Shell Technology, Rock Art, and the Role of Marine Resources during the Upper Paleolithic Author(s): David Cuenca-Solana, F. Igor Gutiérrez-Zugasti, Manuel R. González-Morales, Jesus Setién-Marquinez, Estela Ruiz-Martinez, Alejandro García-Moreno, and Ignacio Clemente-Conte Source: Current Anthropology, Vol. 54, No. 3 (June 2013), pp. 370-380 Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/670325 . Accessed: 07/05/2014 03:51 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The University of Chicago Press and Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Current Anthropology. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 193.145.219.218 on Wed, 7 May 2014 03:51:18 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 370 Current Anthropology Volume 54, Number 3, June 2013 Holocene deposits. Thus, the traditional explanatory model Reports attributes these middens to the beginning of the economic diversification and intensification at the end of the Upper Pa- leolithic and, more so, to the Mesolithic. According to these Shell Technology, Rock Art, and the Role models (Binford 1968; Flannery 1969), the importance that of Marine Resources during the Upper mollusks represented to the hunters and gatherers’ subsistence strategies is minimized, attributing their exploitation primarily Paleolithic to times of food shortages and economic stress (Osborn 1977). David Cuenca-Solana, F. Igor Gutie´rrez-Zugasti, In recent years, new data regarding the exploitation of mollusks Manuel R. Gonza´lez-Morales, Jesus Setie´n-Marquinez, and other marine resources have stimulated the creation of new Estela Ruiz-Martinez, Alejandro Garcı´a-Moreno, and explanatory models that highlight the importance of these re- Ignacio Clemente-Conte sources (Bailey and Flemming 2008; Bicho and Haws 2008). Nonetheless, neither the traditional models nor more recent Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehisto´ricas de ones have taken into consideration the technological potential Cantabria (IIIPC), Universidad de Cantabria. Edif. Inter- that some of the marine resources may have. facultativo, Avda. Los Castros, s/n. 39005 Santander, Can- More recently, the development of functional analysis has tabria, Spain (Cuenca-Solana, Gonza´lez-Morales, and proved capable of providing information on the technological Garcı´a-Moreno) ([email protected])/Depart- use of artifacts. Ever since Semenov (1964) published his ment of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, Biol- research, this methodology has been applied to lithic assem- ogy S-Block, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United blages, including those from Paleolithic contexts along the Kingdom (Gutie´rrez-Zugasti)/Departamento de Ciencia e European Atlantic coast (Iba´n˜ez-Este´vez and Gonza´lez-Ur- Ingenierı´a del terreno y de los materiales, Universidad de quijo 1996, 1998; Rı´os-Garaizar 2010). Despite the analytical Cantabria, E.T.S. Ingenierı´a de Caminos, Avda. Los Cas- potential of this methodology for shell, antler, and bone, this tros, 44, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain (Setie´n- type of analysis has been very limited both in Paleolithic Marquinez and Ruiz-Martinez)/Departamento de Arqueo- contexts (Pe´tillon 2006) and on marine resources (Pe´tillon logı´a y Antropologı´a, IMF-CSIC, C/Egipcı´aques, 15, 2008). Nonetheless, this type of analysis is more common in E-08001, Barcelona, Spain (Clemente-Conte). This paper other geographical areas and for other chronological time was submitted 4 XI 11, accepted 12 X 12, and electroni- periods, particularly on bone and antler (Griffits and Bonsall cally published 15 III 13. 2001; Jensen 2001; Van Gijn 2005, 2007). The shell ornaments (A´ lvarez-Ferna´ndez and Jo¨ris 2007; d’Errico et al. 2005, 2008; Vanhaeren and d’Errico 2006; White During the Upper Paleolithic, marine resources have tradi- 2007) and the representations of fish figures in the rock art tionally been considered to be low-efficiency resources. How- (Citerne 1998; Citerne and Delluc 2004, Cleyet 1990; Dams ever, in recent years, new data have emerged to demonstrate 1987) have generally been the basis for describing the rela- that their importance for human utilization was probably tionship between marine resources and the symbolic expres- greater than previously thought. The assessment of their value sions of hunters and gatherers. The corresponding techno- has generally been from the perspective of their nutritional logical research conducted has tended to identify the tools or ornamental value, not from the technological potential that with which the art was created (Fritz 1997). However, thus these resources might have. A use-wear analysis of shells from far there has been no