A recent excavation at a rock shelter in what is now Spain has revealed evidence of human habitation during the coldest part of the last glacial period, between 21,400 and 15,100 years ago. Despite the harsh conditions of the high-altitude regions, the plateau in central Spain likely supported a relatively dense human settlement. The last glacial period, which lasted from about 115,000 to 11,700 years ago, presented a significant challenge for modern humans who had arrived in Europe about 20,000 years earlier.
The meseta, a high-altitude plateau in central Spain, posed particularly challenging conditions for human settlement. Climate modelling by Ariane Burke and colleagues at the University of Montréal in Canada revealed that the meseta was not only cold and dry but also highly unpredictable, making it harder for people to permanently settle there. However, despite these challenges, people persisted. Excavations at the Charco Verde II site in the Piedra river valley, Spain, have unearthed evidence of human activity, including fragments of charcoal from fires, animal bones with cut marks, heated signs, and stone tools like blades and scrapers.
Radiocarbon dating suggests that the site was first inhabited between 21,400 and 20,800 years ago, and the residence ended between 16,600 and 15,100 years ago. It is unclear if there were prolonged periods when the site was uninhabited. The area was dominated by open grasslands with scattered trees, such as juniper, and inhabited by herbivores like horses and ibex. The average annual temperatures were approximately 6 °C lower than today, with winters characterized by ice and snow and relatively mild summers.
This discovery challenges the notion that humans could not adapt to very cold environments during the early Upper Palaeolithic period. Behavioural skills, such as the use of fire, clothing, and dwellings, played a crucial role in enabling human survival in such extreme conditions. The excavation at Charco Verde II has uncovered stone tools called burins, which were likely used for fine sewing and indicates the presence of waterproof and windproof clothing. Social networks also played a vital role in survival, allowing people to exchange information and seek shelter during harsh conditions.
The excavation also revealed four perforated shell beads, one of which had traces of ochre pigment. These beads, often used as markers of identity, suggest that even in sparsely populated regions, people maintained social relationships with other groups.
Topics:
- archaeology/
- ancient humans
