Barrera Cruz, Manuel J. Díaz Rodríguez

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