Sample name: El Mirón Cave (Final Magdalenian)

Reference: G. Cuenca-Bescós, A. B. Marín-Arroyo, I. Martínez, M. R. Gonzâlez-Morales, and L. G. Straus. 2012. Relationship between Magdalenian subsistence and environmental change: the mammalian evidence from El Mirón (Spain). Quaternary International 272:125-137 [ER 3786]

Lithology: not described

Taphonomic context: cave,human accumulation

Archaeology: hearths,stone tools

Habitat comments: The cave was used fairly continuously by humans. The entire Magdalenian and Azilian cultural periods contain abundant lithic assemblages, associated with hearth remains. Humans were the principal bone accumulators of the large mammal assemblage, while birds of prey (owls) were likely responsible for the gathering of small mammal fauna.

Life forms: ungulates

Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash

Sample size: 881 specimens

Years: 1996 - 2000

Sampling comments: "Sediments were washed through a graded series of sieves, from 2 cm to 1 mm, and were water-screened through fine mesh for the recovery of small vertebrate remains. This produced a rich and species-diverse assemblage of mainly rodents and insectivores, though also small carnivores, bats, lagomorphs, fishes, amphibians, reptiles and birds".
"A total of 5200 ungulate remains were identified, taxonomically distributed across 7 species". These are the only identified remains with NISP data reported; the numerous remains of small mammals are only given as MNI, of which there are "a minimum of 1915 individuals across 22 species".

Sample number: 4109

Contributor: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Created: 2023-02-24 14:04:39

Modified: 2023-05-30 05:14:13