serious attempt to identify other ele- the Gravettian levels of Fuente del Salı´n, a cave in northern ments—such as coastal resources—that may have been used Spain, has documented their use for a diverse range of pro- in these creations beyond the hypothetical use of shells as duction activities, most notably the processing of the red pig- receptacles for paints (Moure-Romanillo 1990). ments used in artistic representations on the cave walls, as In this article we show evidence of the technological use well as for tanning hide. This technological use of shells dem- of marine mollusks of the Patella vulgata species in the Grav- onstrates that marine resources were of greater importance ettian deposits from a cave named Fuente del Salı´n. Further, to the hunters and gatherers of the Upper Paleolithic and that we discuss the implications that their use may have on eco- their utility was more diverse than previously understood. nomic and ritual activities for Paleolithic hunters’ and gath- erers’ occupations, as well as the importance of marine re- sources during this time. The importance of marine resources to hunter-gatherers has been defined by the vast accumulations of shells identified in Location and Description of the Deposit ᭧ 2013 by The Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. All rights reserved. 0011-3204/2013/5403-0005$10.00. DOI: 10.1086/ Fuente del Salı´n is located in the municipality of Val de San 670325 Vicente (Cantabria, Spain), at 15 m above sea level and 3 km This content downloaded from 193.145.219.218 on Wed, 7 May 2014 03:51:18 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Cuenca-Solana et al. Shell Technology, Rock Art, and the Role of Marine Resources during the Upper Paleolithic 371 from the current coastline (fig. 1). The discovery of graphic abrasions, rounding, and scarring. A metallographic Leica representations on the cave walls—positive as well as negative DM2500 microscope was used to identify the microtraces of hands in black and red (fig. 2) along with nonfigurative lines use and, when possible, determine how (movement and/or (Gonza´lez Morales and Moure Romanillo 2008)—stimulated action) and for what (material processed) these were utilized the initial archaeological work in the cave opening. With the for (Semenov 1964). Recently developed experimental col- objective of verifying the existence of a subsurface archaeo- lections were used as comparative models (Cuenca et al. 2010; logical deposit that would serve as an indication of the oc- Gutie´rrez-Zugasti et al. 2011) as control of the variables that cupation of the cave by Paleolithic artists, excavations of the contribute to the formation of use traces (Clemente 1997; cave took place over three short field seasons in 1990, 1991, Gonza´lez-Urquijo and Iba´n˜ez-Este´vez 1994) on shell artifacts and 2000. These excavations documented three stratigraphic that have processed animal skins, vegetable fibers, or wood. levels in squares K6 and L6. Further, experimentation and analysis has been done to spe- The majority of material recovered was primarily from level cifically identify the origin of use trace on some artifacts. 2, a hearth consisting of a large quantity of mollusk shells, Given the presence of rock art on the cave walls, experiments mainly Patella vulgata Linne (1758), as well as remains of were conducted to scrape coloring minerals from blocks of terrestrial mammals and salmonidae. Archaeomalacological different hardness. In addition, experiments were conducted analysis has identified fire-altered mollusk shells, leading to to identify the impacts of the archaeological research itself, the interpretation that they were cooked for consumption such as excavation or cleaning (Cuenca 2010). (Gutie´rrez-Zugasti et al., forthcoming a). The production of Finally, utilizing the scanning electron microscope (SEM) lithic and bone tools was minimal. A series of pendants were the chemical elements of shells with use wear were examined recovered: a deer canine tooth (perforated at the root) and for traces of ochre. A JEOL model JSM 5800-LV microscope 11 Trivia shells (nine of which were perforated). An abun- with an electronic probe for microanalysis (OXFORD Link dance of coloring agents were recovered in the excavation of eXL) was used. level 2, particularly of red ochre (Gonza´lez-Morales and Moure-Romanillo 2008; Moure-Romanillo and Gonza´lez- Morales 2000). Results Radiocarbon materials for dating this deposit were recov- ered from level 2 as well as from bone material found on the Analysis of the shells recovered at Fuente del Salı´n has identified surface; the occupation is placed at a late stage of the Grav- 10 tools. They are fragments of Patella of different sizes re- ettian (table 1).