Prehistoric Herders and Farmers : A Transdisciplinary Overview to the Archeological Record from El Mirador Cave

This book presents an interdisciplinary study of the El Mirador cave located on the Atapuerca karstic system, one of the longest Pleistocene and Holocene archaeopaleontological deposits in Iberia. This book presents the results including new unpublished and published data to discuss different aspects related to the prehistoric herders and farmers that occupied this territory. 

Divided into four parts, the book covers site presentation and the paleoenvironmental reconstruction covering a chronological span between 7060 ± 40-3040 ± 40 yrs. The history of the excavation and the excavation methodology is detailed in this part including new unpublished recording techniques using 3D scanning and photogrammetry and a very meticulous sampling strategy. The book presents formation processes of the deposit which are key to understanding the successive occupations of the caves regarding its use as sheepfold cave as well as human remains that are part ofdifferent funerary contexts in the cave. In the last section, the book covers material culture found in the cave including lithic tools and pottery. This interdisciplinary work is of interest to scholars in anthracology, zooarchaeology, paleoanthropology, lithic technology, and experimental archaeology.

This book won an award as one of the best archaeological site monographs at the UISPP 2026 conference (International Union of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences).

 

 

Dr. Ethel Allué is a researcher at IPHES-CERCA since 2005. She is an expert on charcoal with a main focus on the study of past environment and wood uses, especially fuel. She has worked in different areas of the world, mostly located in the northern hemisphere, the Mediterranean and temperate areas in contexts from the early Pleistocene to historical times. She is associated lecturer on Prehistory at the History degree at the University Rovira i Virgili.

Dr. Patricia Martín is a postdoctoral researcher "María de Maeztu" at IPHES-CERCA. Her research focuses on the study of early husbandry practices in the Mediterranean region and of the symbolism of domestic animals in funerary contexts. She uses zooarchaeology, taphonomy and isotope datasets to investigate animal exploitation and human interaction. He participates in different research projects, among which is that of the excavations in the Sierra de Atapuerca.

Dr. Josep Maria Vergès is a researcher at IPHES-CERCA since 2005. He is an expert in lithic technology, usewear analyses and experimental archaeology. He has experience working on archaeological contexts from different periods from early Pleistocene to historical times. His long-lasting experience in archaeological field work has allowed him to direct a number of excavations among which El Mirador cave. He is associated lecturer at the Experimental Archaeology and Microscopy courses from the Quaternary and Archaeology Master Degree at the University Rovira i Virgili.