El Abrigo de Guachos (Sepúlveda, Segovia): un nuevo yacimiento del Neolítico antiguo en el interior peninsular

Abstract

En este trabajo se presenta el descubrimiento de un nuevo yacimiento del Neolítico antiguo en el interior peninsular (cuenca del Duero), a partir de los resultados preliminares de la campaña de sondeo realizada en septiembre de 2023. El Abrigo de Guachos además de contener un nuevo e interesante registro para analizar el comienzo del Neolítico en el interior peninsular, muestra también evidencias de ocupaciones y actividad humana posterior, en época romana (periodo bajoimperial). Esta nueva secuencia resulta de gran interés para analizar la evolución de la actividad humana en el barranco del río Duratón. En las Hoces del Duratón, a pesar de haber una rica secuencia de arte rupestre que abarca desde el Neolítico hasta la Edad Media, no se han podido localizar aún secuencias arqueológicas que permitan documentar la evolución y características de este amplio poblamiento humano. ABSTRACT: In this paper, the discovery of a new Early Neolithic site in the interior of the Iberian peninsula (Duero basin) is presented, based on the preliminary results of the excavation campaign conducted in September 2023. The Guachos rock shelter is located in the municipality of Sepúlveda (Segovia) within the “Hoces del río Duratón” Natural reserve, approximately 1300 meters downstream from the Talcano Roman bridge. Specifically, it is located on the outer side of a meander on the left bank of the river, which has eroded the Cretaceous dolomites, at UTM coordinates ETRS89 (Zone 30) X. 434.944, Y. 4.571.952, and about 10 meters above the current riverbed. The rock shelter has maximum dimensions of about 50 meters in length and 20 meters in width, with an average height to the overhang of about 13 meters, making it a space of considerable size. In total, an approximate area of 300 square meters for the archaeological deposit has been estimated. The Guachos Rock Shelter, in addition to containing a new and interesting record for analyzing the beginning of the Neolithic in the interior of the Iberian peninsula, also shows evidence of later occupations and human activity during the Roman period (Low Roman Empire). This new sequence is of great interest for studying the evolution of human activity in the Duratón River gorge. In the “Hoces del Duratón”, despite the presence of a rich sequence of rock art spanning from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, archaeological sequences that would allow for the documentation of the evolution and characteristics of this extensive human settlement have not yet been found.

Keywords

• industria lítica
• neolítico antiguo
• época tardorromana
• radiocarbono
• terra sigillata
• lithic industry
• early neolithic
• late roman period
• radiocarbon